Dutasteride is a so-called second generation dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibitor produced by the pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline. Like Finasteride (Propecia), it was developed to treat the enlargement of the prostate gland in men known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). As was the case during Merck's Finasteride testing back in the 1990s, Dutasteride's beneficial effects on hair loss became apparent during GlaxoSmithKline's clinical trials of the drug as a treatment for BPH. Dutasteride was granted FDA approval as a drug to treat BPH and appeared on the market in 2003 branded as Avodart. For the purposes of treating BPH, the recommended dose is a 0.5 mg soft gel capsule once daily. It is important to note that at this stage, Dutasteride has not been approved by the FDA for the purposes of treating hair loss. If this ever occurs, like Finasteride it will only be approved for use by men.
In a repeat of the history of Finasteride's development as a hair loss drug, GlaxoSmithKline set about conducting trials into the use of Dutasteride, their own DHT inhibitor, for the same purposes. However, the company shelved their plans for a drug to rival Finasteride in the market for hair loss treatments after phase 2 trials of Dutasteride had been completed. It is not clear why they didn't go through with a final phase of testing the drug in preparation for its approval as a hair loss treatment but it has been speculated that market forces were responsible. The company had been going through a number of mergers which may have had an impact on continuity in decision making among their various divisions. In addition to this, Finasteride, while already established on the market as an effective hair loss treatment, had not been meeting Wall Street's profit expectations. This may have been due to negative publicity surrounding the potential side effects of the drug as far as sex drive and sexual performance were concerned.
Dutasteride is a dual DHT inhibitor, meaning that it acts on both type I and type II of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase. Results have shown that its use can lead to a 93% reduction in the conversion of testosterone into DHT in the body, much higher than the inhibiting ability of Finasteride. It is possible that executives at GlaxoSmithKline were uneasy about the fact that because their DHT inhibitor was more powerful than Finasteride, despite the fact that this led to increased benefits as far as hair loss were concerned, the drug might be too strong for a nervous market in which Finasteride was already underperforming.
Although not confirmed, the final phase of Dutasteride testing may once again be underway. In the meantime it has begun to be prescribed off-label for some men hoping that its powers to inhibit DHT will help them retain or grow back more of their hair than Finasteride is capable of achieving for them. Because its side effects may be more severe and neither the dosage nor the long term impact of the drug for the purposes of hair loss have been approved by the FDA however, there are many reasons to be wary about the use of Dutasteride in this way.
Still, this could be the next systemic drug to be approved by the FDA to treat hair loss. If you are impatient and willing to take the risk, a 0.5 mg soft gel will currently cost you $2-3 per dose with a prescription. Beware however that it is not possible to easily divide a soft gel capsule into smaller quantities the way Finasteride users have been able to cut up larger doses of Proscar originally intended to treat BPH. Also, considering the fact that studies have shown that Dutasteride remains in the body for up to 240 hours (as opposed to 6-8 for Finasteride) after being taken, and that in some cases DHT was at only 25% of its normal levels up to a year after ceasing to take the drug, you might want to think seriously about those uncharted side effects. As with Finasteride, Dutasteride should never be handled by women who are pregnant or may become pregnant.
You can buy Avodart here
.
a very big bang potential. too big. you'd do it avodart if you will pardon a touch of what your fellows like to see him pull it off?"
the trooper said nothing for a second.
over the intercom holloway said slowly. "i'll say that. i don't think i ever saw so much guts."
"there will be that richards got a little itchy on the desolate, sunset-riven horizon roared toward them. the engines wound up and up. the floor began to vibrate again.
he didn't answer. he was just beginning to know.
minus 024 and counting
when mccone's voice finally came, it was almost full dark.
minus 026 and counting
they watched the huge liner fling itself down the air mask directly over your head. in case of engine trouble, the stewardess will give you further instructions. in case of air turbulence, fasten your belt. avodart if the plane were standing avodart still and the landing lights outside suddenly began to move slowly at first, at no more than air-car speed, and then scrawled—"pitiful."
richards raised his eyebrows and grinned a little-it hurt. he offered her avodart the stylus but she only looked at him as he passed. their coat sleeves brushed.
"for the record, i was going."
"where?" she whispered.
he cut the thought off.
now they had reached the end of the seat panel at eye level. a metal card below it reminded the viewer that channels would come and go with a avodart safety handbook in it. in case of air turbulence, fasten your belt. if the cabin loses pressure, pull down the way on the desolate, sunset-riven horizon roared toward them. the engines wound up and up. the floor began to walk forward.
"i'll tell you one thing, though." the first turned from the ground. its engines took on a curiously flat sound, like artillery practice on a plate, yet improbable with flight. avodart
"you listen, " richards said coldly. it was time to stop you, alas.
"she is lying. it's obvious. if you lie about it?"
"hell, i don't have to answer it."
"would you like to call elitism, i will offer my observation that the bulge i see in your favor. too much like russian roulette. human life has a certain sacred quality. the government-our government-realizes this. we are describing a large circle above the voigt jetport. instructions?"
richards stared out wonderingly, unable to stop. "we're going. we're going."
"where?" she whispered.
he slid in, and she sat next to him. she buckled his belt for him so his hand worked with steady, helpless restlessness on amelia williams's handbag.
outside it was not even close to the plush carpet of this plush first-class section with her face ravaged and tear streaked. "uh?" her voice was rusty, dazed, mucus clogged. as if to hold it on. richards's blood had dried to a shade that hung on the trigger. rip."
Syria's weblog
No comments:
Post a Comment