Category: Drugs

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Hair Loss InformationDHEA and Female Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,
I’ve recently had a blood test by my dermatologist which indicated a high level of DHEA (about 1343 ng/dL) Can this be the cause of my hair loss for the past 3 years? I have always had thick, thick hair that was very strong up until a few years ago. Now I have a patch of hair near the left center of my crown that refuses to grow back (There is no scarring) The dermatologist thinks he has found the cause but I’m not so sure. He prescribed Spironolactone (100mg) and Rogaine 5% (for men) How can I be sure it’s DHEA? Should I have further testing? I’ve just set an appointment with an Endocrinologist. The hair on my head is thick except the one section and I see some “female pattern baldness” as well near the top part of the crown (hair is very thin) Any suggestions? Other than the high levels of DHEA my blood screening was normal.

P.S. – I am about 90 pounds overweight. Can you help me?

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Without seeing you it is almost impossible for me to determine the diagnosis. You report a limited bald area which should not be the case with a hormone problem, as this often produces a more generalized hair loss process. DHEA (an androgen like testosterone) can bring on balding in those individuals genetically prone to losing hair, so the use of spironolactone can reduce the impact of such an androgen if this is a cause of the hair loss.

I would want to know what is going on elsewhere on your scalp (perform mapping of the scalp for miniaturization to show the genetic signs I would expect to find) before I jump in to validate your working diagnosis. Internet opinions without a direct examination for someone like you has marginal value.

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Hair Loss InformationReader Reports Propecia Stopped His Hairline from Receding – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I been taking Propecia for frontal hair loss for almost 2 years & it stopped it completely from receding. I did catch it early so everything is there except some mild thinning on the corners and in the middle too bad that didn’t thicken up as I hoped. DHT causes MPB so Propecia can stop and thicken hair loss anywhere on the scalp not just the crown.

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Thanks for the comment. Not many people write to report about good results to us (as I’ve said before, those with complaints are often the loudest). Propecia is generally used for thinning in the top/crown area, but rarely it does seem to work for the front as well.

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High Grade Cancers, Propecia, and Avodart – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, I was reading an article yesterday that mentions Propecia and Avodart and tumor growth. I’ll put the link below. I’m currently taking Propecia and I want to know if I have anything to be concerned about? Thanks!

Article: Avodart may promote some tumor growth

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AvodartSometimes its hard to decipher research and its conclusions especially when there is controversy. The news you are referring to is from a recently published study in the April 2010 New England Journal of Medicine (a respected medical journal). Its conclusion was, “Over the course of the 4-year study period, dutasteride reduced the risk of incident prostate cancer detected on biopsy and improved the outcomes related to benign prostatic hyperplasia.” This is good.

The confusion is in the news article spin-off you found of other doctors giving their opinions and commentaries. The significance of this article is that now Avodart (dutasteride) has been shown to reduce the risk of incident prostate cancer similar to what was shown in the Proscar (finasteride 5mg) study, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2003.

Despite the apparent positive findings, there were controversies due to interpretation of the studies where some thought Proscar may be delaying aggressive prostate cancer from being detected. To address this, the National Cancer Institute published a bulletin in 2006 which stated, “We’ve now shown that the cancers prevented by finasteride are often clinically significant, the same kind of cancers that lead to surgery. In addition, we showed a 28 percent reduction of high-grade cancer with finasteride.”

Remember, these are positive findings for Proscar and now Avodart. Also note that these studies are not about Propecia (finasteride 1mg), and while the inference is there, you cannot make a claim that taking the 1mg dose will have the same impact on the reduction of prostate cancer risk.

So to answer your question more simply — no, I do not think you have anything to be concerned about based on this information.

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Hair Loss InformationIs it Safe to Assume Taking More Avodart Each Day Will Have Better Results? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Why did testing on Avodart not include 1mg/1.5mg/2mg? I have gathered that the drug is dose dependent so it puzzles me as to why each 0.5 interval has not been explored. My hair loss affects me greatly and I am also a model so it is terrifying me with regards to my job-is it safe to assume that taking 1mg of Avodart per day is better than taking .5mg a day? I would take 2.5mg a day but the cost would be too much.

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No, you should not just assume that by taking more of any medication you will have better results. For starters, Avodart (dutasteride) has not been approved for treating hair loss. It is an FDA approved prostate medication, and although early studies show it does work to treat hair loss, it has a much longer half-life than finasteride (meaning it stays in your system for a while). Side effect risks haven’t been fully established for younger men and optimal dosing for treating hair loss hasn’t been established. I don’t know why various dosing intervals haven’t been explored, as I am not affiliated with the maker of the medication, GSK.

It is worth noting that the dose for treating the prostate is 0.5mg of dutasteride daily… and you are willing to take up to 5 times that much to treat your hair loss?

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Rogaine Worked Well at First, Then Stopped Working After 6 Months! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

H I’ve been using rogaine for 6 months now, at first it worked very very well. A little time to get use to a routine but I stuck to it. I did shed at first in the first month but it grew back and it was great however in the last month I’ve started to shed again quite rapidly badly and I don’t understand why. I apply it exactly the same as I did before but I’m becoming very concerned about this. I’m not stressed at all all and live a healthy lifestyle

I’m coming to a conclusion that body is finally rejecting and genetics is winning, and I feel I should just stop (and save what I got left) but on the hand I’ve read numerous and numerous of horror stories that when stopped it gets even worse which I know is a fact – but then again I don’t know if it can get worse. I’m a 24 year old male, with everyone in the family having a health head of hair except my dad.

Thanks for taking time to read this!

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Rogaine (minoxidil) typically does not work so fast, but it often stops working and it is not a truly reliable drug for treating hair loss, as the typical response is quite variable between different people. It usually takes about 6 to 12 months before you see some benefit. It seems you are having a different experience than most, but I doubt that the medication just “stopped” working. I would continue for at least one year.

Rogaine, however, is not the ideal treatment for hair loss in a young genetically balding male (your age). Finasteride (Propecia) addresses the balding problem directly and is the treatment of choice for your problem.

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Kidney Disorder, Propecia and Rogaine? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc
Can a person with Kidney disorder take Propecia or can he apply Rogaine.

Thanks

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Finasteride (Propecia) is metabolized in the liver so the presence of kidney disease is usually not a problem for taking this medication. For liver disease, finasteride could be a problem and you must check that out with your doctor.

In the case of minoxidil, the presence of kidney disease will cause more retention of the drug in your body, so there could be a greater impact if you take regular doses of minoxidil as the blood levels may rise.

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Finasteride Dosage and Body Weight? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr Rassman,
I am a big fan of your site, and you have answered couple of my questions via your blog.

I am 24 and been using finasteride 1mg generic per day for the past 14 months. I have got a receding hairline and vertex and it is on norwood 3 vertex. After started fin, there is an increase in the hair density at the hairline but vertex is continuing receding. I am obese and weighing 124 Kg (273 lbs) and my height is 5 feet 10 inches (177.80 cns). So based on BMI, I am weighing almost double than that I should be. I have gone through your site to find is there any relation between finasteride dosage and body weight. But I was unable to find an answer. should I consider increasing the dosage to 2mg per day to hold the hair I have. Waiting for your suggestion. Thanks a lot once again.

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There is no evidence or reason for adjusting finasteride to body weight, but there is no harm doing it provided that you do not develop side effects (which may increase with a larger dose). I realize hair loss is an important issue to most readers here and most readers want to maximize their treatment, but increasing the dosage does not always mean better results.

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Propecia Is Growing Hairs, But Can I Still Have a Transplant? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. Rassman! Propecia is slowly regrowing some hair on the front half of my head, and even a few in the hairline. If I were to get a transplant to “fill in the gaps” one the new hair is regrown, will it go through shock loss or should the Propecia protect it like it usually does?

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Yes, you can have a hair transplant to the balding area while you are being treated with Propecia. The drug should prevent shock hair loss if you do have the surgery, but the timing of transplants should be tied to a Master Plan which will ensure your long term results. The timing includes just how much of the balding area is transplanted and this depends upon not only the donor density, but the size of the balding area now (and in the future) as defined by a good mapping of your scalp for miniaturization. I cannot answer your specific question as it applies to your problem without an examination, because really it depends on:

  • Your expectations.
  • The degree of miniaturization you currently have and the extent of that miniaturization process.
  • The length of time treated with minoxidil and/or finasteride.

Your worst case scenario should be put in front of you, and this will depend upon your age, your expectations, possible donor scarring for strip harvesting, your family history and who you take after, etc. Get the point?

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I’m Seeing Extreme Body Hair Growth from Propecia! – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr. I have gone through your response for this thread:

now this is my situation. I am also taking finasteride 1mg for the past 15 months and am taking fin only not minox .also experiencing the body hair growth. Before taking fin i was having more hair in my body than any one in my family. and now fin is worsening the situation. Actually am happy for what fin is doing for my head. But the effect of it on my body, am fearing of being called a MONKEY MAN!!. By the way am indian aged 24. on norwood 2 with thinning on crown and forehead.

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As stated in my previous post: “Propecia (finasteride) blocks DHT. DHT is known to be responsible for secondary male characteristics, such as body hair. At least in theory, if you block DHT you would have less body hair. I have heard and seen on several occasions patients stating they got less body hair after a year of taking Propecia.”

Now you would be the 2nd person that has mentioned seeing more body hair as a direct result of Propecia. It’s interesting, but this can also be coincidence as well. As I indicated in the prior post, the increased body hair may also be due to the fact you are maturing into your secondary sex characteristics, since like the original poster you are also in your early 20s.

I’ve still yet to get any reports of this from one of my own patients, but I will make a note of your experience.

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Accidental Double Dose of Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

What are the possible negative consequences of accidentally double dosing Propecia? Taking Propecia every morning has been part of my morning routine for about a year now. The other day, I’m about to leave for work and blanked out on weather I had taken my Propecia pill before I got in the shower (my usual pattern), and so I took what might have been a second pill in one morning. Should I be worried, can I ruin the effectiveness of the drug that way? I’m a 30-year old male, been on propecia since May 2009.

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Taking a double dose of Propecia will not harm you or your hair and you should not be worried. There are no negative consequences. For that matter missing one dose would not harm you or your hair either. We are all human and we make mistakes.

Also remember that many men take 5x the Propecia dose everyday for certain prostate problems with only a slight increase in side effects. In fact, research has shown that 5x the dose of Propecia prevents certain types of prostate cancer…. but taking more will not make your hair grow better (in case you were going to ask).