Why Do Some Think dutasteride Will Cause Birth Defects?

[mbehr22]

I am on propecia right now - have been for almost 7 months.

I have diffuse thinning over the top of my head.

I want my hair to thicken, not just not fall out ...

Im 30 w/o any kids - what are the potential risks of birth defects? How could this potentially happen?

 

[abcdefg]

finasteride the drug goes from you to her thats how birth defects could have some chance at happening. Merk says its pretty much not possible but trace amounts of finasteride can make its way to the little kiddy.

 

[powersam]

the answer is no.

taken from this very site, a wealth of information on here if one looks:

"Considering that intravenous administration of finasteride to pregnant experimental animals during the critical periods of sexual development didn’t cause birth defects, there is no reason to believe that transdermal absorption of finasteride from handling broken tablets could cause birth defects in the male child. But, since Propecia has not been approved by the FDA for use by women, Merck has nothing to lose by retaining this warning. In fact, it has good p.r. value.

So, can finasteride cause birth defects? Yes, there is a theoretical possibility that it can, but the probability is close to nil, when finasteride is taken in the recommended dosages. Since Propecia was approved by the FDA on 22 December 1997 and Proscar on 28 August 1996, millions of doses of finasteride have been taken and there has not been a single case report of a birth defect. Now that’s reassuring information."

 

[mbehr22]

thanks!

but why do some posters fear dutasteride? i know it blocks more of the DHT, but why do some think you shouldnt take it if you havent started a family?

is there a bigger risk with dutasteride?

 

[Pondle]

dutasteride is a newer drug than finasteride so has less history of unproblematic use. The Electronic Medicines Compendium has the following info...

Fertility

Dutasteride has been reported to affect semen characteristics (reduction in sperm count, semen volume, and sperm motility) in healthy men (see Section 5.1). The possibility of reduced male fertility cannot be excluded.

Pregnancy

As with other 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, dutasteride inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone and may, if administered to a woman carrying a male foetus, inhibit the development of the external genitalia of the foetus (see 4.4 Special Warnings and Precautions for Use). Small amounts of dutasteride have been recovered from the semen in subjects receiving Avodart 0.5mg day. Based on studies in animals, it is unlikely that a male foetus will be adversely affected if his mother is exposed to the semen of a patient being treated with Avodart (the risk of which is greatest during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy). However, as with all 5 alpha reductase inhibitors, when the patient's partner is or may potentially be pregnant it is recommended that the patient avoids exposure of his partner to semen by use of a condom.

Lactation

It is not known whether dutasteride is excreted in human milk.

Effects on male fertility

The effects of dutasteride 0.5mg/day on semen characteristics were evaluated in healthy volunteers aged 18 to 52 (n=27 dutasteride, n=23 placebo) throughout 52 weeks of treatment and 24 weeks of post-treatment follow-up. At 52 weeks, the mean percent reduction from baseline in total sperm count, semen volume and sperm motility were 23%, 26% and 18%, respectively, in the dutasteride group when adjusted for changes from baseline in the placebo group. Sperm concentration and sperm morphology were unaffected. After 24 weeks of follow-up, the mean percent change in total sperm count in the dutasteride group remained 23% lower than baseline. While mean values for all parameters at all time points remained within the normal ranges and did not meet the predefined criteria for a clinically significant change (30%), two subjects in the dutasteride group had decreases in sperm count of greater than 90% from baseline at 52 weeks, with partial recovery at the 24 week follow-up. The possibility of reduced male fertility cannot be excluded.

 

[Johnny24601]

re:

I don't want to take dutasteride because it simply has not been approved by the FDA for hairloss and I just don't want to take the risk, though I admit that I do "think" it is safe but I am not a doctor. There is also the issue of increased cost with dutasteride.
As far as birth defects, studies have shown little correlation between birth defects and 5-A blockers, but I see no reason to take the risk. If I was planning on having a child, I would halt all finasteride use for about 6 months before fertilization......

 

[powersam]

that would be unnecessary, if on finasteride.

dutasteride who knows. i only just realised the OP mentions dutasteride in his title but finasteride in his post. has his question been properly answered?