Dutasteride vs. Avodart
See how Dutasteride and Avodart compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Dutasteride and Avodart contain the exact same active ingredient and work identically in the body, so the real choice is generic versus brand-name.
Generic dutasteride typically costs $8 to $40 a month, while brand-name Avodart can run $150 to $1,900, making cost the biggest practical difference.
Both are FDA-approved for symptomatic BPH from an enlarged prostate and are commonly prescribed off-label for male pattern hair loss.
Dutasteride vs. Avodart Drug Summary
Dutasteride
Dutasteride is a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor taken as a once-daily capsule for symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate. It blocks both type 1 and type 2 forms of the enzyme to shrink the prostate over time, and it's also prescribed off-label for male pattern hair loss.
Avodart
Avodart is the brand-name version of dutasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor taken once daily as a soft gelatin capsule for symptomatic BPH. It works the same way as generic dutasteride, blocking both types of the enzyme, and is also used off-label for male pattern hair loss.
Dutasteride vs. Avodart Side Effects
Dutasteride
Avodart
Dutasteride vs. Avodart Dosage
Dutasteride
Avodart
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.5 mg once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.5 mg once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Dutasteride
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.5 mg once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Avodart
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 0.5 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 0.5 mg once daily | Same as starting |
| Dose changes | None | Fixed dose |
Dutasteride vs. Avodart Indications
Dutasteride
Dutasteride is FDA-approved to treat symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate, either alone or combined with tamsulosin. It's also commonly prescribed off-label to slow male pattern hair loss, though that use isn't FDA-approved.
Symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate
Combination therapy with tamsulosin for BPH
Off-label: male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)
Avodart
Avodart, the brand-name form of dutasteride, is FDA-approved for symptomatic BPH and to reduce the risk of acute urinary retention and BPH-related surgery. Like generic dutasteride, it's also prescribed off-label for male pattern hair loss.
Symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate
Reduces risk of acute urinary retention and BPH surgery
Combination therapy with tamsulosin for BPH
Dutasteride vs. Avodart Pros and Cons
Dutasteride
Because dutasteride is available as a generic, cost and accessibility are its main advantages over the brand-name version. Clinically, it works identically to Avodart since it's the same molecule.
Pros
Costs far less than brand Avodart, typically $8 to $40 a month versus $150 to $1,650
Widely stocked at pharmacies now that the patent has expired
Insurance plans typically prefer generic dutasteride, so coverage is usually straightforward
Cons
Capsule shape and inactive ingredients can vary between manufacturers and refills
FDA label doesn't spell out reduced acute urinary retention risk the way Avodart's does, even though the drug is identical
Some patients report inconsistent effects when switching between generic manufacturers
Avodart
Avodart offers the same clinical effect as generic dutasteride but at a much higher price, packaged in a standardized single-manufacturer capsule. For most patients, the brand doesn't offer a meaningful clinical edge over generic dutasteride.
Pros
Comes in one consistent soft gelatin capsule made by a single manufacturer, so there's no batch-to-batch variation
FDA label explicitly states it reduces the risk of acute urinary retention and the need for BPH surgery
Long-standing brand recognition makes it easy to identify and reorder consistently
Cons
Costs far more out of pocket, often $1,600 to $1,900 for a 30-day supply versus $8 to $40 for generic
Many insurance formularies favor the generic, so prior authorization or higher copays are common for Avodart
No pharmacological advantage over generic dutasteride since it is the same active drug
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