Dutasteride
Dutasteride reduces conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone. It can gradually shrink an enlarged prostate; use for androgenetic alopecia varies by clinical setting.
Key points
- Dutasteride acts gradually and does not provide immediate relief of urinary obstruction.
- It changes PSA levels, so clinicians interpreting prostate tests need to know it is being used.
- Inability to urinate, severe lower-abdominal pain or facial swelling with breathing difficulty needs urgent care.
Listings are for comparison only. Suitability and supply depend on clinician and pharmacy checks, stock, destination rules and prescription requirements.
What Dutasteride is used for
It may be used for benign prostatic hyperplasia to reduce prostate volume and progression risk. Hair-loss use should be confirmed against the product and local clinical context rather than inferred from a listing.
How it works
Dutasteride inhibits both major forms of 5-alpha-reductase, lowering dihydrotestosterone in the prostate and scalp.
Important safety checks
Urinary symptoms still need assessment because infection, stones and cancer can look similar. PSA monitoring, liver disease, fertility concerns and sexual or breast symptoms require review. Anyone who is pregnant or could become pregnant should not handle leaking capsules because dutasteride can harm a male fetus.
When to seek urgent care
Seek urgent help for inability to urinate with severe lower-abdominal pain, visible blood in urine with weakness, facial or throat swelling, breathing difficulty or a severe widespread rash.