Foam
Finasteride / Minoxidil 0.25 mg / 5 mg Foam
A once-daily topical foam that combines finasteride and 5% minoxidil to slow hair loss and support regrowth; the usual starting point. Prescribed by a licensed physician.
Starting at $89/mo
Hair lossDHT blockerDual inhibitor
Dutasteride Capsules
RxPrescription onlyTaken by mouth · Once a day · 0.25–1.5 mg · Hair loss · DHT blocker · Dual inhibitor
Starting at $89/mo
Dutasteride: blocks both forms of DHT-producing enzyme (Type I and II), for stronger DHT suppression than finasteride. Oral capsule, once every other day or daily. Slower to act; requires patience.
How many capsules per month?
MonthlyEvery 3 months
30 capsulesper month
You'll receive 30 capsules per month. $109 billed monthly. Cancel anytime.
Real prices from our pharmacy. Longer plans cost less per month and are billed up front. Pause or cancel anytime.
- Blocks two DHT-producing pathways, stronger suppression
- Preferred by some after finasteride plateau
- Once-daily or every-other-day dose; long half-life
Every plan includes
- Personalized, physician-guided plan
- 30 capsules per month, monthly and 3-month
- Dispensed by a US-licensed compounding pharmacy
- Unlimited protocol adjustments and messaging
- Ongoing support and check-ins
- Pause or cancel anytime
- Reviewed by our in-house physicians
- Physician-guided care
- Ongoing, expert support
- 100% online
- Free, discreet shipping
What is dutasteride?
(dual 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor)
Dutasteride blocks both Type I and Type II 5-alpha-reductase, the two enzymes that make DHT from testosterone. Finasteride blocks mainly Type II. More complete DHT suppression can help some people who plateau on finasteride or whose hair loss is more aggressive. Dutasteride has a long half-life, so it is dosed once daily or every other day.
- How it is taken
- Taken by mouth
- How often
- Once a day
- Dose range
- 0.25–1.5 mg
- Form
- Hair loss · DHT blocker · Dual inhibitor
30-50%
more DHT suppression than finasteride, depending on tissue type
Some people respond better to dutasteride after finasteride plateaus. Hair regrowth takes 6-12 months. Off-label for women.
How it works,
week by week.
Day 1
Your physician reviews your hair-loss pattern, health history, medications, and sexuality. Discusses how DHT blockers work and the realistic timeline.
Month 1-3
Start once daily. Many notice shedding may increase slightly at first (hair cycle shift), then stabilize. This is normal and temporary.
Month 3-6
Hair loss slows or stops for most people. Regrowth takes longer. Keep a photo record to track subtle changes.
Month 6-12+
New hair begins to show. Results peak around 12-24 months. Your physician checks in every 6 months; you can stop anytime.
What you may notice,
and when.
Patience required
results take 6-12 months; peak at 2 years
Stabilization first
hair loss stops before new growth appears
Sexual side effects rare
1-3% experience them; usually reversible
Physician partnership
monitor prostate health; discuss any sexual concerns
Individual results vary. Benefits reflect what Zepym Health members commonly report to their physician at check-ins; they are not the results of a clinical trial.
Safety first:
what to know before you start.
Important safety information and common side effects
Finasteride and dutasteride block DHT, the hormone behind pattern hair loss. Sexual side effects (lower desire, erection difficulty) occur in 1-3% and usually reverse after stopping; your physician discusses this before prescribing. Mood changes are rare but possible. These medications are not prescribed during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or in people with a history of prostate cancer without careful evaluation. Monitor prostate health with your primary care physician; these drugs lower PSA levels, which can mask cancer screening. Tell your physician about all medications and any history of sexual dysfunction. Stop and seek care for severe mood changes, chest pain, or allergic reactions.
The research behind
dutasteride.
Dutasteride blocks both forms of the enzyme that makes DHT; finasteride blocks one. Its human evidence is short placebo-controlled trials and indirect comparisons. We did not find a two-year placebo-controlled trial in men.
- Against finasteride2.5 mg superior
416 men aged 21 to 45 received dutasteride 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 or 2.5 mg, finasteride 5 mg or placebo daily for 24 weeks. Dutasteride 2.5 mg was superior to finasteride at 12 and 24 weeks, and the effect rose with dose. The trial was limited to 24 weeks.
Olsen et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2006;55(6):1014-23 - Indirect ranking7.1 hairs/cm² more
A network meta-analysis of 23 studies found dutasteride 0.5 mg gave 7.1 hairs/cm² more total hair than finasteride 1 mg at 24 weeks (95% CI 5.1 to 9.3). Indirect comparisons across different trial designs; dutasteride is off-label for hair loss in the US.
Gupta et al., JAMA Dermatol 2022;158(3):266-74 - Length24 weeks
The controlled dutasteride trials we found run 24 weeks. A 2016 Japanese long-term study exists, but we could only see its citation, so we cannot state how long the benefit lasts.
Olsen et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2006 (24-week design)
What the studies found
- Gave more hair than finasteride 5 mg at 12 and 24 weeks, with the effect rising by dose (416 men; Olsen et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2006).
- Lowered DHT in scalp and blood in a dose-dependent way, a marker of the mechanism rather than a clinical result (Olsen et al., J Am Acad Dermatol 2006).
- Indirectly ranked first: 0.5 mg a day gave 7.1 hairs/cm² more than finasteride 1 mg at 24 weeks (Gupta et al., JAMA Dermatol 2022).
Trial results are for dutasteride itself, at the doses studied, and are averages across men. The 0.5 mg capsule in the catalog is the same molecule as the trials, but compounded versions were not studied.
What this does not say
- Dutasteride is not approved for hair loss in the US; the ranking comes from indirect comparisons, not head-to-head trials.
- Dutasteride lowers DHT more than finasteride does; the trials we read did not report long-term sexual or hormonal effects, so that remains an open question.
- We found no trial of dutasteride in women.
The research
behind it.
Dutasteride causes more complete DHT suppression than finasteride in blood and scalp. In randomized trials, it stopped hair loss and regrew hair, with similar or slightly better results than finasteride.
Sexual side effects (lower desire, erection difficulty) occur in 1-3% and often reverse after stopping. Dutasteride stays in the body longer than finasteride, so effects may take weeks to clear.
Hair loss medicines:
what the trials showFinasteride, dutasteride and minoxidil: the numbers, the time course and what the trials do not cover.Read the researchFinasteride side effects:
what the data sayTrial rates, the nocebo question, persistence after stopping, and who should not take it.Read the research
what the trials showFinasteride, dutasteride and minoxidil: the numbers, the time course and what the trials do not cover.Read the researchFinasteride side effects:
what the data sayTrial rates, the nocebo question, persistence after stopping, and who should not take it.Read the research
Getting started
takes a few minutes.
- 1
Connect with a physician
Answer a few questions online and a US-licensed physician reviews your health, history and goals to make sure treatment is right for you. 100% online. No in-person visit required.
- 2
Get your discreet shipment
If approved, your treatment is compounded by a US-licensed, LegitScript-certified pharmacy, inspected for quality, and shipped discreetly to your door.
- 3
Receive continuous support
Start with one goal, then keep building over time. Unlimited physician messaging, easy refills and dose adjustments, all from the Zepym Health app.
Frequently asked questions
Contact supportHow do I take Dutasteride Capsules?
Taken by mouth, once a day. The starting prescription is 1 capsule (0.25 mg) each time. Your physician sets your own dose and it is printed on your label.
What strengths does Dutasteride Capsules come in?
The pharmacy carries 3: 0.25 mg, 1.0 mg, 1.5 mg. Your physician chooses which one you get.
How much arrives in each shipment?
30 capsules at the starting strength, shipped to your door from a licensed US pharmacy.
When should I try dutasteride instead of finasteride?
If finasteride has slowed your hair loss but not regrown enough hair after 12-24 months, your physician may trial dutasteride. It is stronger but also slower to act; give it 6-12 months before judging. Some people respond better to one or the other.
Why do I shed more at first?
DHT-miniaturized follicles have shorter cycles. Blocking DHT triggers them to reset; this causes temporary shedding before new, fuller hair grows. It usually peaks at weeks 2-4 and is a sign the drug is working.
Can I combine finasteride and dutasteride?
No. They block overlapping pathways. Your physician chooses one based on your response. If one plateaus, you may switch to the other.
What if I stop taking it?
Hair loss usually resumes within 3-6 months, returning to your original pattern within 12 months. Any regrowth you had will be lost. Some people restart; others stop and accept their hair loss.
Can women use these?
Finasteride and dutasteride are off-label for women, but some respond well. They are not prescribed during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Your physician carefully evaluates risk and benefit.
Dutasteride educational content reviewed by our physician
Scott Nass, MD Doctor of Medicine, board-certified in Family Medicine
Charles R. Drew University and David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center.
More options
in this area.
Foam
Finasteride / Minoxidil 0.25 mg / 12 mg Foam
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Starting at $89/mo
Foam
Finasteride / Minoxidil / Tretinoin Foam, 30 mL
Finasteride and minoxidil with tretinoin, which helps minoxidil penetrate the scalp, in a one-month foam. Prescribed by a licensed physician.
Starting at $99/mo
Capsule
Biotin / Minoxidil Capsules
Oral biotin and minoxidil to support hair growth and scalp circulation. Daily capsules for hair regrowth.
30 capsules per month
Starting at $89/mo
References
- 1.Finasteride (Propecia) in androgenetic alopecia: a randomized, placebo-controlled study over five years. J Am Acad Dermatol, 2002
- 2.Dutasteride versus finasteride for androgenetic alopecia: a randomized crossover study. Dermatology, 2011
Prescription products require an online evaluation with a licensed medical professional who will determine if a prescription is appropriate. Products are compounded by a licensed pharmacy. The FDA has not reviewed or approved compounded products for any use for safety, efficacy, or quality. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved brand-name products.