Dutasteride is a drug that shouldn't be taken by women of child-bearing age. However in certain circumstances, and for women post menopause, dutasteride has been prescribed for hair loss 'off-label'.
The use of dutasteride has shown to be helpful in several types of hair loss in post-menopausal women. For women with typical female patterned hair loss, dutasteride only works while its being used as a treatment for hair loss. Once stopped the benefits are usually lost in 6-9 months and the hair quality, as well as density, returns to the way it was before introducing the dutasteride treatment.
What is Dutasteride?
Dutasteride is a prescription only medicine that belongs to a group of drugs that are known as 5-alpha reductatse inhibitors. It works by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihyrotestosterone (DHT). By reducing DHT levels dutasteride aims to slow down, stop or reverse any hair loss that DHT may have caused.
Key side effects to be aware of:
Mood changes / Depression
Decreased libido
Weight gain
Enlargement of breast tissue
Breast tenderness
Skin rash
When not to use Dutasteride:
If you are pregnant or planning to get pregnant
History of breast cancer
Donating blood
Allergic to dutasteride