Drugs – Page 241 – Balding Blog

November 9, 2007

Are Minoxidil and Propecia Worth Using? (with Photos) – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Whats up Doc!

I am considering getting on rogaine but am wondering whether or not the benefits of it would be worth the annoyance of its daily use. Is Propecia better? Have you seen any substantial results on Rogain along from any of your patients? I am currently just looking to reverse some thinning in miniaturizing hairs on my crown. Also, is the shed that it mentions is a possibility of any significance, i.e. can you visibly notice a shed from the minoxidil?

Thanks in advance!

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When there is a shedding from minoxidil or Propecia, the effects on fullness are rarely visible.

Here are photos forwarded to me (with permission to publish here) by Dr. William Parsley of a 40 year old male patient who had a great response to a combination of minoxidil and Propecia (finasteride 1mg). He had no hair transplants. These medications do work together and on some patients they can have a remarkable result. From his before pictures, there appears to be considerable miniaturization and I can not tell which medication was responsible for this outstanding response. When there are miniaturized hairs, they can often be stimulated so that the hair shafts will thicken and many studies show that when these medications work, the greatest response comes from these miniaturized hairs which become thicker. If you click on the photographs and compare the before and after pictures carefully, you can almost see the miniaturized hairs (without magnification in these pictures) showing the thickening in the ‘after’ picture. I have seen significant benefits from minoxidil by itself, though not as spectacular as these photos show. Please note that neither medication has proof that they work in the frontal area, yet seeing is believing here. Click the photos to enlarge.

Before

After (minoxidil and Propecia combination use for 7 months)

November 9, 2007

Minoxidil Helped, But I’ve Stopped It Since Becoming Pregnant – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Sir,

I have been diagnosed with androgenic alopecia a couple of years ago, during which I have been on 5% minoxidil. I am 32. THis has helped, but now I am pregnant and of course, I discontinued the use of it. On the recommendation of my dermatologist, I used Thymuskin product for up to the 8th week of my pregnancy, but discontinued that as well, as advised by my Obgyn. I have noticed that in the first trimester, I lost a lot of hair, which can be either the cause of discontinuing minoxidil and/or hormonal changes in pregnancy, I guess. Now I am in the 2nd trimester and I am not losing a lot of hair, however, the hair is not that shiny and it seems to be thinner. Even though pregnancy should be a good period for the hair, I also read that pregnancy can trigger such hair loss in women with AGA that it sometimes is irreversible (on the frontotemplar area). I am of course extremely worried because I have experienced an improvement with minoxidil, but now with pregnancy I am afraid everything will go away and especially be irreversible on the front part (where my hair looks worst, to be honest). I am especially afraid of the post partum and breast feeding period, as I have read that then increased shedding will occur. Is there anything I can do now already during pregnancy to work against this or can you give me a word of consolation at least :).

Thank you very much for your reply

Focus on your pregnancy and your baby. Hair changes do occur in pregnancy and much of it reverses after the baby is born. The recent hair loss does sound like minoxidil withdrawal.

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November 8, 2007

2 Weeks After Starting Finasteride, A Bald Spot Appears – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 47 year old male who has been using rogaine for 4 years to “contain” male pattern thinning. I recently started taking finasteride to see if that would help more. I started taking 2.5 ( 1/2 of the 5mg pills) for a couple of weeks and have noticed a small but very noticeable bald spot develpoing at the very front of my hairline! ( it was always thick there) Is is possible that the finasteride could cause this? I have started to cut the pills into quarters as it seems like 1mg daily is the recommended dosage. Should I stop the finasteride? I am about to start taking synthroid as my T-4 totals are a bit low and I know that the thyroid can cause hair loss but I think it has something to do with the finasteride.

The recommended dose of finasteride for the treatment of male pattern baldness (MPB) is 1mg orally each day. Taking more will not have a greater benefit. I doubt that taking 2.5mg a day has caused you to lose hair on the front and I would not recommend stopping the medication without discussing these issues with the doctor who prescribed you the medication. There may be other causes of hair loss that you are not aware of and your doctor will be able assess this as he/she is able to physically examine you.

November 7, 2007

Blocking 100% of DHT? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Doc,

I have asked you several questions in the past, all of which you have given me very good responses, I am very grateful for that.

This is just a speculative question; If 100% of DHT was to be blocked do you believe the number of patients growing hair would drastically improved.

Blocking 100% of DHT is seen in those individuals who are born with 5 alpha-reductase deficiency and there is no balding in these men. Androgenic alopecia (AGA), otherwise known as male pattern baldness (MPB), is genetic… and genetic predisposition will always win with any DHT production.

Castration is a radical way to block DHT formation by removing the major testosterone influence and we know that there is some androgen hormone production from other than the testicles (we do see women with androgenic influences on their genetic hair loss in some situations). I suspect, however, that a 100% block of DHT would stop the hair loss at whatever stage it is in, but not reverse what had already happened.

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November 6, 2007

Finpecia is the Same as Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

dear doctor,hi i use finpecia tablets for 4 day,my doctor suggested to me i use this tablet for always because my hair lose,i want to know that this tablet is the same as propecia and if it causes decrease sexual tendency and maybe porstate cancer, please explain to me,best regards.

Finpecia is the brand name that Cipla has given to 1mg generic finasteride. This drug is not legally available in the United States, as Merck still holds the patent for 1mg finasteride.

The phenomenon you mentioned has been documented in less than 1% of patients to decrease libido (sex drive) and the higher dose has been shown to reduce the risks of prostate cancer in men over 55. I suspect that the same anti-cancer effects will be at the 1mg level.

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November 6, 2007

Had Good Results from Propecia, Switched to Avodart and Now See Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello. I have taken Propecia since 2004, with great results. I was sick of paying for it, and got my hands on avodart. I switched to avodart in March 2007, and it has been about 6 months now. My concern is that my hairline in the front has definately thinned, and there is no question that it began shortly after I started Avodart. My question is could Avodart have worsened my condition and will it continue to get worse? Will it grow back? Should I go back on propecia or wait this out? Thanks!!

You should address these concerns with the doctor who prescribed you Propecia (finasteride) or Avodart (dutasteride). If you switched to Avodart specifically due to cost issues, you should know there are other less costly alternatives, such as generic finasteride in 5mg strength, that you can cut in 4 pieces to approximate the 1mg finasteride (Propecia). I have very little experience with Avodart, but the limited studies which are published show some (more than Propecia) value at much higher doses.

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November 5, 2007

What Can New Propecia Users Expect? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman, I’m 35 and I’m considering taking Propecia. Do I assume for most patients taking Propecia, that after being on the drug for an extended period of time (four, five, six years perhaps?) that it’s normal for Propecia to eventually lose it’s effectiveness or level off somewhat? Also, as a Propecia user yourself, did you experience any hair shedding when you started the drug and do you think this is something new users should be concerned about? Your site is very helpful. Thanks for taking the time.

When I started Propecia (finasteride 1mg), I did not experience any shedding. Shedding is very rare, but when it occurs it does stop in a couple of months. Over time, the Propecia does not lose effectiveness, but as hair loss is a progressive process, it eventually overtakes the ability of Propecia to stop the loss process.

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November 2, 2007

Hair Loss InformationWhat is Spironolactone? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I have read many post in hairloss forums of men using oral spironolactone and having success when used in conjunction with propecia or avodart. Some before and after pictures have been absolutely amazing. I was wondering the following:

What is Spironolactone?

How you feel about oral spirnolactone as a hairloss remedy?

Is topical spironolactone of any help?

Thanks for your time

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Spironolactone

Spironolactone (marketed under the name Aldactone) is a blood pressure medication that has some antiandrogen properties which have not been clearly proven in a clinical setting to stop hair loss. Despite the lack of proof, it is used by many dermatologists for hair loss treatments in women. I have not been convinced of its value, although some women may see benefits.

For more info, please see:

November 2, 2007

Cutting Multiple Proscar Pills for Future Use – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I used to cut a few weeks worth of Proscar at once and store them in a bottle, so I wouldn’t have to do it every few days. I have since stopped doing this because I was worried the liquid in the tablets might dry up.

Is this a valid concern? If so how long does it take for the liquid to evaporate from the powder? I’m hoping it’s more than 4 days because that would render cutting Proscar into quarters
pointless. Thanks

Only cut the pills as you need them. Cutting multiple 5mg finasteride pills in advance may cause moisture to interact with the active ingredient and make the drug less potent. The 1mg Propecia pill has a coating on it to prevent it from absorbing moisture and so does the 5mg Proscar pill, but when you cut it, you break that seal.

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November 2, 2007

I Am Balding in Streaks on My Head – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hello,

I just turned 20 years old and have been losing my hair for about two years. Only recently has it started to bother me. I have been taking Propecia for three months and hair is certainly falling out less. But I wonder what it will continue to do. I have odd, vertical streaks of baldness on the top of my head (my crown is not balding). Because I haven’t really seen this before, I was just wondering if you knew if Propecia can help fill these areas in.

I have not seen balding occur in vertical stripes, so I can’t comment on your observations without examining you. If you are balding from genetic causes, your observations of some hair reduction is what we generally see at the beginning of the process.

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