Clinical data | |
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Trade names | Avodart |
AHFS/Drugs.com | Monograph |
MedlinePlus | a603001 |
Pregnancy category |
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Routes of administration |
By mouth |
ATC code | G04CB02 (WHO) |
Legal status | |
Legal status | |
Pharmacokinetic data | |
Bioavailability | 60% |
Protein binding | 99% |
Metabolism | Liver (CYP3A4-mediated) |
Biological half-life | 4 to 5 weeks |
Excretion | Feces |
Identifiers | |
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Synonyms | GG-745, GI-198745 |
CAS Number | 164656-23-9 |
PubChem (CID) | 6918296 |
IUPHAR/BPS | 7457 |
DrugBank | DB01126 |
ChemSpider | 5293502 |
UNII | O0J6XJN02I |
KEGG | D03820 |
ChEBI | CHEBI:521033 |
ChEMBL | CHEMBL1200969 |
ECHA InfoCard | 100.166.372 |
Chemical and physical data | |
Formula | C27H30F6N2O2 |
Molar mass | 528.53 g/mol |
3D model (Jmol) | Interactive image |
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(what is this?) |
Dutasteride, sold under the brand name Avodart among others, is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate) and androgenetic alopecia (pattern hair loss).
It was developed by GlaxoSmithKline and is a 5α-reductase inhibitor which prevents the conversion of the androgen sex hormone testosterone into the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The drug has been licensed for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in South Korea since 2009, but has not been approved for this specific indication in the United States, though it is commonly used off-label.
Dutasteride is useful for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); colloquially known as an "enlarged prostate". It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the U.S. for this indication.
In those who are being regularly screened, 5α-reductase inhibitors such as finasteride and dutasteride reduce the overall risk of being diagnosed with prostate cancer; however, there is insufficient data to determine if they have an effect on the risk of death and may increase the chance of more serious cases.
Dutasteride is approved for the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia in South Korea at a dosage of 0.5 mg per day. It has been found in several studies to improve hair growth in men more rapidly and to a greater extent than 2.5 mg/day finasteride. Dutasteride has also been used off-label in the treatment of female pattern hair loss.