85% of men will experience hair loss at some point in their life [1], whether this comes early on, or as you grow older, it’s something that no one is pleased about.
The good news is that if you are worried about your hairline receding, or noticing increased hair loss, there are quite a few different treatment options that you can go down.
From more intense – yet long-lasting – treatments like a hair transplant, to oral medication, most men are able to find a solution to hair loss that suits their needs.
One popular form of oral medication that can be used to counteract the effects of hair loss, is Dutasteride.
Men are normally advised to take this medication daily for the best results, but if you’re worried about side effects or adverse reactions, you may be wondering is it OK to take Dutasteride 3 times a week instead?
Keep on reading if you want to find out!
Dutasteride is a type of oral medication that is often prescribed under the brand name, Avodart. The medication is used to treat enlarged prostate but has also been found to be effective at reducing and preventing hair loss.
Dutasteride is most commonly studied in relation to another popular hair loss medication, Finasteride & Minoxidil.
Studies have found that Dutasteride is an effective treatment for hair loss, with some studies finding that it is even more effective than Finasteride [2].
In another study published in the American Academy of Dermatology [3], 917 men aged between 20–50 were asked to use either Finasteride or Dutasteride. The outcome of this study found that Dutasteride was able to outperform Finasteride when it came to increasing hair count, hair width, and hair growth.
Dutasteride currently only comes in one strength, a 0.5mg capsule, however, if you visit your pharmacy you may be able to get it in different doses, or in different forms.
Experts advise that Dutasteride should be taken once daily, swallowed with water and without food. You should try to take Dutasteride consistently at the same time of day, however, the time you choose is completely up to you and won’t affect the efficacy of the medication.
Although there have been some studies [4] that have compared the difference between 0.5mg Dutasteride with 1.0mg Finasteride – where Dutasteride proved to be superior – there have not been many studies that examine the results of higher dosages of Dutasteride to warrant a change in advised dosage.
You should also always listen to your doctor’s advice when it comes to taking prescribed medication, and get in touch with them if you notice any changes/reactions.
With any type of medication, if you want to get the best results possible, it’s always important to take it as advised. For Dutasteride, this means taking one capsule daily.
When you take Dutasteride less frequently than the intended dosage, you’re getting a much lower amount of the drug which will lead to slower results and may cause you to continue experiencing hair loss.
Although there have not been studies that have evaluated the results of Dutasteride when taken three times a week, there have been studies that have looked into lower doses of Dutasteride. In one [3], where patients were given either 0.02mg, 0.1mg, or 0.5 mg a day of Dutasteride, it was the 0.5mg dosage that significantly increased hair count and width after 24 weeks.
This is similar to Finasteride, where it’s also not advised to take three times a week.
Because Finasteride and Dutasteride act in a similar way, the side effects that some patients experience are also very similar.
Some of the most common side effects that people taking Dutasteride experience include:
However, these side effects are very rare and only occur in a small number of patients. In most studies, Dutasteride is found to be a largely well-tolerated drug [6].
It’s also worth noting that the majority of side effects that are experienced when taking Dutasteride only last as long as the patient is taking the drug. If you were to stop taking it, you would notice all the side effects disappearing – however, you’ll also notice your hair loss returning.
If you’ve tried Dutasteride and it hasn’t worked for you, or you’re looking to try something that is longer-lasting, one of the most effective treatments for hair loss is a hair transplant.
Although it may seem like an invasive procedure – and you may have heard some horror stories – it’s an extremely trusted and effective way to give you a fresh new head of hair.
Here at Wimpole Clinic, we’ve been helping men and women who have been suffering from hair loss for decades. Our most popular treatments are FUE (Follicular Unit Extraction) transplants and FUT (Follicular Unit Transplantations) which both provide the appearance of natural hair growth.
You can find out more about the different services we provide and see some before and after pictures from our previous patients by browsing our website
If you think this procedure may be the best next step in your hair loss journey, we’d love to talk you through the process and answer any questions that you may have.
Start off with one of our no-obligation consultation calls where you can talk to one of our experts before deciding if you’d like to go ahead with the procedure.
Simply fill in your details in the form below and we'll get in touch with you shortly.
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