Following is Dr. Lee's latest statement on Avodart (aka., dutasteride). 

“I talked to Glaxo-Wellcome (888-825-5249) on the 10th of October, 2002. Dutasteride 0.5 mg soft gel capsules were approved by the U.S. FDA on 9 October 2002 for the treatment of benign prostatic enlargement and they are expected to be available in U.S. pharmacies by ‘early to mid-December 2002.’

I definitely do not plan to dispense the gel capsules via our web site (www.minoxidil.com). Doing so would be a flagrant violation of the Business and Professional Codes, and recent rulings by the California Medical Board forbids physicians licensed in California from doing so, as it is considered to be a ‘dangerous drug.’

As for writing off-label prescriptions for dutasteride, I will not do so because it would constitute an egregious practice of medicine. To date there is no evidence that dutasteride can be safely and effectively utilized for treating MPB. 

Whereas I did prescribe and dispense finasteride to my patients to help treat MPB before Propecia was approved by the U.S. FDA on 14 November 1997, the circumstances were quite different. Finasteride had already been in widespread general use since 1992, so there was already a large body of knowledge in regards to its effects as well as its side effects. Even so, there were many ‘side effects’ subsequently added to the package insert. They included, but were not limited to breast tenderness and enlargement, and hypersensitivity reactions, including lip swelling and skin rash.

There is a wise and time honored saying by Alexander Pope (1688 - 1744) who wrote, ‘Be not the first by whom the new are tried, nor yet the last to lay the old aside.’”

Richard Lee, M.D.

Home | 5% Minoxidil Solutions | Minoxidil + Retin-A | Finasteride (Proscar)
History & Philosophy | FAQ's
How to Obtain High Concentration MINOXIDIL Solutions and FINASTERIDE

E-Mail: REGROWTH@minoxidil.com

©1997 Regrowth.