Tadalafil vs Dutasteride: side-by-side comparison
Tadalafil (PDE5 inhibitor) and Dutasteride (Dual 5α-reductase inhibitor (type 1 and type 2)) 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 | Tadalafil | Dutasteride |
|---|---|---|
| Therapeutic class | PDE5 inhibitor | Dual 5α-reductase inhibitor (type 1 and type 2) |
| CAS | 171596-29-5 | 164656-23-9 |
| ATC | G04BE08 | G04CB02 |
| Molecular weight | 389.4 g/mol | 528.53 g/mol |
| Brands with this active ingredient | 7 | 1 |
What they share
Tadalafil and Dutasteride 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
Tadalafil acts by a different mechanism than Dutasteride, 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
Tadalafil: Tadalafil hemmt selektiv PDE5, das Enzym, das zyklisches Guanosinmonophosphat im Corpus cavernosum und in anderen vaskulären glatten Muskeln abbaut. Dutasteride: Dutasterid hemmt irreversibel beide Isoenzyme der 5α-Reduktase, des Enzyms, das Testosteron zu Dihydrotestosteron (DHT) umwandelt.
Indications compared
Tadalafil: Tadalafil ist für drei Indikationen zugelassen: erektile Dysfunktion bei erwachsenen Männern, Symptome des unteren Harntrakts bei benigner Prostatahyperplasie und pulmonale arterielle Hypertonie. Dutasteride: Dutasterid ist zugelassen bei symptomatischer benigner Prostatahyperplasie, allein oder in Kombination mit Tamsulosin (Combodart/Jalyn) zur stärkeren Symptomlinderung.
Safety profile
Tadalafil: Häufige Nebenwirkungen in klinischen Studien sind Kopfschmerzen, Dyspepsie, Rückenschmerzen, Myalgie, verstopfte Nase und Flush. Dutasteride: Häufige Nebenwirkungen sind sexuelle Funktionsstörungen (verminderte Libido, erektile Dysfunktion, Ejakulationsstörungen), Gynäkomastie und Brustspannen.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
Is Tadalafil better than Dutasteride? ▾
Tadalafil and Dutasteride are not "better or worse" — they treat different things. The sensible question is which fits your specific need.
Can Tadalafil and Dutasteride 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 Tadalafil
Products with Dutasteride
Die Informationen auf dieser Website dienen ausschließlich zu Referenz- und Bildungszwecken. Sie ersetzen nicht die Beratung durch qualifiziertes medizinisches Fachpersonal.