Dutasteride is the generic name for a new dual 5 alpha-reductase inhibitor made by GlaxoSmithKline. The drug is set to be marketed under the name Avodart™ in the US and Avolve™ in Europe in December 2002.

The FDA has approved Dutasteride for treating BPH (Benign Prostate Hyperplasia), the same condition that Proscar™, by made Merck, is used for. Dutasteride like Finasteride, the active ingredient in Proscar and Propecia, also has the added benefit of being able to be used to treat genetic hair loss in men also known as MPB or Androgenic Alopecia.

The difference between Dutasteride and Finasteride is that Dutasteride inhibits the activities of both the type 1 and type 2 5AR enzymes unlike Finasteride which only inhibits type 2. These enzymes are responsible for the conversion of testosterone into DHT (dihydrotestosterone). DHT is the primary cause of prostate growth and hair loss and Dutasteride decreases levels of DHT by 90 percent after only two weeks making it a much more powerful weapon against hair loss and BPH.

Dutasteride.org is a site dedicated to providing you with up-to date information about the use of Dutasteride for BPH and Androgenic Alopecia. It's important to note that the FDA has not approved Dutasteride for the treatment of hair loss but Glaxo has completed Phase 2 trials for its use in treating hair loss.

HAIR LOSS RESOURCES

If you are using Dutasteride or Avodart as a treatment for thinning hair or hair loss otherwise known as Male Pattern baldness, we recommend that you also consult these other resources for more hair loss and hair transplant information.

Hairlosshelp.com - General hair loss information resource for consumers with a very active hair loss information forum.

Hairtransplant.net - Site dedicated to surgical hair restoration and hair transplant information with doctor profiles and articles on hair transplantation.