Drugs – Page 236 – Balding Blog

December 10, 2007

Taking Propecia Before Completing Puberty – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

can mpb or aga occur during puberty, opposed to after its completion? if so, should one think twice about taking propecia if they are not sure they have fully completed puberty?

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Male pattern baldness (MPB) or androgenic alopecia (AGA) can start as early as puberty, when your hormones are at a flux. I would generally recommend Propecia (finasteride 1mg) for men who have completed puberty in their late teens. I am not aware of any studies on Propecia with respect to its effects on men still undergoing puberty, but I would suspect it might slow down or even block the appearance of puberty.

December 7, 2007

My Hair Regrew with Propecia and the LaserComb – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello.

This is MY video: YouTube – Hair Grew Back with Propecia, Laser Comb, and Rogaine foam

My hair DID regrow using Propecia and the laser comb MAY have helped thicken the existing hairs. I don’t even care if anybody buys the laser comb, in fact, I often tell them not to buy one. My video is 100% real and I would never mislead anyone into thinking something that wasn’t true.

Both Dr. Bernstein and Dr. Bauman believe the laser comb works to some degree. It’s fine to disagree with them, but please understand that my video is 100% real and true. I’m an advocate for hair loss sufferers, I would never send them to buy a product that doesn’t work to some degree.

I have been on the radio show “The Bald Truth” debating with the Hairmax company against their claims! I say it doesn’t work anywhere near what they claim. I told them the product was disappointing, but may have thickened my existing high quality hairs. I’m even open to the suggestion that it was a placebo effect.

Bottom line…my video is real.

Thanks, I think you’re honest and have the same goal as me…….educate patients!

Good for you! Thanks for sharing this. You do agree that the results are sometimes disappointing compared to the advertisement, but I have seen many patients achieving similar results with Propecia alone, particularly in men under 27 years old.

I can’t display the video on this page since he’s disabled the ability to embed the video, but it can be seen by going to YouTube.

December 6, 2007

In the News — Rogaine Foam Has Advantages? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

From the article –

Unlike Rogaine solution, “the foam formulation does not have propylene glycol, an agent that commonly causes irritation and occasionally causes an allergic contact dermatitis,” said Dr. Elise A. Olsen, professor of medicine in the divisions of dermatology and oncology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

“Many patients prefer a foam versus a solution that may drip on application to the scalp. The foam is not greasy or drying,” she added.

Read the full article at Reuters Health: Foaming Rogaine has advantages, expert says

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December 6, 2007

Taking Half a Propecia (0.5mg Finasteride) Twice Daily? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

If the half-life of finasteride is 4 to 5 hours, wouldn’t it be better to split the 1mg propecia pill in two, and take one in the morning, and one in the evening?

The half life of finasteride is 4.5 hours. This means that in 4.5 hours, serum levels of finasteride drop to the half of its original level, but the tissue levels will last longer than the serum levels. Finasteride blocks the effect of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, and the effects of the medication due to the blocking of this enzyme is actually much longer and can last up to a few days. On the other hands, the body can eliminate the finasteride, but the pharmacological effects of the medication persist long after.

Considering long lasting pharmacological effects of finasteride, taking it on a more frequent basis probably does not make any difference in its final results.

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December 5, 2007

Any Precautions for Those 60+ Year Olds Starting Propecia or Rogaine? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Is there any special consideration or precaution needed to start medication (Rogaine or Propecia etc.), if the patient is above 60 years old?

All men over 50 years old should obtain a PSA (prostate specific antigen) test prior to starting Propecia, since it may lower the blood level in those who may be harboring an early cancer (delaying the diagnosis). Other than this one observation, the risks of side effects are the same for older men as younger men. There is no similar problem with minoxidil, but as minoxidil has antihypertensive effects, it has been known to produce lightheadedness from small drops in a person’s blood pressure.

Propecia is the brand name for finasteride in 1mg strength. Finasteride in 5mg strength has been reported to lower the risk of certain prostate cancer.

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December 5, 2007

Gastrointestinal Problems from Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Doctor,

I have 2 side effects from propecia. Increased libido (not a problem) and unfortunately nausea and heartburn. I take it after dinner, but don’t have GI problems until middle of the night. Are GI problems common? I’m at the point I may have to discontinue it. Any suggestions?

BTW: You site is a terrific balance to all the misinformation out there.

Before associating your nausea and heartburn with Propecia, you should have your symptoms evaluated by your physician. You may have have other underlying conditions such as heart disease or reflux esophagitis. Sometimes heart disease can present with nausea and heartburn. Please go see your doctor.

And thanks for your kind words about the site!

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December 5, 2007

I Told Doctor I Had Hair Loss, Doctor Told Me To Use Selsun Blue Shampoo – Balding Blog

Hi,

i recently went to the doctors and i was worried about the thinning of my hair, and that my scalp was extremly itchy a lot. He told me to use selsun blue or sebulex, beucase it was most likely the sebacious something? (not really sure what he said it was). But i was wondering if i should go get it checked out from a dermatologist, if its something else. AS well, all the females on the mothers side have thin hair, but none of the men do, or did. Just wondering?

thanks

Some doctors feel that selenium has value in treating hair loss, but there is no proof that there is a deficiency of selenium with hair loss. There are even numerous claims that selenium causes hair loss. It is very confusing and I have no direct knowledge to based an opinion on.

Head and Shoulders Intensive Treatment and Selsun Blue both contain selenium sulfide, but this is topical and not in the vitamin supplement area. These two shampoos are both good shampoos, but I do not believe that they will help treat your hair loss. For more on selenium, see Medline.

December 5, 2007

Proscar Prescription Overseas? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I wanted to send a question in about receiving prescriptions overseas. I live in Japan, and have started to notice that I’m going a little thin in the front. My Grandfather on my Mothers side was very bald so I’m assuming it a MPB thing. I’m in my mid twenties, not stressed out, drink a little bit more then I should, but eat very healthily.

My questions is do you know if prescritpions such as proscar are available overseas? And what kind of Dr. should I be going to to get checked out (that way I can tell my Japanese friends what kind of doctor I need to see and they can help me find one). Thanks for any information you have.

I am sure finasteride is available overseas. Finasteride is a generic drug name for Propecia and Proscar. Note that Propecia (which is prescribed for male pattern balding) is finasteride in 1mg strength; Proscar is finasteride in 5mg strength. Any physician can prescribe these medications, including your family doctor.

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December 4, 2007

I Feel Like Propecia Has Disconnected Me From My Genitals – Balding Blog

Hey doc, I am 61 and I have been taking propecia for a year and a half. Three quarters of the time I have been taking 1/2 a pill. This is because I felt like down there I felt disconnected. My privates just don’t feel like it used to. Also I feel like my breasts have gotten bigger.

I don’t want to lose my hair but it seems like my hair has progressed to get thinner and thinner. The diameter of the hair really is thinning. I don’t want to stop taking Propecia cause I’m afraid to stop. It even seems like I should take the whole dose instead of the half dose. It seems everyday I am questioning my taking this pill but like I said I’m afraid to stop. I didn’t start noticing losing any hair until I was about 56 when it really started to thin. Do you think at the age of 61 Propecia is really necessary? By the way I have fair coverage on my head except on the crown it’s really thin and the last year the rest of the top had thinned noticeably.

Can you recommend what I should do. Thanks Doc for this forum.

My best recommendation is for you to see your doctor (the doctor who prescribed you the medication) and address these significant issues with him or her. Breast enlargement is a rare side effect associated with Propecia. It is reported that 0.5% of men taking five times the dose of Propecia will experience such breast enlargement or tenderness. These side effects are reversible once you stop the medication.

I would question the value of Propecia in a man of your age, so the more basic question here is whether you really need it.

December 4, 2007

In the News – Drug Lengthens Eyelashes – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Lumigan The Wall Street Journal reports –

Doctors and patients alike have noticed that eyelash growth is a side effect of a glaucoma drug called Lumigan, sold by California drug maker Allergan Inc. That phenomenon has set off a race among cosmetics companies to create new eyelash treatments that contain either bimatoprost — the active ingredient in Lumigan — or other so-called prostaglandins found in glaucoma drugs.

Read the full article: Drug That Lengthens Eyelashes Sets Off Flutter

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