Posts Tagged: Hair Loss Medication

Do You Recommend Loniten as Hair Loss Medication?

December 18th, 2006

Q: Is Loniten good for treating hair loss?

A: Loniten (oral minoxidil) is not useful for treating hair loss. The reason is that it stimulates hair growth all over the body (hypertrichosis) and has a number of serious side effects.

Even when used to treat blood pressure, for which it is FDA approved, it is a medication reserved only for severe hypertension, used after at least three other types of blood pressure medications have been tried and are unsuccessful.

In addition to increased body and facial hair growth, it can cause fluid retention and heart disease. When used topically (topical generic minoxidil or Rogaine) the medication generally does not cause any significant problems other than local skin irritation and occasionally increased facial hair (which can be real nuisance for women).

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 9:14 am

Do You Recommend Avolve Hair Loss Medication?

December 14th, 2006

Q: My friend just came back from Paris and said that his cousin was taking Avolve for hair loss. Can you tell me what that is and is it available in the U.S.?

A: Avolve is the European trade name for dutasteride 0.5mg made by GlaxoSmithKline for prostate enlargement. In the U.S. dutasteride 0.5mg, under the brand name Avodart, is FDA approved to treat prostate enlargement (BPH). It has not been FDA approved for hair loss.

See the Dutasteride

page on Bernstein Medical – Center for Hair Restoration website.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:11 am

Can Hair Transplant Thicken Thinning Hair in Person with Early Hair Loss?

November 2nd, 2006

Q: I am 22 and losing my hair all across the top of my head. How can I thicken my hair to its level a few years previously?

A: If medication, such as finasteride, is successful it can thicken hair by increasing the diameter of the existing hair shafts. Although the cosmetic benefits can be dramatic in a person with significant hair loss, a hair transplant can not restore hair to its original density, since it only moves the existing hair around and does create new hair.

When hair cloning technology is available, this will change as a person’s donor supply will be increased.

Topic: Hair Loss

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 8:25 am

Why is Propecia Hair Loss Medication Not Stopping Hair Loss?

September 22nd, 2006

Q: I have been on Propecia for a year and my hair loss has not stopped or slowed down. How much longer should I give the drug? Can Propecia speed up hair loss in some patients?

A: If you have not responded to Propecia in one year, it is unlikely that you will.

Finasteride may cause shedding in the first 6 months of treatment, but should not accelerate hair loss long-term. It is most likely that you have progression of your hair loss.

In addition, be sure that you have a correct diagnosis i.e. that you actually have androgenetic alopecia.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:44 pm

Is Avodart Hair Loss Medication Safe for Male with Early Hair Loss?

September 18th, 2006

Q: My query is prompted by your answer to another query “Is Avodart safe?” My son, who is in his mid-20s, has been taking Dutasteride for hair loss for about two years now. He had tried Finasteride earlier but without much benefit. Medical supervision regarding Dutasteride is not available in Australia as the drug has not been released here yet.

I am concerned by your remarks that there is no biologic model to show the long-term safety of Dutasteride (as opposed to Finasteride). Would you suggest that he goes back to taking Finasteride? We would be grateful for your advice.

A: It is a tough call as I have never met or examined your son, so I can only offer an opinion based on limited information.

If you feel your son will be emotionally or socially debilitated by the hair loss, then I think that it may be worth the risk (if there is any) of taking the medication; otherwise, I would use Finasteride.

Please keep in mind that you don’t need to make the final decision now. You may want to defer the decision until he is 28 or so, at time when he is more mature. It is a tough call. Please let me know what you decide.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 11:35 am



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