Frequently asked questions about Topical DutasterideTOPICAL DUTASTERIDE: Questions and Answers
WHAT IS MALE PATTERN HAIR LOSS?
Male pattern baldness,  androgenetic alopecia,  is a very common condition in which men begin to experience thinning of the hair on the scalp.  These changes often start slowly in men in their 20’s and often progress to a receding hairline and/or balding on the top of the head.  Male pattern baldness is believed to be hereditary and dependent on hormonal effects.  The primary cause of Male Pattern hair loss and baldness is due to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which is produced by 5-alpha reductase conversion of testosterone to DHT
WHAT IS DUTASTERIDE? HOW DOES  IT COMPARE TO PROPECIA - FINASTERIDE?
Dutasteride  was the FIRST  dual acting 5 alpha reductase inhibitor blocking both Type I and Type II 5-alpha reductase enzymes that convert testosterone to DHT.  Propecia (finasteride), the oral drug approved by the FDA to treat male pattern baldness, only inhibits Type II 5 alpha reductase enzyme.    Men with male pattern baldness have increased levels of the hormone DHT and the hair follicles in the balding areas of the scalp become miniaturized.  Like finasteride, DUTASTERIDE  interrupts a key factor in the development of androgenetic or male pattern baldness but to an even greater extent.  Dutasteride at a daily dosage of 0.5mg/ day has been shown to reduce serum levels of DHT by over 90%.   Like finasteride, the active ingredient in Propecia, dutasteride or Avodart has initially been approved by the FDA for the treatment of prostatic enlargement   Preliminary studies have shown Dutasteride to be as SAFE as Propecia but significantly more effective in decreasing DHT levels and treating Male Pattern Baldness.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AVODART (Dutasteride) pills vs TOPICAL DUTASTERIDE?
Since 2002 our patients have experienced the benefits of oral Avodart (dutasteride) with most patients not experiencing any significant side effects.  But as with all medications, there are potential side effects from temporary reversible sexual side effects to more lasting ones such as gynecomastia.  This has lead to the development of a topical dutasteride formulation with the intent of markedly reducing potential side effects. 
CAN TOPICAL DUTASTERIDE BE COMPOUNDED WITH MINOXIDIL or OTHER ADDITIVES?
All exclusive compounded formulations are compounded by Murray Avenue Apothecary due to their highest standards of production.   Topical Dutasteride is compounded as a 0.05% Dutasteride solution or it can be compounded only with 5% minoxidil.  We do offer compounded minoxidil formulations up to 30% with additives.  If you want to combine a Topical Dutasteride solution and a higher strength minoxidil, we recommend two separate solutions to produce a product with highest integrity and stability.  You can check out our high prescription strength minoxidil formulations. 
CAN TOPICAL DUTASTERIDE USED SIMULTANEOUSLY ALONG WITH OTHER TOPICAL HAIR LOSS TREATMENTS?
Yes.  Although you can not simultaneously use more than one 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor  (Finasteride or Dutasteride), combining multiple modalities to treat male pattern hair loss markedly improves response and hair retention regrowth.   Topical dutasteride can be used simultaneously along with Latisse or latanoprost, prescription strength minoxidil formulations, Topical Spironlactone, Nizoral shampoo etc.
WILL DUTASTERIDE WORK FOR ME?   WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS?
Dutasteride has been shown in preliminary Phase 2 studies by GlaxoSmithKline to be more effective than Propecia for Male Pattern Hair loss. In over 80% of Men with Male pattern baldness in the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area, clinical  studies have shown that Propecia stops further hair loss and/or increases the number of scalp hairs resulting in significant hair re-growth filling in thin or balding areas of the scalp.  Medical Wellness Center has been compiling  Patient responses to Dutasteride.  Click here to read unedited patient responses to Dutasteride
HOW LONG BEFORE I SEE RESULTS?
Hair grows only about ? inch per month, therefore patients start to notice results after first 3 months of treatment.  It takes time to see improvement.  Also, for those just starting to have hair thinning, taking Avodart in the early stages can prevent or dramatically slow further hair loss.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO TAKE DUTASTERIDE?
The underlying predisposition to baldness is always present. Therefore, if a patient discontinues use of  Dutasteride, he will gradually lose the new hair that grew in response to Dutasteride treatment and will experience the progression of his underlying predisposition to baldness.
WHEN and HOW DO I USE TOPICAL DUTASTERIDE?
Topical Dutasteride is dosed equivalent to the oral Avodart prescribed dose of 0.5mg soft gelatin capsules which is taken once a day.   Topical Dutasteride is compounded in a 0.05% solution and you apply 1 ml once daily.  Using Topical Dutasteride more frequently or in higher doses will NOT make it work better or faster, and can result in potentially irreversible and even fatal side effects.  If you miss a dutasteride dose, take the missed dose as soon as you remember during the SAME day.  However, if you don't remember until the next day, skip the dose you missed and take only the next regularly scheduled dose.  DO NO take a double dose of the medication.
  1. Dutasteride is for use by MEN only
  2. Make sure your scalp is completely dry before applying
  3. Wash hands immediately after applying
  4. Avoid touching scalp until completely dry, allow 2-4 hours to completely dry.
  5. WARNING: if not completely dry may transfer formula to other areas or to clothing or bedding
  6. Do NOT shampoo hair for 4 hours after applying
  7. WARNING: Dutasteride and finasteride are absorbed through skin and Pregnant woman should NOT come in contact with Dutasteride or Finasteride pills or topical formulations, can cause birth defects t male fetus
  8. Always discuss any new medications with your primary care physician first before taking.
  9. Do NOT combine Dutasteride with finasteride - Proscar or Propecia.   Do NOT combine Topical Dutasteride with either topical finasteride or with Dutasteride (Avodart) or Propecia/Proscar (finasteride) pills.
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INFORMATION I SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ABOUT DUTASTERIDE?
  • Dutasteride is for MEN only
  • Dutasteride is a more potent and effective 5 alpha reductase inhibitor than Propecia (finasteride).  Although Avodart (dutasteride) was approved in October 2002 by the FDA for treatment of prosthetic enlargement (BPH), dutasteride  has been shown to be more effective than Propecia (finasteride) in treating male hair loss and can be prescribed off-label for other indications than BPH.
  • Pregnant women or women who may become pregnant MUST NOT handle Avodart(dutateride) capsules or solution nor come in contact by transference, as dutasteride can be absorbed via the skin and cause external genital abnormalities in the male fetus.
  • Do not donate blood for at least 6 months after your last dose of Dutasteride to prevent pregnant woman receiving dutasteride via blood transfusion.
  • Store Dutasteride at room temperature away from moisture and heat. 
  • Dutasteride reduces the serum level of the Prostate cancer marker PSA by approximately 40% after 3 months of treatment and by 50% after 6 months of treatment.  Therefore, if taking Dutasteride one must inform all treating physicians and adjustments need to be made in baseline measurements and interpretation of PSA levels for monitoring cancer-related changes.  To interpret PSA testing for a man on Dutasteride treatment for 6 months or longer, one must double the PSA value for Prostate cancer detection.
CAN TOPICAL DUTASTERIDE BE USED ALONG WITH ORAL DUTASTERIDE OR FINASTERIDE
Topical Dutasteride musts NOT be combined with ORAL dutasteride (Avodart)
Topical Dutasteride must NOT be combined with either Oral Finasteride (Propecia or Proscar)  or Topical Finasteride 
WHAT ARE THE SIDE EFFECTS OF DUTASTERIDE?
Oral Dutasteride has shown a similar safety profile as Propecia and most men, as with Propecia, experience no side effects.  A small percentage of men experience the following side effects most of which decrease or disappear with continued usage: impotence (4.7%), decreased libido (3%), breast tenderness and breast enlargement (0.5%) and ejaculation disorders (1.4%).   These possible side effects disappeared in most men who continued to take Avodart  and completely disappeared in men who stopped taking Avodart.

Stop using Dutasteride and seek emergency medical attention if you experience an allergic reaction such as difficulty breathing, closing of the throat, swelling of the lips, tongue or face
 WHO SHOULD NOT TAKE AVODART?
WHAT ARE THE CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR AVODART?
  • Topical Dutasteride  is for Men over age 18 only. 
  • Do NOT use Topical Dutasteride if you are a female or under age 18.
  • Do NOT use Topical Dutasteride if you have LIVER disease as Avodart is metabolized by the liver.
  • Do NOT use Topical Dutasteride if you are  taking Protease inhibitors such as Agenerase (amprenavir), Crixivan (indinavir), Viracept(nelfinavir), Novir (ritonavir) or Invirase, Fortovase (saquinavir)
  • Do NOT use Topical Dutasteride if you are taking ORAL Nizoral(ketaconazole) or Sporanox (itraconazole) or ORAL Avodart (dutasteride) or ORAL Propecia or Proscar (oral finasteride)
  • Do NOT use Topical Dutasteride if you are using topical finasteride
  • Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant must  NOT touch Avodart capsules or come in contact directly or indirectly by transference with topical dutasteride solution, as dutasteride can be absorbed through the skin and cause harm to developing male fetus.
 CONTRAINDICATIONS:  In order to proceed to the medical consultation, you must proceed to the next page and read the contraindications and verify that you do not have any of the contraindications and understand that any pregnant or potentially pregnant woman must not even touch any broken or crushed pills or come in contact with topical dutasteride solution

Under NO circumstance is any woman or a child under the age of 18 to use Topical Dutasteride
Next to read contraindications for Topical Dutasteride Male Hair Loss Prescription
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