Category: Drugs

Hello Dear Doctor:
I’ve been using Proscar for several years and it works for me. A year ago I started to use Minoxidil 5%, twice a day. It works too, noticiablly in the topical area, and possibly thickening other areas. But recently, I started to apply Minoxidil 5% once a day. I’ve been doing so for about 2 months, didn’t see any bad effect. Should I continue to apply it once a day, or change back to twice a day? Another important question, I usually try to apply it everywhere not only the topical area. Do you think that helps more? if not, I wouldn’t waste the time. Or, even if I only apply it to the topical area, it works the same as I apply it in other areas too? Can you define the topical area more precisely for me? You answer will save me lots of time each day, so change my life significantly, I appreciate it.

Apply the minoxidil twice a day to the area that you want to see the benefit from it. Although there is some systemic absorption, minoxidil’s greatest impact is at the point it is applied regularly.

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Hello Dr.
I am a 40 year old male who has been taking Propecia for the last 6 years and up until early this year appeared to have great results.
The last 6 to 9 months have been a different story. I have noticed an acceleration of hair loss over this period. My doctor just switched me to Proscar this month to save money and see if that would have better results. He also had me take blood tests and saliva samples to test for illness or hormone imbalance. These tests should be back in a few weeks. Any idea why the Propecia has appeared to lost its effectiveness?

Propecia has only 7 years worth of documented value, although everyone expects that Propecia benefits will not last in the long term and the loss will resume. The hope is that the loss, when it restarts, will be slower over time. Studies show that the hair loss goes back to the ’start’ level at about 5 years (had you not taken it for these 5 years then the loss would be much greater). The value still maintains hair even if it is less effective over time, because for those who have stopped it, the loss became extreme when value had been seen. Some people think that a higher dose might help, but there is no definitive proof to that. Other drugs like Avodart may be more effective, but without safety and effectiveness certification from the FDA for hair loss, most doctors do not prescribe if ‘off label’ possibly because of potential legal problems (search for Avodart on this site for more information).

Hi doctor , i have been taking propecia almost 8 months . I am 28 years old and do not have thinning anywehere but some receeding from the front sides. I was taking to slow down my receeding. Two weeks ago i decided to take two pill per day and i took it 5 days like that. And when i didnt see any difference i stop taking two pills and went back to one pill. Just two days after i went back to one pill .I started to realize that i have a pain on my upper back and shoulders and my shoulders started to move forward like a body builder. I stop taking propecia one week ago to see if it cleans whatever damage i had . Is it possible that something like this can happen in a short time. Now i have shoulder pain and upper back pain time to time during the day. Is the hormones has something to do with it.Thanks.

I have never heard about Propecia causing shoulder, back, and joint pain. I do not believe that blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT will cause these muscular and joint problems. Have you been carrying some heavy loads or started new exercises which could cause your shoulder or back pain? Look for other causes for the problem, but get to see your doctor and do not treat yourself.

Hello Dr. William Rassman firstly thank you very much for all your helps for who fight with mpb. I am 26 year male and I ve been on finasteride and minoxidil about 1 and half year but 8 months after started minoxidil I started to have sides around my heart unfortunately I could not find a heart doctor experienced about minoxidil in my country turkey. minoxidil works the best for me it is wonderful but it gives me heart pain although I begun to apply less and less of solution. I do not want to stop using it. so could you please help me with these sides and with any alternatives. thank you so much for all your helps again. best wishes

One of the side effect of Minoxidil can be chest pain, though it is rare. Minoxidil is a hypotensive agent, which means it can drop blood pressure, and with that drop it can potentially cause chest pain. This is the sign/symptom of too much medicine being absorbed into the body in too short a time-frame and you might consider stopping or reducing the amount of Minixidil you are using. You must see a cardiologist or your doctor to rule out other causes of chest pain, like coronary vascular disease (a real issue for you to rule out), muscular/joint pain, pulmonic pain or gastric reflux or gastritis or peptic ulcer disease. I believe Propecia may have a better effect than Minoxidil, without the low blood pressure or other side effects that we discussed here.

Hi,
im 24 and ive been slightly receeding for several years now, however it has sped up in the last 6 months, ive also notice the front of my hair beginning to thin. I have read many things about propecia on your site but have no idea how to go about getting it or how much it costs. ive also read a bit about DHT, which sounds like the cause of my loss. Do you have any suggestions, and any suggestions on someone to see, obtain propecia from the vancouver area
thanks

You may obtain Propecia by asking your physician to write you a prescription and then purchasing it at a pharmacy. Prices in the United States run between $53-120/month for 30 pills, depending on where you buy it from. Being from Canada, you may be able to obtain Propecia at a better price than in the US. You may also obtain Propecia from my company if you become a patient. Our pricing is presently at $160 for a 3 month supply. If you are one of our patients we can ship it to you, but if you are not in California (Los Angeles or San Jose) to be evaluated, just see your family doctor and ask him/her.

Hair specialists who will often write Propecia prescriptions can be found at ISHRS.org.

How long will you think CURIS take to be produced commercially? Also, does it have capability to grow hair on already balded areas?

This is a most interesting and exciting technology in its early stages. A great deal of work will be required to take this from the animal study into the human realm and it may not transport easily. What this does show is the many faces of the regrowth phenomenon in hair regeneration. Generally this process, under FDA regulation, will take years. To answer your question, I really do not know exactly how the medication works, but as I find out more, I will let the blog readers know. Thanks for pointing this out to me.

For those interested in learning more, please see Curis Presents Study Showing Stimulation of Hair Growth by Small Molecule Hedgehog Pathway Agonist.

Does saw palmetto work like propecia? Will it help at all in hair loss?

If saw palmetto works as a DHT blocker, it is a weak one. The problems I see with it is that you don’t know what you are getting when you buy it. Every manufacturer seems to have a different dose. I believe that in high doses, it will depress the sex drive in men. What I like about Propecia, is that its dose is known and the side effects are well documented. You get just what you buy and the results on long term hair loss is well known, published in scientific journals, and FDA-certified as safe and effective.