A New, Potent Baldness Cure In Dutasteride

There is a new hair loss treatment drug which is following the path of finasteride, the medication which has been proven and FDA-approved to improve hair loss conditions associated with male-pattern baldness. Dutasteride is currently an FDA-approved cure for benign prostatic hyperplasia, but is also showing positive results in treating hair loss. At present, the drug is undergoing the trial phases as an alopecia treatment, and there are positive signs that an FDA approval for its use as a hair loss drug is imminent.

Dutasteride as a hair loss treatment which inhibits a blood hormone called DHT, or dihydrotestosterone. This hormone is touted as one of the primary causes of hair loss in men, known as male-pattern baldness. It is also responsible for prostate enlargement, known as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, or BPH. Dutasteride functions by restraining the activity of two kinds of 5-alpha-reductase enzymes, substances which alter testosterone, and develops it into DHT. Dutasteride treats hair loss by lowering DHT levels significantly, 30% more than finasteride, a similar drug with the same purpose.

Dutasteride is currently being developed as an effective treatment for male-pattern baldness. In capsule form, it has shown to provide positive and dramatic results regarding hair restoration, in balding men subjected to clinical trials. This is due to the advantage that it deals with two types (type 1 and 2) of 5-alpha-reductase enzymes; finasteride, in comparison, only slows down type 2 of the said enzymes, thereby less potent in dealing with hair loss. Dutasteride is an FDA-approved medication for BPH, and approval for other applications are currently pending.

Dutasteride is available in branded and generic versions, the most popular of which is Avodart. Avodart is produced by GlaxoSmithKline, Duprost Capsules by Cipla, Dutas Capsules by Dr. Reddy’s, and Dutagen by Ranbaxy. All of these medications are in soft gelatin capsule form, and contains 0.5mg of Dutasteride.

Dutasteride is available only through prescription, and many physicians will prescribe the drug only for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, and not for male-pattern baldness. Patients who are planning on using Dutasteride as a treatment for hair loss or hair thinning are advised to consider on opting for other hair loss treatment alternatives. Admittedly, the clinical verdict on Dutasteride’s effectiveness and safety as a baldness treatment is still pending. DHT inhibitors are effective as long as they are still within the body. Dutasteride can last for three months to a year within the body, and uses a slightly dissimilar mechanism of potency compared to finasteride.

Even though the potency of Dutasteride as a baldness treatment is still in the works, some medical professionals are evaluating on its use for special cases of hair loss. Clinical trials for approval are rigorous, and FDA approval for the drug may take some time. Nevertheless, the premature signs of its effectiveness as a hair loss treatment is obvious, and is even proving to be more potent than Propecia, the current hair loss treatment drug dominating the market. Dutasteride is a viable baldness treatment, but in order to be on the safe side, consult with your physician before considering on taking it.