Posts Tagged: Propecia

Do You Recommend Avodart (Dutasteride) Hair Loss Medication?

February 25th, 2008

Q: I heard that there is a new drug on the market called Avodart for prostate enlargement which might help with hair loss as it blocks the conversion of testosterone to DHT better than Finasteride and is more effective than Propecia. Do you recommend taking it and if so what is the dose?

A: I am currently not recommending that patients take Dutasteride for hair loss, although it is more effective than Propecia, finasteride 1mg. (Dutasteride 0.5, the dose generally used for hair loss, seems to be slightly more effective than finasteride 5m in reversing miniaturization.)

The reasons that I am hesitant to prescribe it at present are outlined in the Hair Transplant Blog question Is Avodart Safe?

In addition to the reasons that I listed in that response, I would also consider that: Dutasteride, unlike finasteride, decreases sperm counts, it can result in persistent decreased sex drive and the incidence is greater than with finasteride. Finally there are a significant number of alpha-type 1 receptors in brain, those affected by dutasteride, but not finasteride.

However, since Dutasteride is approved for older men with prostatic disease, using it for hair loss in this age group (usually in a lower dose) is reasonable.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:19 am

Does Hair Transplant Affect Quality of Hair?

February 18th, 2008

Q: I would be so grateful if you could give me some idea on how the quality of the hair that is transplanted is affected by its new ‘home’ and the native neighboring hair.

Is it likely all the hair that is going to be able to come back to life with Propecia will also mature fully eventually? At the moment there is a big visual difference between the front section and rest of hair. (I understand hair count per cm2 may differ more drastically- I’m thinking here just of the hair shaft thickness.) Also, when I have hair transplants – as I intend to when Propecia has done all it can – will the hairs from the back of my head (thick) stay that thick regardless or will they take on the properties of the new surrounding hair?

A: Hair that responds to Propecia doesn’t always regain the full character of the original hair, so the area may still look thin.

The transplanted hair, however, will look like the original hair and maintain, over time, the same character as the hair in the donor area (where it came from).

Topic: Hair Characteristics

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:28 am

Does Propecia Hair Loss Medication Effect Beard Growth?

July 6th, 2007

Q: I am a 21 yrs old male having serious hair loss over the last few years. I also have very little facial hair. Since Propecia is a DHT blocker can it inhibit beard growth?

A: As you suggest, it would be reasonable to assume that since DHT stimulates beard growth, blocking DHT (with finasteride) would tend to inhibit its growth. In practice, this does not seem to be the case, i.e. we don’t find that Propecia has any affect on facial hair. The reason is not clear.

It is interesting to note that testosterone stimulates growth of axillary and pubic hair, but not scalp hair. Scalp hair growth is not androgen dependent, only scalp hair loss is.

DHT stimulates terminal hair growth of the beard, trunk and limbs, external ears and nostrils. Of course, it also is responsible for the bitemporal reshaping of hairline as one passes into adulthood and causes male patterned baldness (androgenetic alopecia).

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:48 pm

Will Increase in Dosage of Propecia Hair Loss Medication Stop Miniaturization Process?

June 5th, 2007

Q: I have been using Propecia since it was released to the public in 1998 and have found it to work very well. Recently, its effectiveness has stopped and my hairs are miniaturizing again. I am going to increase the dosage to 1/2 a pill Proscar every day. How long will the increased dosage take to stop the miniaturizing process?

A: It seems to take the same time to work as when you initially started Propecia.

When patients increase their dose, I rarely see re-growth, but rather the expectation is that further hair loss will be decreased. When it does work to actually re-grow hair, we sometimes see an initial period of shedding, similar to when finasteride was first started.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 5:55 am

Managing Hair Loss Medication Treatment with Side Effects

June 4th, 2007

Q: I am suffering from male patterned baldness. I used Propecia a couple of months ago but had the sexual side effects from it so I stopped. I’ve recently gone back to using Propecia but I was just wondering how I avoid the side effects. Can Propecia be used every other day and still be effective. Also, do the side effects disappear if I continue to use it and how long does it take?

A: Yes, on both accounts. Alternate day therapy may decrease the side effects and still be effective in treating hair loss. The sexual side effects usually take a week or two to disappear after stopping the medication.

Topic: Drugs & Medications

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Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 7:35 am



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