Dutasteride Vs. Finasteride: Drug Comparison

Dutasteride is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Avodart^®. The information below is about brand name Avodart. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Avodart (dutasteride) is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which helps shrink the prostate and improve urinary symptoms. Its FDA-approved indication is for the treatment of BPH in men, and it may be used off-label to reduce the risk of prostate cancer or for male pattern hair loss. Avodart is available in capsule form. Common side effects include decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and breast tenderness or enlargement, while drug interactions may occur with other medications that affect certain liver enzymes. It is contraindicated in women of childbearing potential due to the risk of birth defects, and it should not be handled by pregnant women.

Finasteride is the active ingredient in the brand-name medication Proscar^®. The information below is about brand name Proscar. According to the FDA, “Generic medicines use the same active ingredients as brand-name medicines and work the same way, so they have the same risks and benefits as the brand-name medicines.”

Proscar (finasteride) is an oral medication used primarily to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition characterized by an enlarged prostate. By inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase, Proscar reduces the levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is responsible for prostate growth. This helps alleviate symptoms of BPH such as difficulty in urinating, reduced urine flow, and the need to urinate frequently or urgently. Proscar is taken once daily and may also help reduce the need for surgery related to BPH. However, it can cause side effects such as decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, and breast tenderness​.

5 alpha-reductase inhibitor

5α-reductase inhibitor

Avodart (dutasteride) is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to:

• Improve symptoms

• Reduce the risk of acute urinary retention

• Reduce the risk of the need for BPH-related surgery

Avodart in combination with the alpha-adrenergic antagonist, tamsulosin, is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic BPH in men with an enlarged prostate

Proscar (finasteride) is indicated:

• For the treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men with an enlarged prostate to:

  • Improve symptoms

  • Reduce the risk of acute urinary retention

  • Reduce the risk of the need for surgery including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and prostatectomy

Proscar (finasteride) administered in combination with the alpha-blocker doxazosin is indicated:

• To reduce the risk of symptomatic progression of BPH (a confirmed ≥4 point increase in American Urological Association [AUA] symptom score)

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 0.5 mg soft gelatin capsules

• Typically taken orally once daily

• Comes in 5 mg tablets

The most common adverse reactions, reported in ≥1% of subjects treated with Avodart and more commonly than in subjects treated with placebo, are:

• Impotence

• Decreased libido

• Ejaculation disorders

• Breast disorders

The drug-related adverse reactions, reported in ≥1% in patients treated with Proscar and greater than in patients treated with placebo over a 4-year study are:

• Erectile dysfunction

• Decreased libido

• Decreased volume of ejaculate

• Breast enlargement

• Breast tenderness and rash

• Pregnancy

• Patients with previously demonstrated, clinically significant hypersensitivity (e.g., serious skin reactions, angioedema) to Avodart or other 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors

• Drug interactions: potent, chronic cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 enzyme inhibitors (e.g., ritonavir)

• Hypersensitivity to any components of this product

• Females who are or may potentially be pregnant

• Avodart reduces serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentration by approximately 50%

• Avodart may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer

• Prior to initiating treatment with Avodart, consideration should be given to other urological conditions that may cause similar symptoms

• Women who are pregnant or may be pregnant should not handle Avodart capsules due to potential risk to a male fetus

• Patients should not donate blood until 6 months after their last dose of Avodart

• Proscar reduces serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels by approximately 50%. However, any confirmed increase in PSA while on Proscar may signal the presence of prostate cancer and should be evaluated, even if those values are still within the normal range for men not taking a 5α-reductase inhibitor

• Proscar may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer

• Females should not handle crushed or broken Proscar tablets when they are pregnant or may potentially be pregnant due to potential risk to a male fetus

• Proscar is not indicated for use in pediatric patients or females

• Prior to initiating treatment with Proscar for BPH, consideration should be given to other urological conditions that may cause similar symptoms

*This information is from the label for brand name Avodart^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Dutasteride, the active ingredient in Avodart, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient dutasteride.

*This information is from the label for brand name Proscar^®. See the Full Prescribing Information for more complete information. Finasteride, the active ingredient in Proscar, may also be the active ingredient in other medications, and this information may not be accurate for all medications that include the active ingredient finasteride.