Dutasteride is an effective medication for reducing prostate volume and relieving symptoms caused by its enlargement, such as urinary retention. However, this medicine has also been used to treat baldness as it is effective in promoting the growth of new hair on the scalp of men.
This medicine must be consumed with due medical advice, generally used orally, in tablet form, at a dose of 0.5 mg. It can be found in pharmacies in generic form, or under the trade names Avodart, from GSK, or Dastene, from Aché, for example.
What is it for
Dutasteride acts by decreasing the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT), through the inhibition of the enzymes 5-alpha reductase type 1 and 2, responsible for the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
With the decrease in levels of this hormone, called androgen as it is more prevalent in men, this medication is useful for the treatment of:
1. Prostate hyperplasia
Dutasteride is capable of reducing the volume of the prostate and preventing its enlargement, caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia, being able to:
- Improve urinary flow;
- Reduce the risk of urinary retention;
- Prevent the need for prostate surgery.
Generally, this medicine is used in combination with Tamsulosin, a medicine that belongs to the group of alpha blockers, which promotes relaxation of the prostate muscles, facilitating the passage of urine and improving the symptoms of this disease more quickly.
2. Baldness
Dutasteride is used to treat androgenic alopecia, hair loss that occurs due to the action of dihydrotestosterone on the hair follicle, mainly in men.
Thus, continuous use of this remedy is capable of reversing the action of this hormone, which causes hair strands to grow again through the hair follicles of the scalp, being able to:
- Increase the hair count on the scalp;
- Reduce hair loss;
- Improve scalp coverage.
Androgenic alopecia can also occur in genetically predisposed women, so if a woman has baldness caused by this reason, this medication can be used, in very specific cases, with appropriate medical guidance.
Price
A box of 30 Dutasteride capsules can cost, on average, between 60 and 115 reais, depending on the brand and pharmacy that sells the product.
How to Use Dutasteride
Oral Use
Adult men
- Administer 0.5 mg of Dutasteride once a day. The medicine can be taken with or without food.
The dose of the medication may vary, depending on medical advice.
Main side effects
Due to a decrease in the amount of male hormones, some side effects of Dutasteride include:
- Impotence;
- Decreased sexual desire;
- Ejaculation problems;
- Gynecomastia, which is breast enlargement.
These effects are more common when higher doses of the medication are required, especially in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Who cannot use
This medicine is contraindicated in children, women and people with severe liver failure.
