Minoxidil + Dutasteride Rx
Minoxidil is used as treatment for male hair loss. It is a vasodilator that increases blood flow to the scalp, as well as being a potassium channel opener which allows more oxygen, blood, and nutrients to reach the hair follicle.
Oral minoxidil may be a great alternative for those who don’t respond well to topical minoxidil, or have issues with some of its side effects (scalp irritation, brittle hair), cost, product residue, or application frequency.
Strength
What is Minoxidil?
Minoxidil is one of two FDA-approved treatments for hair loss and has been approved for both men and women. Originally developed as an oral drug to treat high blood pressure, however, when patients started reporting unwanted hair regrowth after 3+ months of use, its manufacturers decided to reformulate it into a topical and begin testing it on men with androgenetic alopecia. Nowadays, minoxidil comes in both topical and oral forms, however, only the topical form is FDA-approved for hair loss.
What is Dutasteride?
Dutasteride addresses hair loss by inhibiting 5-alpha-reductase, an enzyme converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT), implicated in the miniaturization of hair follicles seen in androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). This gradual process results in smaller follicles producing thinner and shorter hair, eventually leading to the cessation of growth in affected follicles.
Studies
Journal of clinical & experimental dermatology researchTitle: Combination therapy with oral minoxidil and dutasteride in the treatment of male patterned baldness: A case report
Key Takeaways
A combination therapy with oral minoxidil, 2.5 mg/day, and dutasteride, 0.5 mg alternate day was found to produce quick results in male patterned baldness of advanced grades with minimal adverse effects.JDA Indian Journal of Clinical DermatologyTitle: Platelet Rich Plasma, 5% Minoxidil Lotion and Oral Dutasteride Versus 5% Minoxidil Lotion and Oral Dutasteride in Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Pilot Study in Routine Clinical Setting
Key Takeaways
Combination of PRP therapy monthly with tab dutasteride 0.5mg twice weekly and minoxidil 5% lotion once daily produced statistically significant and better results in comparison to minoxidil 5% lotion with tab dutasteride 0.5 mg twice weekly iAdjunctive use of autologous PRP has advantage in augmenting faster control of hair loss with these drugs with better patient compliance and satisfaction from the treatment. However, a larger sampled, double blinded, placebocontrolled randomized study with precise objective parameters is required to establish its greater role in AGA.Additional Links & Studies
Is topical minoxidil solution effective on androgenetic alopecia in routine daily practice?
Minoxidil: a review of its pharmacological properties and therapeutic use
Clinical utility and validity of minoxidil response testing in androgenetic alopecia
Novel enzymatic assay predicts minoxidil response in the treatment of androgenetic alopecia
Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor
The importance of dual 5alpha-reductase inhibition in the treatment of male pattern hair loss: results of a randomized placebo-controlled study of dutasteride versus finasteride
Superiority of dutasteride over finasteride in hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization in men with androgenetic alopecia: A randomized controlled open-label, evaluator-blinded study
Changes in hair weight and hair count in men with androgenetic alopecia after treatment with finasteride, 1 mg, daily
How ulo works
Select your desired treatment
Don't know where to start? We can help you with that.
Answer a few questions about your goals and health history
Match with a licensed provider
Get your quality medication delivered
Meet the Team
Hair Loss Medical Advisors
William Rassman
MD, Founder of the New Hair Institute (NHI)
Heidi Goodarzi, M.D.
Medical, Surgical, and Cosmetic Dermatologist
Related products
We believe in clean and responsible hair.
Every product we formulate is free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates, mineral oils, GMOs, and is always cruelty-free. Based on your preferences, we can make your formula vegan, silicone-free, or fragrance-free.
