Dutasteride vs. finasteride for BPH quick comparison
- Dutasteride (Avodart) and finasteride (Proscar) are inhibitors of steroid 5 alpha-reductase.
- Both drugs are used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate.
- Both dutasteride and finasteride help lower the amount of a specific hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), that causes growth of the prostate gland.
- utasteride is sometimes given with tamsulosin (Flomax), another drug used to treat signs and symptoms of an enlarged prostate.
- Both drugs are available in generic forms.
- Side effects of dutasteride and finasteride that are similar include impotence and decreased sex drive, for example, impotence, decrease in interest in sex, testicle swelling or pain.
- Dutasteride may also cause ejaculation disorder, breast enlargement, and breast tenderness.
What is dutasteride? What is finasteride? How do they work?
Dutasteride (Avodart) is a synthetic 4-azasteroid compound that is a selective inhibitor of both the type 1 and type 2 isoforms of steroid 5 alpha-reductase used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. The drug works by preventing the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body, which helps improve urinary flow and may also reduce the need for prostate surgery later. Dutasteride is sometimes given with tamsulosin (Flomax), which is used to treat signs and symptoms of enlarged prostate.
Finasteride (Proscar) is an inhibitor of steroid Type II 5a-reductase used to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. Finasteride works by decreasing the amount of a natural body hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) that causes growth of the prostate, which lowers blood and tissue DHT levels and helps reduce the size of the prostate gland. While finasteride can result in reductions in the size of the prostate gland in virtually all patients who take it, only half will have improvement in the symptoms of BPH. Many patients respond to finasteride within several weeks, but it can take up to 6 months for patients to experience the full effects of the drug.
What are the uses for dutaseride vs. finasteride?
Dutasteride is used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. It improves symptoms of enlarged prostate, reduces retaining of urine, and reduces the risk of the need for prostate surgery.
Finasteride is prescribed for the treatment of enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, BPH) under the brand name "Proscar." Finasteride also is prescribed to treat male pattern baldness in androgenetic alopecia in males only, under the brand name Propecia.
Side effects of dutaseride vs. fintaseride
Similar sexual side effects of dutasteride and finasteride are:
- Erectile dysfunction
- Decreased libido
- Ejaculation disorder
- Breast enlargement and tenderness.
Other dutasteride side effects
- Allergic reaction such as swelling under the skin may occur. Dutasteride also increases risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Patients must contact their healthcare professional if unusual reactions to dutasteride occur.
Other finasteride side effects
- Finasteride should not be used by women, children, or male partners of women trying to become pregnant.
- Finasteride should not be used until a thorough prostate examination has been done to exclude cancer, stricture, or infection in the gland. Rarely, cases of male breast cancer have been reported.
What is the dosage of dutaseride vs. finasteride?
Dutasteride dosage: The recommended dose of dutasteride is 0.5 mg once daily; do not chew the medication and do not administer to pediatric patients.
Finasteride dosage: Finasteride is metabolized mainly by the liver, and caution should be used in patients with liver dysfunction. Finasteride may be taken with or without food.
Which drugs interact with dutaseride vs. finasteride?
Dutasteride drug interactions
- Medications such as ketoconazole (Nizoral), cimetidine (Tagamet), diltiazem (Cardizem), verapamil (Calan), ritonavir (Norvir) and clarithromycin (Biaxin) slow down the breakdown of dutasteride. This may lead to increased levels of dutasteride in the body, increasing side effects such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and impotence.
- Medications such as carbamazepine (Tegretol) and primidone (Mysoline) increase the breakdown of dutasteride in the body. This may lead to decreased levels of dutasteride in the body, lowering the beneficial effects of the medication.
Finasteride drug interactions generally are no problem.
Is it safe to take dutaseride or finasateride if I’m pregnant or breastfeeding?
Dutasteride: Dutasteride is not recommended to pregnant females because it can cause birth defects in the unborn child. It is not known whether dutasteride enters breast milk.
Finasteride: Finasteride causes abnormal development of the sexual organs of the male fetus. Therefore, women who are pregnant or are likely to be pregnant should not handle crushed or broken finasteride tablets in order to prevent absorption through the skin.