Dutasteride vs Finasteride: side-by-side comparison
Dutasteride (Dual 5α-reductase inhibitor (type 1 and type 2)) and Finasteride (5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (type II)) belong to different therapeutic classes and are rarely substitutes for each other. The comparison is useful when a single patient is weighing both options for adjacent or overlapping needs.
| Property | Dutasteride | Finasteride |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | Dual 5α-reductase inhibitor (type 1 and type 2) | 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor (type II) |
| CAS | 164656-23-9 | 98319-26-7 |
| ATC | G04CB02 | G04CB01 |
| Molecular weight | 528.53 g/mol | 372.5 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 1 | 1 |
What they share
Dutasteride and Finasteride share the common regulatory framework for prescription active ingredients, bioequivalence standards for generics, and pharmacist oversight. Beyond that, points in common are limited.
Key differences
Dutasteride acts by a different mechanism than Finasteride, with indications that barely overlap. Comparing the two is useful when a clinician has mentioned both in the same context or the patient wants to understand why one was prescribed instead of the other.
Mechanisms compared
Dutasteride: Dutasterid hemmt irreversibel beide Isoenzyme der 5α-Reduktase, des Enzyms, das Testosteron zu Dihydrotestosteron (DHT) umwandelt. Finasteride: Finasterid bindet mit hoher Affinität an die 5-alpha-Reduktase Typ II und blockiert die Umwandlung von Testosteron in DHT.
Indications compared
Dutasteride: Dutasterid ist zugelassen bei symptomatischer benigner Prostatahyperplasie, allein oder in Kombination mit Tamsulosin (Combodart/Jalyn) zur stärkeren Symptomlinderung. Finasteride: Finasterid ist in einer Dosierung von 5 mg pro Tag zur Behandlung der benignen Prostatahyperplasie bei erwachsenen Männern zugelassen, wo es das Prostatavolumen reduziert, den Harnfluss verbessert und das Risiko eines ak…
Safety profile
Dutasteride: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind sexuelle Funktionsstörungen (verminderte Libido, erektile Dysfunktion, Ejakulationsstörungen), Gynäkomastie und Brustspannen. Finasteride: Häufige Nebenwirkungen umfassen sexuelle Funktionsstörungen (verminderte Libido, erektile Dysfunktion, Ejakulationsstörungen), die in klinischen Studien bei etwa 1–3 % der Männer berichtet wurden.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Is Dutasteride better than Finasteride? ▾
Dutasteride and Finasteride are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Dutasteride and Finasteride be combined? ▾
Whether they can be combined depends on the indications and the interaction profile of each. If both are in a single prescription, the prescriber has weighed it; in self-medication they should never be combined.
Do they have the same side-effect profile? ▾
No — they belong to different classes and have distinct side-effect profiles. Each has its own prescribing information.
Products with Dutasteride
Products with Finasteride
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