Category: Drugs

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Hair Loss InformationProstate Cancer Prevention – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

A recent article, titled “An update on chemoprevention strategies in prostate cancer for 2006″, published in the May 2006, Volume 16, Issue 3 issue of the Current Opinion in Urology medical journal discusses the ability to reduce prostate cancer with a variety of herbs, vitamins and drugs including the roles of: finasteride, selenium, lycopene, soy, green tea, anti-inflammatories and statins. It warns of the increased risks associated with excessive vitamin E and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor. We are learning much about prevention of Prostate cancer. Below is a review of the article:

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: An increasing volume of research has been directed at the prevention of prostate cancer. This review proposes to summarize the large trials, novel approaches and molecular mechanisms of effect published in 2004 and 2005.

RECENT FINDINGS: The impact of the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial continues and subsequent articles have addressed the increase of high-grade prostate cancers detected in the finasteride arm of the trial, as well as the potential costs and benefits of extrapolating the findings to a public health campaign. Studies of risk have been published warning of excessive vitamin E and cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitor use in chemoprevention. Growing evidence supports the concept of chemopreventative agent combinations and further data on the roles of selenium, lycopene, soy, green tea, anti-inflammatories and statins in prostate-cancer prevention are presented.

SUMMARY: Level one evidence exists for the preventative effects of finasteride in prostate cancer. The evidence for other agents is less conclusive but a number of large-scale, appropriately designed trials will hopefully address some of the relevant issues in prostate-cancer prevention over the next decade.

Source: Curr Opin Urol. 2006 May;16(3):132-7, An update on chemoprevention strategies in prostate cancer for 2006, Neill MG, Fleshner NE. Division of UroOncology, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada.

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Hair Loss InformationSpironolactones and Propecia in Women – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

If you are a female taking Spironolactone 100 mg can you take propecia too?

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If you are taking spironolactones, you must be managed by a doctor. As I do not have experience with it, I can not answer this from direct knowledge, but I would suspect that it would be reasonable to take Propecia, provided that you are past child bearing years. There is no long term studies on safety in women for Propecia, but there are certain conditions that cause a woman to make a great deal of male hormones and as such, may actually develop a male patterned hair loss. Having these diseases and being past child bearing years, a trial of Propecia may be indicated, but be aware of the possible appearance of conditions that ‘theoretically’ may develop which could impact the breast, uterine and ovarian organs. For example, cancer risks have never been studied when a women is placed on Propecia and those women who are genetically prone to breast, uterine, or ovarian cancer may find themselves at greater risk.

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Nexium and Hair Loss? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Dr. Rassman,
Thank you so much for your answer concerning the two shoulder injections of cortisone!
I also have acid reflux,& had taken nexium, but stopped it after noticing hair loss more accelerated than usual. Are you aware of any hair loss associated with Nexium, as this drug seems to work best with GERD, & will regrowth occur after suspension? Also does regrowth generally occur with hair lost to seborrheic dermatitis, if treated? Thank you again for your prolific insight!

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Nexium can cause hair loss, though it is a rare side effect. Seborrheic dermatitis rarely produces hair loss unless you scratch it and produce traction alopecia by continuously pulling at your hair.

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Taking Propecia at Age 57 – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

  1. I am 57. Over the last 5 years I have suffered hair loss. I have consulted with three hair-loss experts. Two have said I should be on Propecia, one said at my age it will make no difference. Will it?
  2. I have four elevated liver counts. I do not drink or smoke, nor have I ever smoked or drank. Will taking Propecia have negative effects on my liver?

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The value of Propecia should be determined after you have a diagnosis in hand for the balding process. How much miniaturizationdo you have as compared to balding? Propecia works well if the miniaturization process is well underway, but the hair still should have substantial volumes. With regard to your liver, what is your diagnosis as the cause of your liver problem? Doses of Propecia must be reduced when people have liver disease. I do not like internet medicine, because I like to see and bond with my patients. That is why you need a good doctor first, then a Master Plan to determine what to do next. Propecia may make a difference in the crown hair, even in a 57 year old.

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Taking Estrogen Blocker with Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I had a transplant done 2 months ago at a hair transplant office. Right now I’m in the waiting period to see any growth. I’m also on propecia for one month. I love working out, but I have some preexisting gynomastica (not sure how to spell it). I have ordered and estrogen blocker to help prevent anymore possible gyno. I was wondering if taking this product will at all interfere with any propecia results or results from my transplant? Any info would be greatly appreciated. This estrogen blocker also acts as a testosterone booster as well. That is what makes me wonder the most. Thank you for your time.

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The permanent hair from the donor area is usually not affected by hormones, so I would expect that it would not impact your hair transplant, but it might impact the other hair in the vicinity (the original hair is at risk here). Any testosterone booster will work against your goal and contribute to more hair loss. Get in touch with your doctor and get his guidance.

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Distributing Minoxidil Evenly On Scalp – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr Rassman!

I’m 27 this year and my hair has been thinning since I was around 20 years old.
Just a couple of questions for you:

  1. Could you tell me whether minoxidil has any success in slowing down the rate of hairloss and if so – what is the best way to apply it? Can you buy a cap that distributes it evenly on your head? I realise Propecia is more effective at achieving this aim – although I’m not keen on the sexual side effects (I’m quite a suggestive person!)
  2. Do you know of anywhere in the UK that offers hair mapping for miniaturisation? I have tried a handful of dermatologists to no avail.

Thanks once again for this blog – it is so refreshing to find such an informative and unbiased database of facts all in once place!

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  1. Minoxidil is not the best approach to genetic balding and you have too much to lose if you go that route. Propecia does have possible sexual side effects, but the percentage is very small (less than 1%). You may want to try it first and see. You may want to check a hair salon or beauty supply store for a cap to cover your head when applying the Rogaine if you’re concerned about that.
  2. A good hair transplant physician should be able to map your scalp for miniaturization. You can try checking the ISHRS site’s physician search to find a doctor in your area.

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I’m Female and My Doctor Prescribed Finasteride – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi, i’m a female 47, have been visited by a dermatologist who prescribed finestride 0.5 mg daily. As far as I’ve seen in an internet search, this drug is only for men so I doubt to use it. Would you please tell me what to do, I will appreciate that , thank alot.

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Finasteride is not recommended for women. There is no data on safety concerning things like cancers of uterus, ovary, cervix, or breast. Although pregnancy may by unusual for a 47 year old, it does happen and this medication will probably produce sexual growth problems in the fetus. The results on experimental finasteride for women is not clear nor is it statistically significant. Read Finasteride for Female Hair Loss for more info.

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Why Would Proscar and Avodart Not Work For Some People? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi,

I’m curious.If drugs like Proscar and Avodart do inhibit DHT in the blood why whould they not stop male pattern baldness for everyone who is experiencing thinning from a true genetic disposition??I realize people thin for various reasons but if it is genetics why do some individuals not respond.

-Thank you.

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Honestly, we just do not know all of the answers. These medications attack the DHT, but it is not 100% effective at blocking it. The balding genetics in some people is very, very strong and it may not be effectively treated with these drugs if you are looking for reversal of the balding, but I am certain that there is a slowing effect on ALL genetic balding men. Just slowing or stopping hair loss is not what some people may be willing to accept, though.

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Minoxidil Tablets – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

In Australia, there’s a hair clinic that’s been supplying Minoxidil tablets once a day in their offerings to young hair loss sufferers for a long time now. Reports indicate that maybe 50% of them have astounding scalp hair growth with a few side effects, but this medication when administered orally in tablet form, is not approved for this purpose by the FDA.

One reputable doctor does reports using the Minoxidil pill for severe psychological suffering in the young man and adding to it lotions containing finasteride and Rogaine. He warns of side effects and requires careful monitoring, which must be explained to the patient and the parents when minors are involved, and to use the medications only as a short term bridge for those young men with severe psychological dysfunction, until they can surround the dysfunctional state. There is caution suggested when side effects show up, because they can be life threatening. Of the ten or so young men reported by this doctor who received the pill in a 15 year period, one patient had excessive body hair and one developed occasional heart flutters. Stopping the medication stopped the heart flutters, but the excess body hair seemed to stay with the one patient that had it.

Minoxidil was originally developed as an antihypertensive agent to treat high blood pressure. If this medication is given to people without high blood pressure, it could drop the blood pressure enough to produce more than a heart flutter — like a heart attack or stroke — in some individuals who have other underlying conditions that lie dormant. Just remember, Minoxidil taken orally is NOT approved as a hair loss treatment. It may drop your blood pressure dangerously low and may cause strokes and even death.