Hair loss is pretty common: up to 80% of men will experience it at some point. But the good news is that there are proven ways to treat it.
Finasteride and dutasteride are two of your options. Here’s how they compare.
Finasteride vs dutasteride at a glance
Dutasteride vs finasteride: How do they work?
Both dutasteride and finasteride belong to the same family of medicines: 5-alpha reductase inhibitors.
What that means is that they block the actions of 5-alpha reductase enzymes, which convert testosterone into the more potent hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). And DHT causes hair loss: it shrinks your hair follicles until they eventually close up and hair stops growing.
By lowering your DHT levels, finasteride and dutasteride can prevent hair loss. If you want to understand how well finasteride works on its own, our guide on whether finasteride can regrow hair explains what the studies show.
However, dutasteride is more effective. For one, it does a more thorough job of blocking 5-alpha reductase. It also blocks two versions of the enzyme (types I and II), while finasteride just blocks the one (type II).
Which is more effective for hair loss?
That would be dutasteride. Let’s take a look at dutasteride vs finasteride hair loss results:
- In an analysis of studies that compared the medicines head-to-head, dutasteride drove greater increases in total hair count and scalp coverage than finasteride.
- Even topical dutasteride (0.05%), which is less potent than oral dutasteride, outperformed finasteride 1mg at treating male pattern baldness in a phase II clinical trial.
- A review of multiple studies found that dutasteride 0.5mg and 2.5mg were significantly more effective than finasteride 1mg at increasing hair count.
Dutasteride vs finasteride side effects
Side effects are similar for oral dutasteride and finasteride. Symptoms may include:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Problems with ejaculation, such as a decrease in the amount of sperm released during sex
- Breast tissue growth (gynaecomastia)
- Lower libido
Plus, side effects tend to occur at similar rates for both medicines.
Doses and how to use
The recommended dose of finasteride for hair loss is 1mg, taken once per day as a tablet. Aim to take it at the same time each day.
Dutasteride usually comes in a 0.5mg capsule that’s taken daily (ideally at the same time). But you can also get topical dutasteride for hair loss. It’s a new treatment that you spray onto your scalp. Doses can range from 0.1-0.3%.
UK availability and cost
You usually can’t get dutasteride or finasteride on the NHS for hair loss. But they’re available through private prescription.
Prices vary between providers. With MANUAL, you can get finasteride from £13 per month. For dutasteride, you might pay around £15-18 for a month’s worth.
Topical dutasteride is only available as an unlicensed, compounded preparation right now. That means the pharmacy makes it for you personally rather than grabbing it off the shelf. Be careful here: ensure you’re using a registered pharmacy or online clinic. Otherwise, there’s no guarantee the products you buy are safe, genuine or in-date.
At MANUAL, you can get finasteride tablets on their own or combined with minoxidil as a spray or capsule. We also have dutasteride available as a combined capsule with minoxidil. We don't currently offer topical dutasteride, but watch this space: we’re monitoring the evidence closely.
Finasteride vs dutasteride: Which is best for me?
Now for the million-dollar question: which hair loss medicine is right for you?
This is something your provider will advise on. But here are some things to bear in mind as you’re deciding:
- Dutasteride is the more effective medicine. It might be a good choice if other treatments haven’t worked.
- Side effects are similar for both finasteride and dutasteride.
- Dutasteride stays in the body for longer than finasteride, so its effects may linger on for longer after you stop taking it.
Still have questions? Take our quiz to find out which scientifically-proven hair loss treatment is right for you. Then, our clinicians will create a personalised plan to get your hair back.
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