Propecia vs. Avodart
See how Propecia and Avodart compare on approved uses, dosing, side effects, and cost.
Key Takeaways
Propecia (finasteride) is the only oral drug FDA-approved specifically for male pattern hair loss, while Avodart (dutasteride) is approved for an enlarged prostate and used off-label for hair loss.
Both drugs block the enzyme that shrinks hair follicles, but Avodart blocks two forms of that enzyme instead of one, which may make it more potent but also raises rates of sexual side effects in trials.
Propecia is a 1 mg tablet and Avodart a 0.5 mg capsule, both taken once daily, though Avodart's much longer half-life means its effects and side effects linger longer after stopping.
Propecia vs. Avodart Drug Summary
Propecia
Propecia is a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor taken as a 1 mg tablet once a day. It is FDA-approved specifically to treat male pattern hair loss in adult men by lowering a hormone that shrinks scalp hair follicles. It has been used for this purpose since 1997.
Avodart
Avodart is also a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, taken as a 0.5 mg soft-gel capsule once a day. It is FDA-approved for symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH) and is commonly prescribed off-label for male pattern hair loss. It blocks two enzyme types instead of one, unlike Propecia.
Propecia vs. Avodart Side Effects
Propecia
Avodart
Propecia vs. Avodart Dosage
Propecia
Avodart
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 1 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 |
Propecia
| STAGE | DOSE | WHEN |
| Starting dose | 1 mg once daily | At the start |
| Maximum dose | 1 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 |
Propecia vs. Avodart Indications
Propecia
Propecia is FDA-approved for one specific use: treating male pattern hair loss in adult men only. It works by lowering a hormone that shrinks hair follicles on the scalp over time. It is not approved for women or for use in children.
Treats androgenetic alopecia (male pattern hair loss) in men
Not approved for women or children
Slows further hair loss and can help regrow scalp hair
FDA-approved since 1997 specifically for this use
Avodart
Avodart is FDA-approved to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate (BPH), not hair loss. Doctors sometimes prescribe it off-label for male pattern hair loss because it works similarly to Propecia. This hair loss use is common but has not been FDA-reviewed.
FDA-approved to treat enlarged prostate (BPH) symptoms
Reduces risk of urinary retention and BPH-related surgery
Used off-label for male pattern hair loss, not FDA-approved
Sometimes combined with tamsulosin for BPH treatment
Propecia vs. Avodart Pros and Cons
Propecia
Propecia has decades of safety data and is the only oral drug specifically FDA-approved for hair loss. It carries a lower overall rate of sexual side effects than Avodart in clinical trials, though rare cases of persistent symptoms have been reported.
Pros
FDA-approved specifically for male pattern hair loss
Lower rates of sexual side effects in clinical trials (1-2%)
Long track record of use since 1997
Cons
Not approved for treating an enlarged prostate
Post-finasteride syndrome has been reported after stopping
Only inhibits one of the two relevant enzyme types
Requires daily use indefinitely to maintain results
Avodart
Avodart's dual-enzyme action may make it more effective for hair regrowth in off-label studies, but it is not FDA-approved for this use, and its label reflects prostate-related data instead. Its long half-life means effects and side effects can linger for weeks after stopping.
Pros
Inhibits both enzyme types, which may boost hair-growth potency in studies
Also FDA-approved to treat an enlarged prostate (BPH)
Long half-life may allow flexible, less-frequent off-label dosing
Cons
Not FDA-approved for hair loss; use is off-label
Higher rates of sexual side effects in trials (5-7%)
Brand-name Avodart typically costs $1,600 to $1,900 per month
Side effects can linger for weeks after stopping due to long half-life
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