Category: Drugs

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Why Do Some React Better to Propecia Than Others? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I read a recent message from a 22 year old who has had a great experience with Propecia in only 3 months. I’m a 22 year old with slight thinning on top/thinning at the crown in the last 15 months and I’ve been on Propecia for 3 months too. BUT I have seen NO noticable difference in my hair density or hair count. Why do some men react better to Propecia than others? (I don’t have massive amounts of testosterone in my body either)

The rate of hair loss differs from individual to individual. The genetic factors vary with the person as well. A DHT blocker only impacts one of the factors that cause genetic hair loss. Unfortunately, not everyone responds to it the same way, but I believe that it has value in every man losing his hair from genetic factors. In some men, it reverses hair loss, in others it just slows it down or stops it, but there is a losing battle here and sooner or later as the genetic factors will dominate the hair loss equation even for those young men with these wonderful results. The goal for the DHT blockers is to alter the natural course of the hair loss (extend the balding process over many more years that it would normally occur). Hopefully, the extra time will allow the next breakthrough treatment for hair loss to become available (whatever it is).

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Woman with Androgenic Alopecia Being Treated with Avodart – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I am a 42 year old female with diffuse hair loss diagnosed as androgenic alopecia from a scalp biopsy. I am currently being treated with Yazmin, continuous active pill, spironolactone 200mg and Avodart since May 2006. I have had significant progress but some reaction (dry and itchy) to the spiro. I am considering trying a different protocol because I don’t like being on 3 meds especially when I am not gettin as much improvement as I would like, and some concerns about being on 3 medications. I looked in to a hair loss clinic that uses the following combination – 1. An herbal DHT blocker that includes many supplements I have read about for hair loss, 2. A topical treatment that include minoxidil in a carrier solution to neutralize the negative effects of etoh on the scalp, 3. Regular in clinic laser therapy that has 70 lasers (as opposed to 1 used in the comb) 4 A co-enzyme to stimulate hair growth. Do you think this regime is a viable alternative to the three medications? I know any of these treatments takes months to show effect so I am trying to make as informed a decision as possible since the prospect of counting 250 hairs in the shower again is very scary to me.

You are on several treatments and are considering more. Of those treatments, some are not proven effective for women with male pattern baldness and some have exclusive and limited indications. The DHT blocker finasteride has been studied in women with androgenetic alopecia. Although effective for men, this medication was not proven to be effective for women. Dutasteride (Avodart), another DHT blocker, has never been studied for this purpose in women.

Using lasers for treatment of hair loss has been controversial and although advertised extensively, is not yet (in my opinion) proven to be effective. If it helps at all, the benefit will be new hair growth in the 10% range. Application of spironolactone for treatment of alopecia is limited to some patients with elevated levels of androgen. Topical DHT blockers have a theoretical value in men, but they have not been studied and should be no better in women than systemic DHT blockers like finasteride.

You seem to be determined to fight the baldness, an admirable trait. The best thing you can do is to find a good dermatologist for a thorough evaluation to be assured that you do not have a medical cause of hair loss which is common in women. Using anecdotal modalities for treatment of your condition may be disappointing at the end, let alone the money and time that you lose.

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Should I Start Finasteride When My Hair Loss is More Apparent? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

First two years of finasteride use is the best one’s ((for most users). After that the drug is still effective (for most users) but slightly losses it’s effectivity over a period of 5-15 years..

It his is true, should I put my mind into analyze when the right time is for me? I know I have MPB but I think I have the slow version, I started out when I was around 15 years old..and now, almost 10 years later I’ve countinued balding but still has around a NW2 with slightly more damage to vertex (no bald spot though).

Should I start right now with finasteride or wait until the loss gets more apparent?

You should first get your hair mapped out for miniaturization and if that shows early genetic hair loss, then yes, you should go on finasteride. You need a proper diagnosis before you start laying out all of that money and putting yourself on a drug for life.

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Switching from Avodart to Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dear Doctor:

If a person takes .5mg Avodart daily for crown loss for 1 year with no appreciable result, would switching to Propecia have any effect. I know Dutasteride is a more complete DHT blocker than Finasteride. That being said, would shedding be an issue switching from Avodart to Propecia? Thanks!

We don’t know the answer to the questions you asked regarding Avodart (dutasteride), because it is not studied on a large number of patients for prevention or treatment of hair loss. There are more studies underway now, however, so hopefully this information will be available at some point. If I had to guess though, I would say that there would be no shedding.

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Lipoxidil, Topical Dutasteride, and Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Could you please give me your opinion of the products being sold at lipoxidil.com?

The MGF formula combines a lot of ingredients and in theory it looks like it would be very effective. The price is very expensive though. I would also like to know what your opinion on topical Dutasteride is as these products do contain it.

From what I’ve read, Lipoxidil contains minoxidil as its main active ingredient. As minoxidil is an over the counter drug, it is probably less expensive that Lipoxidil . I have no experience with topical dutasteride that is mentioned on that site.

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When Should Propecia Be Out of My System? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

I’m 25yrs old and have taken Propecia for 2 weeks before I noticed a severe drop in my libido. I have been off it for a week and it appears to be the same. How long does it take to run its course and exit your system? Is there any chance this is permanent like horror stories on the internet?

It leaves your blood stream in about a day or two. There is some tissue fixation which might last for up to a month (wild guess), but I would expect that everything should go back to normal well before a month. You should consult with the doctor who prescribed the medication for you.

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Woman Losing Hair in the Areas She’s Using Rogaine – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi,
I’ve been using 5% Rogaine (prescribed by my doctor) for 6 weeks now. I was told it might cause more shedding than usual for 1-3 weeks but it’s been 6 weeks and almost all of the hair in the area I’ve been applying the Rogaine has fallen out. I need a hair transplant more than ever now. But I’m wondering….should I stop taking the Rogaine or do I need to be more patient and hope that eventually some of it will grow back? I know Rogaine doesn’t work for everyone but at what point do you know that it doesn’t for you? Is it abnormal to fall out this much week after week? Thanks!

Approximately six percent of the patients using Rogaine experience shedding within the first few months of using this medication. You report that you are experiencing shedding for six weeks after starting the medication. You might consider stopping the medication. Seeing an expert in the field is better than trying to do this over the internet. You should rule out other underlying factors that could have precipitated your hair loss.

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A 22 Year Old’s Propecia Experience – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi there just would like to say thanks for this great site. I am a 22 yr old male from england and have noticed over the last couple of years my hair thinning slightly. my dad, granddad, and uncles are all now bald and some of my cousins of the same age are really receding. i have been taking propecia for about 3 months now and its been great. i will have to send you some pictures but my hair is really thickining up on top, at the front, and the back. it really instills more confidence in you when your not thinking about it as much. also i know its not a cure but it has made a great difference

Thanks for sharing your experience with us. It is important for people who are where you were to understand what the possibilities are, good and bad. I would encourage others to write about their experiences. Information is powerful and men who are balding can never get enough information about the process that they are going through.

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I’m Also 49 Years Old and Had Great Regrowth from Propecia! – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Dr. Rassman, I just read your recent article and pictures about a 49 year old male who has been on Propecia for 3 month. Interestingly, I too am 49 years old and has been on Propecia for about 5 months. And I too has observed a great regrowth all over, especially around the hairlines. The new hairline has been forming about 3/4 inches below the one established by the HT I received about 5 months ago. I just want to point out that there is more than one incident that propecia provides great growth (regrowth) even for older males.

Thanks for sharing. I am sure that your experience will have value to others.

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T Bomb 2 Supplement for Weight Lifting – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman

Hi Dr Rassman,

I lift weights and read about a product called “T Bomb 2″. I believe it has a steroid like effect without the side effects, there used to be something called t bomb but its now illegal & thats why they created 2. My question is do you know if this product can cause hair loss? because the manufacturers actually say that it blocks or inhibits dht which i think means the opposite of causing hair loss. Thank you.

Here are the ingredients of this product:

  • Tribulus terrestris (standardiz
  • tongkat ali 20:1 extract (root) (Eurycoma longifolia Jack)
  • red clover extract (40% isoflavones)
  • Chrysin
  • Kudzu root (Pueraria lobota) (40% isoflavones)
  • DIM (diindolymethane)
  • Avena sativa 10:1 extract (aerial parts)
  • zinc (as zinc aspartate)
  • Pygeum africanum extract (25% total sterol) (bark)
  • Stinging nettle leaf 4:1 extract, anti BPH
  • Beta siterol
  • Saw palmetto berry extract

Most of these are herbal supplements with diverse characteristics. A few of them are testosterone enhancers, while others are herbal supplements traditionally used for treatment of prostate enlargement, which might work through blocking DHT. Unlike medications, herbal supplements could be sold without a real FDA approval assuming they are safe. There is no research on safety of its long term use.

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