Comprehensive medication guide to Dutasteride including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$30 copay for generic dutasteride with most commercial insurance plans; typically Tier 1–2 on formularies. Medicare Part D plans generally cover it at low cost. Brand-name Avodart may require prior authorization and step therapy.
Estimated Cash Pricing
Retail price is approximately $165–$170 for 30 capsules (0.5 mg) without insurance; as low as $4–$12 with a free GoodRx or SingleCare coupon at major pharmacies for a 30-day supply.
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Dutasteride is a prescription medication sold under the brand name Avodart (manufactured by GSK). It belongs to a class of drugs called 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) and is FDA-approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — commonly called an enlarged prostate — in men. It is also widely used off-label for androgenetic alopecia (male and female pattern hair loss).
Dutasteride was first approved by the FDA in November 2001. Its patent expired in November 2015, and since then generic dutasteride has been available in the US from multiple manufacturers including Teva, Camber Pharmaceuticals, and Heritage Pharmaceuticals. In 2023, it was the 236th most commonly prescribed medication in the US with over 1 million prescriptions written.
Dutasteride comes as 0.5 mg soft gelatin capsules taken once daily, with or without food. The capsules should be swallowed whole — not chewed, crushed, or opened. It is also available in combination with tamsulosin (an alpha-blocker) under the brand name Jalyn for BPH treatment.
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Dutasteride works by blocking both type I and type II isoforms of the enzyme 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme is responsible for converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — the hormone primarily responsible for driving prostate growth and hair follicle miniaturization. By inhibiting both enzyme types, dutasteride reduces serum DHT levels by up to 90–98% at the standard dose of 0.5 mg daily.
This makes dutasteride a "dual" 5-alpha reductase inhibitor — unlike finasteride, which only inhibits the type II isoform (reducing DHT by approximately 65–70%). In clinical trials, dutasteride reduced total prostate volume by approximately 25% over two years, improving urinary flow and reducing the risk of acute urinary retention and the need for surgery.
Dutasteride has an exceptionally long terminal half-life of approximately 4–5 weeks (up to 300 hours in men over 70), which means it takes 5–6 months to reach steady-state blood concentrations and can be detected in the bloodstream for up to 4–6 months after discontinuation. This long half-life is why clinical benefits take months to appear and why the blood donation restriction extends 6 months after stopping the drug.
0.5 mg — soft gelatin capsule
Standard dose: one capsule once daily, with or without food. Swallow whole — do not chew, crush, or open.
Dutasteride is generally well-stocked as a generic medication — it is not on any national FDA or ASHP shortage list as of 2026. Multiple manufacturers supply the US market, providing good supply chain resilience. However, individual pharmacies can experience temporary stocking gaps, particularly smaller locations or those serving areas with high demand for off-label hair loss prescriptions.
If your local pharmacy is out of stock, try calling other pharmacies in your area or asking your pharmacist to place a special order (typically arrives in 1–3 business days). Mail-order pharmacies through your insurance plan typically have more consistent inventory for this long-term maintenance medication.
For the fastest solution, use medfinder — a service that calls pharmacies near you on your behalf to find which ones currently have dutasteride in stock. Simply provide your medication, dosage, and location, and medfinder will identify available pharmacies and text you the results.
Dutasteride is not a controlled substance, so it can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider in the US without special DEA registration. A wide range of specialists and general practitioners prescribe it for both its FDA-approved BPH indication and its off-label use for hair loss.
Urologists — primary specialists for BPH diagnosis and management
Primary care physicians (PCPs) — family medicine and internal medicine doctors frequently prescribe for BPH
Dermatologists — specialists for off-label hair loss prescriptions (androgenetic alopecia)
Nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) — in urology, primary care, or men's health practices
Endocrinologists — may prescribe in hormone management contexts (e.g., transgender care)
Telehealth is a convenient option for dutasteride prescriptions — particularly for hair loss. Platforms like Hims, Keeps, and Teladoc can connect patients with licensed providers who can prescribe dutasteride off-label for androgenetic alopecia in most US states. The prescription can then be sent to a local or mail-order pharmacy.
No. Dutasteride is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. It does not have abuse potential and can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare provider without special DEA registration. Prescriptions can be called in, faxed, or sent electronically without the restrictions that apply to Schedule II–V medications.
While dutasteride is not a controlled substance, it does carry important warnings. Women who are or may become pregnant must not handle dutasteride capsules, as the drug can be absorbed through the skin and cause birth defects in male fetuses. Patients taking dutasteride must also not donate blood during treatment or for 6 months after stopping, due to the drug's persistence in the bloodstream.
The most common side effects of dutasteride are sexual in nature. In the largest BPH clinical trial (6,729 men), the following were reported more often than placebo:
Decreased libido (sex drive) — ~3.3% of users vs 1.6% placebo
Erectile dysfunction (ED) — ~9% vs 5.7% placebo
Ejaculation disorders (decreased semen volume, other changes)
Breast tenderness or enlargement (gynecomastia) — ~1.9% vs 1% placebo
Increased risk of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason 8–10) — FDA warning added 2011 based on REDUCE trial data
Severe allergic reactions — angioedema (swelling of face, lips, tongue, throat), urticaria (hives), rash. Stop immediately and seek emergency care.
Fetal harm — pregnant women must not handle; causes birth defects in male fetuses
Mood changes, depression, anxiety — monitor and report to prescriber
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Finasteride (Proscar, Propecia)
The most closely related alternative. Also a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor but inhibits only type II (reducing DHT by ~65-70% vs dutasteride's ~98%). FDA-approved for both BPH (Proscar 5 mg) and hair loss (Propecia 1 mg). Very inexpensive generic, widely stocked.
Tamsulosin (Flomax)
Alpha-blocker for BPH; relaxes prostate and bladder muscles for faster urinary symptom relief. Does not shrink prostate. Works in days vs months for 5-ARIs. Often combined with dutasteride (available as Jalyn).
Silodosin (Rapaflo)
Selective alpha-1A blocker for BPH urinary symptoms; fast onset; may cause retrograde ejaculation. Good alternative for patients needing quick symptom relief.
Tadalafil (Cialis)
PDE5 inhibitor FDA-approved at 5 mg daily for BPH; also treats erectile dysfunction. Useful when a patient has both BPH and ED.
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CYP3A4 inhibitors (ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, clarithromycin)
moderateSlow down dutasteride metabolism, increasing blood levels and risk of side effects including sexual dysfunction.
CYP3A4 inducers (carbamazepine, rifampin, St. John's Wort)
moderateSpeed up dutasteride metabolism, reducing blood levels and potentially reducing effectiveness.
Cimetidine (Tagamet)
minorOTC antacid that inhibits CYP enzymes; can increase dutasteride plasma concentrations. Inform prescriber if using regularly.
Grapefruit / grapefruit juice
minorContains furanocoumarins that inhibit intestinal CYP3A4; may increase dutasteride levels. Limit consumption while on dutasteride.
Tamsulosin (Flomax)
minorFDA-approved combination for BPH (as Jalyn). Additive benefit for urinary symptoms. Monitor for orthostatic hypotension, especially with other antihypertensives.
Dutasteride is one of the most effective and affordable treatments available for BPH, with the added advantage of a growing evidence base for androgenetic alopecia. As a widely available generic since 2015, it offers the same therapeutic benefit as brand-name Avodart at a fraction of the cost — as little as $4–$12 per month with a GoodRx coupon.
While it has no active national shortage, individual pharmacies can run out. Patients who encounter stocking issues should call multiple pharmacies, use mail-order through their insurance plan, or ask their pharmacist to place a special order. Its long half-life (4–5 weeks) means brief supply gaps are less clinically urgent than with many other medications.
If you need help finding dutasteride in stock near you, medfinder calls pharmacies in your area on your behalf and texts you which ones can fill your prescription — saving you hours of frustration.
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Our medication guides are researched and written to help patients make informed decisions. All content is reviewed for accuracy and updated regularly. Learn more about our standards
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