Dutasteride

—

evidence score

hormonal

Prescription Only

Avodart

Inhibits both Type I and Type II 5-alpha reductase, reducing DHT by approximately 90%. More complete DHT suppression than finasteride but with a longer half-life and potentially more persistent side effects. FDA-approved for BPH, off-label for hair loss.

Evidence

No score yet

Safety

Unknown safety profile

Clinical Status

Approved

Last Sync

Not synced yet

Last Reviewed

Not reviewed yet

Physician Notes

Reserve for patients who do not respond adequately to finasteride. The very long half-life (5 weeks) means side effects persist long after discontinuation. 3x/week dosing may reduce systemic exposure while maintaining efficacy.

FDA Status:FDA-approved for BPH (Avodart). Off-label for hair loss.

Monitoring

DHT levels
PSA (dutasteride reduces PSA, adjust screening accordingly)
Sexual function assessment

Contraindications

Women who are or may become pregnant
Liver disease

Velix Health

Want this prescribed by a board-certified physician?

Velix Health physicians review your labs, build evidence-based protocols, and monitor your progress. Every prescription is referenced.

Apply for Membership

Dosing

Typical

0.5 mg

0.5 mgRange0.5 mg

FrequencyDaily or 3x/week

Set height & weight in Settings to see your dose.

Pharmacology

Half-life~5 weeks

Onset3-6 months for hair results

Routes

oral

Evidence Score

—

0 studies indexed

Scoring Factors

Volume(24%)—

Quality(24%)—

Sample Size(12%)—

Consistency(14%)—

Replication(8%)—

Recency(18%)—

Evidence Levels

AScore ≥75 with at least 1 meta-analysis and 3+ RCTs

BScore ≥50 with at least 1 RCT or meta-analysis

CScore ≥25 — observational or animal evidence only

DScore <25 — very limited or preclinical data

Plain-English Snapshot

Dutasteride is currently categorized as a hormonal compound.

Evidence scoring has not been fully computed yet, so interpret this profile as preliminary.

Safety scoring is incomplete. Start conservatively and monitor carefully.

Core mechanism

Dual Type I/II 5-alpha reductase inhibitor; reduces DHT by ~90%

Practical Context

Strongest current signals

No indexed study summaries yet.

Elevated caution signals

1 severe/high side effect flag