Dutasteride monotherapy for androgenetic alopecia, meaning dutasteride without a second agent, has been tested head-to-head against finasteride in two randomized trials: a 917-man dose-ranging study (Gubelin Harcha 2014) and a 90-man Indian trial (Shanshanwal 2017). Both found dutasteride 0.5 mg daily superior to finasteride at 24 weeks. This is an off-label use; the FDA approves dutasteride for bph/">benign prostatic hyperplasia only.
Key Findings
- 917 men aged 20 to 50 were randomised to dutasteride 0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 mg/day, finasteride 1 mg/day, or placebo for 24 weeks
- Hair count and width increased dose-dependently with dutasteride; 0.5 mg significantly beat finasteride 1 mg on hair count (P=.003), hair width (P=.004) and panel photographic assessment (P=.002)
- The number and severity of adverse events were similar across all treatment groups
- Both trials ran only 24 weeks, so nothing here speaks to outcomes beyond six months
Dutasteride + minoxidil · Dutasteride vs finasteride · All studies
Sources
- Gubelin Harcha W, Barboza Martínez J, Tsai TF, et al. A randomized, active- and placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of different doses of dutasteride versus placebo and finasteride in the treatment of male subjects with androgenetic alopecia. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2014;70(3):489-498.e3. PubMed 24411083
- Shanshanwal SJ, Dhurat RS. Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: a randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2017;83(1):47-54. PubMed 27549867