#23 Avodart (Dutasteride)

What is Avodart?  Avodart (dutasteride) prevents the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body.  DHT is involved in the development of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).  Avodart is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate. It helps improve urinary flow and may also reduce your need for prostate surgery later on.

Avodart should never be taken by a woman or a child. Dutasteride can be absorbed through the skin, and women or children should not be permitted to handle the capsules. Although Avodart is not for use by women, this medication can cause birth defects if a woman is exposed to it during pregnancy. Avodart capsules should not be handled by a woman who is pregnant or who may become pregnant.

This potent drug has shown to be effective in stopping the process of male pattern baldness, in much the same way Propecia (finasteride) does. Although potentially one of the most effective treatments for hair loss, there are some downsides to this drug.


Avodart can only be prescribed by your doctor, and potential side-effects from using Avodart can include:

• decreased libido (sex drive);
• decreased amount of semen released during sex;
• impotence (trouble getting or keeping an erection); or
• breast tenderness or enlargement.

More tests are needed to prove Avodart's effectiveness for treating hair loss. We rank it at number 23 on our Top 50 Hair Loss Treatments list because it can be hugely effective for men battling baldness, but its major side-effects bring its position down.

Read more about Avodart: Can Dutasteride Treat Hair Loss?