Drugs – Page 235 – Balding Blog

December 18, 2007

My Doctor Is Giving Me Testosterone Shots, But I’ve Read That Hair Loss Might Happen – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

My doctor but me on testosterone shots a couple of months ago ( every 2 weeks ) do to my testosterone levels being low. The shots have helped my sex life not sure yet if it has helped my energy level. I have a full head of hair, I shaved it 10 years ago and my own mother did not like the way it looked ( the shape of my head ) so it is important to me to keep my hair, the doctor said it would not be a problem if it does not run in My family, but have been reading on the internet of people saying they have lost alot of theres on the shots.

If I am going to lose it I am willing to stop the shots. If I continue the shots and start to lose hair and stop will the hair loss stop? What is a good way for me to gage if I am having more than normal hair loss. I am in my late 40’s male.

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Yes, you have a risk of hair loss with testosterone shots if you carry the genes for hair loss. While it may be somewhat reassuring that male pattern baldness does not run in your family, the gene (or genes) for hair loss is not readily predictable and as such, you have a risk for androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness) even if your father or grandfather is not bald. It is all depending on whether you carry the gene(s). As with all medications and general things in life, you must consider the risks versus the benefits of what you are doing. And you should have had this discussion with your doctor.

December 18, 2007

Topical Minoxidil and Blood Pressure – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr.,

Do you believe that applying minoxidil topically can appreciably lower blood pressure, even by just a few mmHg?

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Yes, it can. Minoxidil is a blood pressure lowering medication if you take it orally. Topical application, when used correctly, should not have systemic side effects of lowered blood pressure, but it can happen if you use it frequently and apply higher amounts than are recommended.

December 17, 2007

Custom Hair Loss Treatment Combos – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a compounding pharmacist and I have had an interest in hair loss. I just started using a combo of Adodart/Lumigan/Minoxidil. If you have any combo’s you would like to try let me know

Generally, I do not approve of the use of Avodart (dutasteride) for hair loss due to the sexual side effects, which include decreased sperm counts. I gather that you would like to formulate drugs for me, but I stick to standard approved drugs only and use them in combination when that is indicated.

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December 14, 2007

Prescription for Avodart by Phone – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doctor,

I have been on Propecia for 1 year with little results and have recently (3 months ago) ordered Avodart from an online pharmacy (I know it is risky but my Doc will not prescribe it) and am now running out. My question is will you via telephone provide a prescription for me? If so how would I go about this. Thank you for your valuable time.

Avodart I do not prescribe this medication for most patients that I know intimately. There are potential side effects of the drug, which include decreased fertility by dropping the sperm count. I don’t know if this reverses. Sexual side effects are also common. Unfortunately, I can not help you.

December 13, 2007

Mixing Minoxidil with Olive Oil? – Balding Blog

is it ok to mix minoxidil with carrier oil, for example olive oil for easy application in scalp?? I hate the spray form, it gets into my ears and grows fur.

I don’t know what oils will do to the absorption of minoxidil. Sounds like you are inventing a new approach, but don’t expect me to endorse it or justify its safety. If you’re really disliking the liquid, you could try the Rogaine Foam.

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December 13, 2007

Propecia and Man-Boobs! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

My question is concerning Gynecomastia due to Propecia 1mg daily. I’m a 27 yo male with a full head of hair that noticed over all thinning within the last year. As a preventative measure, I requested Propecia from my doctor. After taking it for 1 and a half months I am already noticing improvement to my hair. Unfortunately, I have also noticed a “puffiness” around my nipples, like fatty tissue taking form. My question is, will decreasing my daily dosage to 0.5 mg’s possibly remedy this situation? I plan on seeing my doctor as well, but what is your personal opinion? Also, are there any exercises or vitamins that I can take to counter the effects of developing “man-boobs”? I really don’t want to discontinue Propecia based on the success with my hair. I and many others would greatly appreciate a response, as I have read many accounts online similar to mine. Thank you.

Fat around the nipple (glandular tissue) may be caused by Propecia, but I gather that the actual breast itself has not enlarged to produce “man-boobs”. You can try cutting down the dose to 0.5 mg or just continuing with the present dose for a while longer and see what happens. You are correct to speak with the doctor who prescribed it to you and then follow his/her advice.

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December 12, 2007

Staying on Medication After Hair Transplant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

“During the hair transplant process units of one, two or three hairs are moved from a donor site at the back of the head to the areas where hair growth is needed. Once transplanted, the follicles are no longer susceptible to hair loss and will naturally continue to grow. So no matter what age you reach, you’ll be reaching it with a full head of great-looking real hair.”

– This is the quote from Hair Club for Men about their microscopic hair transplant…I thought that after a transplant you still need to stay on drugs to keep your hair..but here it says they’re no longer susceptible. Or does it depend on the kind of transplant?

In my opinion, what you quoted is subtly misleading. Although you do get real hair with hair transplantation, you never get the full head of hair that you once had. There is no doubt that hair transplantation works and it can make a bald man look much better, much fuller if he is thinning, but the limitation is that hair transplantation involves moving hairs around and redistributing it from back to front. It does not create any new hair.

The hair that is transplanted will stay for good, except for the rare occasion where there is disease in the follicle (in which case, a hair transplant should not have been performed in the first place). I generally recommend medication (finasteride 1mg) to most of my male patients before and continued after transplantation, so that they do not lose more of their existing (non-transplanted, genetically susceptible to balding) hair.

December 11, 2007

Finasteride Has Increased My Sex Drive After 2 Months – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I have been on 1/5 proscar for 2 months now and it has actually caused a massive increase in my sex drive. Is this because of the medication!? I have only read about it causing a decrease in libido. However it is a side affect I think I can live with

Finasteride will often increase the testosterone levels and I have heard reports of an increased sex drive. Few men have complained about it, but when it happens to an older married man, it is oftentimes the wife that will do the complaining.

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December 11, 2007

St John’s Wort and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I see in a previous post that you believe that St. John’s Wort will not directly contribute to hair loss. My question is, will St. John’s Wort inhibit or decrease the effectiveness of Propecia? Since Propecia is absorbed in the liver, and St. John’s Wort has been shown to decrease absorbtion of certain drugs, could it also be affecting the level of DHT bockers in the blood stream, thereby reducing propecia’s potency? I currently only take 2 300 mg tablets of St. John’s Wort at bedtime (I take my Propecia at bed time as well). Thanks in advance for your reply.

St. John’s wort is an herbal product used for its flavor or potential therapeutic in treating mild to moderate depression. In my opinion, a healthy liver should not have a problem with both St. John’s wort and Propecia. Discuss this with your prescribing physician. Like many other herbal products, there is not enough research on long term treatment, safety, and effectiveness of this product.

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December 11, 2007

Weight Gain from Rogaine – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Can you using Rogaine cause weight gain? I have been working out frequently and eating better but since my start on Rogaine a few months ago, I’ve noticed an increase in my weight. Can you help me?

Rogaine (minoxidil) was originally used for the treatment of high blood pressure. If you are using and absorbing it, you may be retaining fluid due to cardiac/vascular side effects. I would suggest that you stop it and see your doctor to find out if you have heart disease or high blood pressure.

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