Dutasteride
Dutasteride is a once-daily capsule that shrinks an enlarged prostate; in some countries it is also licensed for male pattern hair loss. Two 0.5mg versions are sold here: Avodart and Dutas.
What dutasteride does to an enlarged prostate
If the urine stream has slowed, the bladder never quite feels empty and nights are broken by trips to the toilet, an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH) is often the reason. The gland grows under the influence of dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, a hormone made from testosterone by an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase. Dutasteride blocks both forms of that enzyme — type 1 and type 2 — so DHT in the blood falls sharply and the prostate slowly shrinks, taking pressure off the urethra, the tube urine leaves the bladder through. DHT also shrinks hair follicles on the scalp, which is why some countries, Japan and South Korea among them, also license the capsule for male pattern hair loss.
A slow medicine, taken daily
A week into the capsules little has changed at the toilet, and that is normal. DHT drops within days, but the prostate takes months to shrink and the urinary symptoms follow at that pace. The 0.5mg capsule is swallowed whole, not chewed or emptied out, once a day at a time you will remember, with or without food. If a day is missed, take the next capsule as usual instead of doubling up. Stopping lets DHT climb, the prostate regrow and the symptoms return, which is why treatment tends to be long-term.
Avodart, Dutas and plain dutasteride capsules
Two dutasteride products are sold here, both 0.5mg capsules: Avodart and Dutas. Strength and form are identical; what differs is the brand name on the pack. Plain dutasteride capsules are the same 0.5mg again, so the name and the pack size are what a buyer actually weighs up. All of them sit in the men's health section of the shop.
Side effects to expect
Lower DHT affects sexual function most often: less interest in sex, difficulty getting or keeping an erection, and less semen at ejaculation. Some men get breast tenderness or enlargement, and a rash or dizziness turns up in a few. Many of these ease as the months pass. Low mood has also been reported, building slowly rather than arriving at once. The rare fast reaction is swelling of the lips, face or tongue, or sudden difficulty breathing, and that needs urgent treatment.
Medicines that raise dutasteride levels
Some medicines slow the enzyme that clears dutasteride from the body, leaving more of it in the blood: certain antifungal tablets, some HIV medicines and a few treatments for the heart or blood pressure. The capsule contents can also pass through the skin, and dutasteride can harm a male foetus, so anyone who is pregnant or could become pregnant should not handle the capsules.
Sources
- Dutasteride: MedlinePlus Drug Information — National Library of Medicine
- Enlarged prostate - NHS — NHS
Is Dutasteride available to order in Hong Kong?
Dutasteride can be ordered online for delivery to Hong Kong. The page carries generic Avodart and Dutas, also sold as Dutasteride capsules, both as 0.5mg capsules. A parcel that does not arrive within its delivery window, or arrives damaged, is sent again free, and where that is not possible the order is refunded.
How much do Dutasteride products cost in Hong Kong?
Each of the two dutasteride products has its own price per pack, shown on its page in HKD or your selected currency; larger packs usually cost less per unit.
Do I need a prescription to order Dutasteride?
PockDose does not ask you to upload a prescription when you order dutasteride. See the ordering FAQ for details.
What are the brand names for dutasteride?
Avodart is a brand name of dutasteride, which is also sold as Veltride. Here, dutasteride can be bought online as generic Avodart and Dutas. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does dutasteride take to work?
It works slowly. DHT levels fall within days, but the prostate shrinks gradually and urinary symptoms usually improve over several months rather than weeks. A few days on the capsules tells you very little, because the change in prostate size builds up over roughly half a year.
Can I drink alcohol with dutasteride?
Alcohol does not interact with dutasteride, so there is no need to avoid it. A heavy night can leave anyone dizzy or light-headed, though, and dizziness is also a side effect of the capsules, so the two together may feel stronger than either alone.
What is the difference between dutasteride and finasteride?
Both block 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that makes DHT. Dutasteride blocks both forms of the enzyme while finasteride blocks one, and dutasteride clears from the body far more slowly. Both treat an enlarged prostate; low-dose finasteride is the usual hair-loss tablet, while dutasteride is licensed for hair loss only in some countries.
Does dutasteride affect PSA levels?
Yes. Dutasteride lowers PSA (prostate-specific antigen) by roughly half over the first months of treatment. PSA is a blood marker used in prostate cancer checks, so a reading taken while on the capsules is about half what it would otherwise be.
Can dutasteride be used for hair loss?
In some countries, yes: Japan and South Korea license the 0.5mg capsule for male pattern hair loss, while elsewhere it is licensed for an enlarged prostate. It is taken once a day, and hair changes are slow, so expect months of steady use before any difference is clear.