Approved drug · Off-label use

Dutasteride for hair loss: uses, dosing, side effects and where to get it

A stronger cousin of finasteride that blocks both forms of the enzyme that makes DHT. Approved for prostate enlargement and used off-label for hair loss.

By the RxLineup editorial team · Fact-checked against provider sites and FDA labels · Updated Oct 17, 2026

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Active ingredient: Dutasteride
Made by: Generic manufacturers (approved capsules); compounding pharmacies (hair loss topicals, chews and capsules)
Form: Capsule, chewable, gel or topical solution
Price online: $39 to $69 a month for the dutasteride products that publish a monthly price, as of October 2026.

Safety

No boxed warning. Women who are or may be pregnant should not handle dutasteride capsules because of the risk to a male fetus. Do not donate blood until at least 6 months after your last dose. Dutasteride lowers PSA by about 50% and may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Sexual side effects such as impotence and decreased libido are listed on the label.

Talk to a licensed clinician about your health history and every medication you take before you start.

Legal status

Prescription only; FDA-approved for other uses. Off-label for hair loss in the US, with fetal-exposure and prostate-cancer warnings, so we list it with warnings. Compounded versions may be made for an individual prescription and are not FDA-approved.

What dutasteride for hair loss is

Every dutasteride hair product sold by the providers we track is compounded, in strengths or forms that differ from the approved 0.5 mg capsule.

Not approved for hair loss in the US. Dutasteride 0.5 mg capsules are FDA-approved for an enlarged prostate (BPH).

Dosing

Capsule, chewable, gel or topical solution, once a day. The approved BPH capsule is 0.5 mg a day. Hair loss products use their own strengths, for example 0.1 to 0.6 mg capsules or a 0.1% gel. Your clinician sets the dose for you.

How well it works

In a 24-week trial of 917 men aged 20 to 50, dutasteride 0.5 mg a day increased hair count and width more than finasteride 1 mg and placebo, with similar side effects across groups. The trial lasted only 24 weeks. Individual results vary.

Dutasteride for hair loss cost

$39 to $69 a month for the dutasteride products that publish a monthly price, as of October 2026.

Guides about dutasteride for hair loss

Dutasteride vs finasteride for hair loss

Questions, answered

How much does dutasteride for hair loss cost online?

$39 to $69 a month for the dutasteride products that publish a monthly price, as of October 2026.

Is dutasteride for hair loss FDA-approved?

Not for this use. Not approved for hair loss in the US. Dutasteride 0.5 mg capsules are FDA-approved for an enlarged prostate (BPH). Off-label for hair loss in the US, with fetal-exposure and prostate-cancer warnings, so we list it with warnings. Compounded versions may be made for an individual prescription and are not FDA-approved.

How do you take dutasteride for hair loss?

Capsule, chewable, gel or topical solution, once a day. The approved BPH capsule is 0.5 mg a day. Hair loss products use their own strengths, for example 0.1 to 0.6 mg capsules or a 0.1% gel.

What are the risks of dutasteride for hair loss?

Dutasteride for hair loss has no boxed warning. Women who are or may be pregnant should not handle dutasteride capsules because of the risk to a male fetus. Do not donate blood until at least 6 months after your last dose. Dutasteride lowers PSA by about 50% and may increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer. Sexual side effects such as impotence and decreased libido are listed on the label.

Can I get dutasteride for hair loss online?

A licensed clinician can prescribe dutasteride for hair loss after an online or in-person visit.