Dutasteride
Dutasteride, sold under the brand name Avodart among others, is a medication primarily used to treat the symptoms of a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an enlarged prostate not associated with cancer. A few months may be required before benefits occur. It is also used for scalp hair loss in men and as a part of hormone therapy in transgender women. It is usually taken by mouth.
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Trade names | Avodart, others |
Other names | GG-745; GI-198745; GI-198745X; N-[2,5-Bis(trifluoromethyl)phenyl]-3-oxo-4-aza-5α-androst-1-ene-17β-carboxamide |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a603001 |
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Routes of administration | By mouth |
Drug class | 5α-Reductase inhibitor |
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Bioavailability | 60% |
Protein binding | 99% |
Metabolism | Liver (CYP3A4) |
Metabolites | • 4'-Hydroxydutasteride • 6'-Hydroxydutasteride • 1,2-Dihydrodutasteride (All three active) |
Elimination half-life | 4–5 weeks |
Excretion | Feces: 40% (metabolites) Urine: 5% (unchanged) |
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ECHA InfoCard | 100.166.372 |
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Formula | C27H30F6N2O2 |
Molar mass | 528.539 g·mol−1 |
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The most commonly reported side effects of dutasteride, although rare, include sexual dysfunction and depression. In the largest available study of 6,729 men with BPH, 9% experienced erectile dysfunction (compared to 5.7% treated with a placebo), 3.3% experienced decreased sex drive (vs 1.6% of placebo), and 1.9% had enlarged breasts (vs 1% of placebo). Exposure during pregnancy is specifically contraindicated because antiandrogens such as dutasteride have been shown to interfere with the sexual development of male fetuses.
Dutasteride was patented in 1993 by GlaxoSmithKline and was approved for medical use in 2001. In the United States and elsewhere, it is available as a generic medication. In 2018, it was the 291st-most commonly prescribed medication in the US with more than 1 million prescriptions.