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

Most common
Ejaculation disorders (up to 11%)
Erectile dysfunction (up to 7.3%)
Decreased libido (up to 4%)
Breast disorders (up to 2.2%)

Avodart

Most common
Ejaculation disorders (up to 1%)
Erectile dysfunction (up to 7%)
Decreased libido (up to 5%)
Breast disorders (up to 1%)

Dutasteride vs. Avodart Dosage

Dutasteride

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Dosage
Dosage Table
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

Common Symptoms and Related Diseases You Can Explore

Explore a range of common symptoms the Doctronic Symptom Checker can help you understand.