TLDR Dutasteride is approved to help manage prostate enlargement.
Dutasteride, marketed as Avodart by GlaxoSmithKline, was approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It functioned as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, similar to finasteride, by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone, which was believed to stimulate prostate growth. While surgery was the definitive treatment for BPH, dutasteride offered a drug-based management option. The document noted that initial comments on newly approved drugs like dutasteride were tentative due to limited data and experience, and emphasized the importance of obtaining comprehensive information before prescribing.
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January 2001 in “Cambridge University Press eBooks” Finasteride effectively treats hair loss and enlarged prostate in men, with mild side effects.
32 citations
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April 1999 in “Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs” Finasteride effectively treats male hair loss, improving growth and density.
212 citations
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September 2008 in “Journal of The American Academy of Dermatology” Minoxidil and finasteride treat hair loss in men, while minoxidil treats hair loss in women.
52 citations
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February 2006 in “Current pharmaceutical design” 5α-reductase inhibitors and alpha-1 adrenergic antagonists together effectively treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, with long-term benefits.
32 citations
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March 2020 in “Drug Design Development and Therapy” Finasteride shows promise for female hair loss, but more research needed.
27 citations
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May 2015 in “Neuropharmacology” Dutasteride protects dopamine neurons in Parkinson's mice, but Finasteride doesn't.
