Dustasteride (Avodart) is an inhibitor for both type I and type II 5-alpha-reductase (finasteride only inhibits type II). Pharmacologically, it appears more potent than finasteride and various clinical trials suggest it is also effective in treating male pattern hair loss. However, clinical trials for dutasteride as a hair loss drug were called off by its manufacturer, GlaxoSmithKline, for publicly unknown reason in late 2002.

In December 2006, GlaxoSmithKline started a new Phase III study in Korea to test the safety, tolerability and effectiveness of a once-daily dose of dutasteride (0.5mg) for the treatment of male pattern baldness in the vertex region of the scalp. The future impact of this medication is yet to be determined.

However, a number of prominent hair transplant surgeons have performed limited studies and shown dutasteride to be as effective as finasteride. It can be a alternative if the patient does not respond to finasteride.

Typically, the dosage used by most hair surgeons is 0.5mg per day. It is important to know that dutasteride has a much longer half-life; hence, any side effect experienced may take longer to resolve.