I think Dutas gave me severe dry eyes at low dose

[Itsabaldbaldworld]

I decided to hop on dutasteride because finasteride stopped working. So I added dutasteride to my regimen, just one 0.5mg cap a week, recently increased it to 6caps a month, it's not much but after a year or so during winter I started waking up with severe dry eyes, and worst of all, I think it might be the culprit for an eye issue I developed around the same time, at least definitely correlates.
Ophtalmologist did slit lamp and little else, said my tear film had poor quality.
I've had dry eyes before even finasteride or dutasteride but never like this.. using some eye ointments atm but the eye issue in my left eye persists and might force me to go to a clinic and spend big bucks on several eye exams.

As for hair it made it worse, It's been a year and half now or so, my hair became so much oilier, even the sides of my head, and I'm seeing my hair getting thinner.
Did you experience eye dryness on it, specially people with previous dry eye problems?
Probably gonna stop dutasteride soon since it's been a nothing burger for my hair and this eye issue I'm currently facing is probably the worst health issue I've ever dealt with and it's wrecking my mental health tbh

I thought I was imagining things as I never heard of dry eyes and finasteride/dutasteride but then looked up a considerable amount of people complaining about the same thing. I don't think finasteride exacerbated my dry eyes though, took it EOD 1mg for like a decade, shame it kinda slowly stopped working for me at around the 5 or 6 year mark after fantastic regrowth. I'm a diffuse thinner btw, so I'm not in any norwood necessarily, just thinning all over the top and in recent years back as well.

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

Yeah, that's definitely one of the side effects.

If you had regrowth on finasteride you should have just stayed on it. I'd switch back. If you feel you are losing ground opt for low dose OM. Dutasteride rarely works for anyone.

 

[losingbattle88]

I decided to hop on dutasteride because finasteride stopped working. So I added dutasteride to my regimen, just one 0.5mg cap a week, recently increased it to 6caps a month, it's not much but after a year or so during winter I started waking up with severe dry eyes, and worst of all, I think it might be the culprit for an eye issue I developed around the same time, at least definitely correlates.
Ophtalmologist did slit lamp and little else, said my tear film had poor quality.
I've had dry eyes before even finasteride or dutasteride but never like this.. using some eye ointments atm but the eye issue in my left eye persists and might force me to go to a clinic and spend big bucks on several eye exams.

As for hair it made it worse, It's been a year and half now or so, my hair became so much oilier, even the sides of my head, and I'm seeing my hair getting thinner.
Did you experience eye dryness on it, specially people with previous dry eye problems?
Probably gonna stop dutasteride soon since it's been a nothing burger for my hair and this eye issue I'm currently facing is probably the worst health issue I've ever dealt with and it's wrecking my mental health tbh

I thought I was imagining things as I never heard of dry eyes and finasteride/dutasteride but then looked up a considerable amount of people complaining about the same thing. I don't think finasteride exacerbated my dry eyes though, took it EOD 1mg for like a decade, shame it kinda slowly stopped working for me at around the 5 or 6 year mark after fantastic regrowth. I'm a diffuse thinner btw, so I'm not in any norwood necessarily, just thinning all over the top and in recent years back as well.

Had dry eyes on finasteride but not on dutasteride. Then no more dry eyes on finasteride. Body adapts to drugs but yeah its all garbage im not on anti androgens anymore.

 

[RXShopMD_Team]

Dry eye with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors is a real, if less discussed, possibility (RXShop.md pharmacy editorial team, general information only):

• Why it can happen: the meibomian glands in the eyelids, which make the oily layer of the tear film, are androgen-sensitive. Lower DHT can reduce oil quality, and the tear film then evaporates faster. Studies in men on finasteride and dutasteride have reported more meibomian gland dysfunction and dry-eye symptoms. That fits "poor tear film quality" on the slit lamp.
• Other contributors are common in winter: indoor heating, screen time, contact lenses, and some medicines (antihistamines, isotretinoin, some antidepressants). Your earlier history of dry eye also means the glands may have been borderline already.
• What helps meibomian gland dysfunction: warm compresses with a proper eye mask for 5-10 minutes daily, gentle lid massage and lid hygiene, lipid-based artificial tears, omega-3 rich diet, and a humidifier. Optometrists or eye clinics can also do in-office treatments if needed.
• About the dutasteride: you could ask your doctor about a trial break or switching back to finasteride for 2-3 months to see if the eyes improve, which would clarify the link. Because dutasteride lasts for weeks in the body, changes take a while to show.

Please do go back to the ophthalmologist if the left eye has pain, light sensitivity or reduced vision; those need proper follow-up, not just ointments.