Drugs – Page 202 – Balding Blog

July 18, 2008

Tripping Over My Words with Saw Palmetto – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I stopped taking Propecia 16 days ago b/c of the mental side effects associated with it i.e. loss of wit and tripping over words. I also stopped taking saw palmetto at the same time. After about 2 weeks, I was back to my old normal self, hair still thinning but not any different than usual. I started up saw palmetto two days ago, and I’ve noticed again that my tripping over words has come back, although not as much as before. Is this possible with a “natural herb”??

Also, before I started taking Propecia, I took saw palmetto for about 7 days, and I didn’t notice anything then. I also didn’t notice anything for the first two weeks on Propecia. How can I sort this out?

Try just the Propecia without the saw palmetto. Anything is possible with a natural herb. Many natural herbs can alter mood (see peyote, marijuana, etc), so while I have not known saw palmetto to alter one’s mood, I couldn’t rule it out entirely. Also, because supplements like saw palmetto are not regulated by the FDA, the quality control process might not be up to high standards with regard to safety and effectiveness. I don’t know where you bought it, the manufacturer, the amount you’re taking, and the various saw palmetto sold may have different dosages that do not really reflect what the label says.

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July 17, 2008

Minoxidil and Collagen Levels – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Does minoxidil deplete collagen levels, hence making the face appear comparatively older over time?

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Rat There is an interesting scientific paper showing some impact of minoxidil on collagen synthesis: Inhibitory effects of bFGF, VEGF and minoxidil on collagen synthesis by cultured hair dermal papilla cells. These studies are not in humans, but may very well translate. That being said, I did a brief Google search and couldn’t find reports of minoxidil users looking well beyond their years after using the drug, and considering it has been marketed as a hair loss treatment for 20+ years, I’d say the old face look from the medication isn’t likely.

Thanks for the question. I continue to learn a great deal and realize how little I know in the grand scheme of things.

July 17, 2008

Very Little Hair Loss By Age 40 – Is It Likely I’ll Be Safe from Further Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr Rassman,
In your clinical experience if a male is slightly less than a NW2 by his early 40’s and takes Propecia, would it be highly unlikely that he will become a NW3 or NW 4 by the time he reaches his early 50’s. In other words could he have late onset acceleration of balding like a young person in their early 20’s even if he is taking Propecia. My father started balding at 18 years old, yet his brother who is in his 70’s still has a full head of hair. I am just wondering if it is likely I will have a late onset acceleration of balding since I am noticing more diffuse thinning in the past few years which is the same time I started Propecia.

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I do not recommend Propecia to men who are not losing hair, nor do I recommend Propecia to men who are worried that they may lose hair. I need to make a diagnosis of genetic male pattern balding before I consider recommending Propecia to my patients. So despite your family history and worries, I really do not know if you will bald or not as I have not examined you and made a diagnosis. Hair loss can start as early as puberty, but it can also start later in life well past your current age. If you are worried that this may happen to you, get your hair mapped out for miniaturization yearly.

July 17, 2008

Can Propecia Bring Me From a Norwood Class 3 to a 2? – Balding Blog

I read Propecia doesn’t help with temporal recession and receding hairlines but I’m on a NW2 right now and it looks like I’m heading to a NW3, can Propecia prevent that from happening? And it seems I’m now a little more then a NW2 do you think Propecia can help me go back to a solid NW2?

It is possible, though full regrowth in the hairline is rare — at least more rare than regrowth in the crown/top of the head. At the very least, Propecia should halt the progressive hair loss for some time so that you can retain what you have now.

July 16, 2008

Finasteride Has Retained My Hair for Years, But I Want to Use Rogaine Foam for Regrowth – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,

I been on finasteride around 4 to 5 years. I believe it has help me slow down my hair loss. But I would like some regrowth. I still have no bald spots yet. I’m thinking about using Rogaine Foam to see if I can regrow some hair in the frontal and mid front part of the top of my scalp and thicken up the vellus hair at my temples.I have Mostly diffuse thinning but more thinning in the mid front. I know the makers of Rogaine have to say that it only works at the crown however I have read it does work in the frontal area of the top of the scalp, vice versa. I’m confused about it and also scare of speeding up my hair loss and not recover from the shed rogaine causes at first. I heard rogaine is more of a regrowth treatment and that propecia is more for maintenance. If I can just thicken up and have a bit of regrowth in between the hair where I’m thinning I’ll be happy with rogaine foam. Have u had patients or know about other doctors patients that have used rogaine for the frontal part of the scalp with success? Just looking for a professional thought about this and a peace of mind. your answer will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Certainly there is no problem with adding Rogaine Foam to your treatment regimen. Make sure that you do not stop the Propecia, because the mechanism of action is such that if you stop it and replace it with Rogaine, you will have “catch up hair loss”. Stopping the support from the Propecia will be exposing the hair to DHT if it is withdrawn.

With regard to Rogaine shedding, it may not be a very big problem, but if it occurs it should disappear in a couple of months or so.

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July 16, 2008

If Some Medications Cause Hair Loss, Could They Prevent Propecia From Helping? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,

I am 19 and have been taking Propecia for over a year with no results whatsoever – my hairline has continued to recede rapidly. I have also been taking Wellbutrin for two years, which has a side-effect of hair loss.

I have read that Wellbutrin can “jump-start” the balding process. If this is true, could stopping taking Wellbutrin allow for Propecia to begin reversing my hair loss or stopping it? Or has the genetic process begun and is it too late?

Propecia works by blocking the formation of DHT. The hair loss side effect of certain medications, most likely will not come about from the action of DHT, so the two are not connected. At 19 years old, you are most likely experiencing the maturing hairline so it is possible you don’t have genetic balding (I haven’t seen you, so I’m unsure). A mapping of your scalp for miniaturization will show that diagnosis one way or the other. Propecia will not stop the formation of the mature hairline and the loss of the juvenile hairline.

Talk with your doctor about other medications that might not have a hair loss association. Get the diagnosis of genetic hair loss to know what you are actually experiencing and do not stop taking Propecia if you have genetic hair loss as this will only worsen your situation.

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July 15, 2008

Hair Loss InformationIs My Chest Pain from Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had used minoxidil for hair growth 12 months ago for 4 months. I stopped it. That time I have not observed any side effects. Now I am again using the same to control the hair fall. Now I am feeling like chest pain (muscular). Is it because of minoxidil..? how safe this medicine ..? because chest and heart are more important than the hair.. Thanks in advance

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Chest pain with minoxidil may indicated coronary artery disease, because minoxidil can drop blood pressure and cause reduced circulation to the coronary arteries (angina). Please see a doctor to make that diagnosis, as taking minoxidil may be the way you find out that you have some serious heart problem.

July 15, 2008

Showering After Applying Minoxidil – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Im 29 and have just started a course of quarter proscar daily to hopefully halt my receding hairline and thinning crown. I was considering complimenting this with 5% minoxidil as the 2 together appear to give good results. I dont think the twice daily application of minoxidil would be a problem but my question is, if i were to take a shower and wash my hair around 3-4 hours after an application would this decrease the effects of the minoxidil?

Thanks

The minixodil will have been absorbed by the skin within an hour or so. Showering and washing your hair four hours after applying the minoxidil should not be a problem.

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July 15, 2008

Stopping Propecia After a Month – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am 27 yr old male. Slight thinning in crown for 1 yr. So I took Propecia for 1 month but decided to stop since my thinning process is rather mild. My concern is will my thinning condition worsen with the stopping of propecia after 1 month of consumption. Is my hair already dependent or addicted to the medication? Will my hair thinning process goes back to original speed or end up with accelerating thinning speed?

I doubt that one month of Propecia will have caused dependency. Before you stop it, you should discuss this with your prescribing doctor (as with any prescription medication), and you should be getting your hair mapped out for miniaturization to find out a baseline for genetic hair loss. Maybe you don’t have it, maybe you do. Be smart with the decision and find out.

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July 15, 2008

Will Propecia Grow Hair for Me? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello Doctor,

I am a 36 yr old black male. I am totally bald in the crown area and the top of my head, as well as my temple area. My hair only grows on the side of my head and the bottom of the back of my head. Will propecia help me grow hair so I am at least not bald and have some hair on the crown and top of my head.

I don’t know enough about your medical history to make any assessments. If your loss is early, Propecia will work best for you, but you may be describing extensive balding so without a set of good pictures, I can not advise you. If you’re still experiencing hair loss, Propecia will likely slow or halt the loss and if you should have miniaturized hairs in the crown, it might even grow some hair. If you’ve been completely bald on the top and front for 10 years, Propecia probably won’t regrow hair there, but I couldn’t say for sure as each person reacts differently to medication. Best to send pictures if you can not come in to see me.

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