Category: Drugs

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MDF Advanced – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc

Any thoughts on MDF Advanced (site), seems like it’s a mega all in one treatment – but i thought duta wasn’t allowed to be used for hair loss?

keep up the good work

MDF Advanced contains a very high level of minoxidil (15%), dutasteride (a prescription medication), and flutamide (I’ve yet to see a study that proves it does anything to treat hair loss topically). I don’t see how this is safe or why a doctor would sign off on this. The way they sell the topical treatment is interesting — you order it and supply your doctor’s info, they fax something to your doctor asking for him/her to approve prescribing this medication, then they have their own pharmacy send you this formula containing a prescription medication. Is that even legal? It might be a gray area.

There’s a couple of red flags that I need to point out:

  1. Dutasteride is yet to be FDA approved as a hair loss treatment (it is a prostate medication), so the doctor would be signing off on something for off-label use. Doctors have to consider their liability when prescribing off-label medication. Also, the FDA controls all claims on lotions, potions, drugs, and any variation left open for misinterpretation can be actionable. Many doctors won’t do what this company wants them to do. I certainly would not!
  2. It contains dutasteride in a topical form (the limited studies I’ve seen have been for oral dutasteride). You’re risking a lot to use an expensive treatment that hasn’t been proven safe or effective.

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Any Hair Thickening Recommendation? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

What product will you recommend for hair thickening and to stop hair-loss. When do you think Follica will be ready with the miracle drug?

For hair thickening, there are a variety of products like volumizing shampoos and protein fibers that you can apply to your hair. I don’t have any specific recommendation for these, as they’re over the counter and you can try them as you like. Some work better than others to give the illusion of thicker hair, but none of them will stop hair loss.

As for information on Follica, please contact the company (here is their Consumer Inquiries form). I have no insider information.

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Can Propecia Stop Any Medication-Induced Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have been on propecia for about 6 months and it seems to have stopped my shedding. I read somewhere that Lexapro can cause hair loss. If i start taking Lexapro 10mg can it still cause hair loss even if i’m taking propecia?

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The drugs that cause hair loss are not protected by taking Propecia. Keep in mind that Lexapro doesn’t cause hair loss for everyone taking it, but it is a possibility.

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Spectral.DNC-L – Balding Blog

Dr. Thank you for this informative site.D o you have any thoughts on using minoxidil other than Rogaine. DS Labs has there own formula DNC and a brand new formula DNC-L for advanced stages of balding. I don’t know if this company can be trusted due to it’s claims the their shampoo Revita will stop hair loss. It’s website is impressive and I do like the shampoo.

If you like the shampoo and it seems to be working for you, I’d keep using it. Claims on preventing hair loss may be in violation of permitted language from an FDA perspective if the formulation impacts the effectiveness of the minoxidil in their product. I believe if you want minoxidil, get it the generic way. If you want the minoxidil foam, you’ll have to get the name brand stuff. As for this lotion… well, it’s up to you. The combo products, without proper studies, just don’t do it for me. That kind of sums up my opinion.

I think it is easier to build a great website than it is to create a product that actually slows, stops, or reverses hair loss.


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You Tell People What Products Won’t Work – So What Does? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I realize there are a lot of products claiming to “regrow” and “promote” hair growth. I also understand people that notice the loss and want to “nip” it in the but before it gets worse. You offer a lot of “No” that won’t work, “Buyer bewares”. People with hair loss, that don’t want to just accept it, need something that works. Even if it only helps some, it feels good to be trying and not giving up. I do not want to go bald. I have a feeling from watching my dad and brother go bald that it has something to do with skin build-up and regeneration blocking the follicles. Whether from hormones like DHT or Skin composition or both.

What do you think about Dr. Lewenberg’s formula? With both my dad and brother having the oiliest heads and dandruff on and off. How would the proven Minoxidil help if it can’t even get through the oil and build-up to improve the circulation?

There’s got to be something that helps, even if only a little. Like I said, some is better than none.

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“Hope springs eternal,” says poet Alexander Pope. That is my view of the various hair loss remedies. There’s no cure for hair loss, and that’s what it sounds like you’re asking for. Medication isn’t guaranteed to work the same for everyone that takes it. As I’ve said over and over, the only medications I recommend are those that are FDA approved for treating hair loss — finasteride (Propecia) and minoxidil (Rogaine).

I’ve written about Dr. Lewenberg’s Formula before. Your focus on getting minoxidil through the scalp oil is not a problem if you wash your hair regularly. I don’t know where you got the idea that balding is caused by skin build-up, but that isn’t likely to be the case.

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If I Were to Get Side Effects from Finasteride, When Might I See Them? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi doctor,
Am using finasteride (finpecia) for 7 months. So far i don’t have any side effect that usually tie with finasteride .So i want to know how long does it take to show side effect from finasteride normally.

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I would expect that if you were to get side effects, you would have by now. Usually, the sexual side effects are noted within the first few weeks of use, but they only occur in 1-2% of people. For those curious, Finpecia is the name of the generic 1mg finasteride from India (it can’t be legally sold in the US due to patent laws).

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Hair Loss InformationHow Common is Hair Loss Following Gastric Bypass? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello Doctors,

I just read an article from a writer for the local paper about her 100 pound weight loss following gastric bypass, which is something I’ve considered doing for myself. One thing that stuck out to me was that she says, “One common post-surgery side effect is hair loss. And I have been losing my hair. I knew about this before surgery, so I am dealing with it. I don’t like it, but it will grow back, and I have also lost most of my eyebrows, but that too will grow back.” See article here.

So my question is, how common is this loss? Scalp hair loss is a problem in itself, but to lose my eyebrows too would be devastating. How long could something like this take to regrow (or will it not regrow)? My husband visits this site quite frequently and when I mentioned the story, he suggested I write to you. Thanks for your help.

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A gastric bypass surgery causes weight loss and in many cases can produce signs of malnutrition. Weight loss is often associated with hair loss, particularly in men who have genetic hair loss. For women who do not have genetic hair loss, the hair loss may reverse as nutrition gets better and the weight stabilizes, but for men with genetic hair loss, it often accelerates the genetic process. For men in this situation, it’s best to take finasteride prior to having the gastric bypass, and maintaining this drug for life. Even with the DHT block offered by the drug finasteride, hair loss may still occur.

The good news is that hair transplantation can be used to replace the lost hair in the same way as in a person with hair loss that didn’t have the gastric bypass. As far as eyebrow loss, it would be unusual, but again, hair transplants into the eyebrow easily can solve that problem as well.

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Hair Loss InformationIs My Shedding From Propecia or Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

About 3 weeks ago, I was prescribed generic finasteride by a physician (and told to use Rogaine, as well), but after I experienced some side effects he suggested that I stop the finasteride.

Since that time, I’ve continued using Rogaine and have experienced an increase in shedding which, while expected, is still pretty unnerving. I still have full coverage of my scalp for the most part, but my concern is that I’m shedding what appear to be strong, dark hairs rather than light, miniaturized hairs.

Should the quality of the hair I’m losing be a concern or is this type of shedding normal? Also, is it possible for the Propecia to still be inducing shedding even though I only took it for 9 days and stopped about 2 weeks ago?

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If / when the shedding occurs with either medication (minoxidil or finasteride), it usually lasts no more than 3 months, often less. Be patient, wait it out, and stay the course. I couldn’t tell you which medication is causing it, though.

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Tissue Fixation After a Decade on Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I understand what you’ve said about side effects from Propecia taking a few weeks to go away because of tissue fixation. But what if the patient has been taking Propecia for a long time, such as 10 years? Would it take several months for side effects to go away in your opinion?

Tissue fixation is a few week phenomenon. Some men talk about the disappearance of side effects in a week or less, and some talk about side effects lasting up to a month. I can not comment on what to expect.

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Hair Loss InformationExercise, Propecia, Age, and Side Effects – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hello,

Thank you for putting time into this website. It has proved helpful. I had a few questions about finasteride.

  1. Does exercise have any effect on increasing or decreasing side effects?>
  2. Does exercise have any effect on how well it would work?
  3. What do you think of taking iron supplements to get finasteride to work better? (I am iron deficient, but I am not sure if it is enough to effect my hair. Going to a doctor soon to get my iron checked again.) Link
  4. Since I am 21, I have the best chances of finasteride to work. Do you see it work with almost everyone my age, especially at the very beginning of MPB? What about how common the side effects are at my age?
  5. I am going to see a hair transplant doctor soon. If miniaturization is found and the doctor is not willing to give me a prescription for generic proscar, can you? (Not sure of the legality of this. I hope I am not putting you in a bad position.)

Thank you for your time.

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  1. No. Exercise won’t increase or decrease side effects if you happen to get them.
  2. No. Exercise won’t mess with the effectiveness of finasteride.
  3. Get your iron checked and be under the care of a good doctor. I don’t see any value in trying to make finasteride work better, though.
  4. Finasteride works well in young men, but a few who are destined to develop advanced balding may find it doesn’t work as well. Side effects are possible, but it is a very slim chance. There are reports on the internet that are overblown.
  5. You should do a miniaturization study and take pictures of various parts of your scalp. The presence of significant miniaturization will indicate genetic causes of hair loss.
  6. You aren’t putting me in a bad position by just asking, but let’s get a telephone consultation (call 800-NEW-HAIR) and see what’s happening. Any doctor can write the prescription so once you know the diagnosis (miniaturization pictures taken by you and sent to me), you can start finasteride if it is in your best interest. Your family physician will often prescribe it for you.