MEDICATION
& REMEDIES
 ROGAINE
Minoxidil (Rogaine) is a very publicized liquid drug that's
rubbed on the scalp to increase hair growth. Originally
developed as a blood pressure lowering drug, hair growth
was found to be a then unwanted side-effect. It was introduced
in 1988 by Upjohn, who has since sold about $150 million
of it per year. It has been found to be relatively safe
and is now available over-the-counter (OTC) (i.e., you don't
need a doctor's prescription anymore). Below are some additional
facts.
| Target
Users |
Young
Males (20,s - 30,s) with recent onset of balding (<
5 years); not bald at sides |
| Best
Effects |
Small
areas (less than 1 square inch) of top or frontal balding
(not at sides of head) |
| Cost |
$300
per year ($15 to $30/month depending on where purchased) |
| Length
of Treatment |
Lifetime
commitment; it is recommended to try for 4 months to
decide if it works, and must be rubbed on target areas
twice a day, every day. |
| How
it Works |
Unknown,
but it does increase blood flow by making the blood
vessels bigger. Other drugs that do the same thing don't
work, however. |
| Effectiveness |
It
is not really clear how effective it is. Experiments
that launched the drug reported moderate to marked hair
growth in 39% or patients after 12 months, when compared
to 11% who used placebo (essentially a sugar pill).
This means that 61% of patients had no increase. Studies
also suggested that Rogaine was more effective in preventing
hair loss rather than promoting new hair growth. Less
information is available on its effect on women. No
information about the long-term effects, or about its
safety in men over age 49 is available. |
| Side
Effects |
Headaches
(in up to 40% of users), dizziness, itching, allergic
reactions, heartbeat irregularities can also occur. |
| Availability |
Now
without a prescription - in your neighborhood pharmacy
or over the Internet.
You should, however, talk to your physician before you
take it as there can be interactions with other medications. |
| SUMMARY |
minuses
1. Side-effects
2. Cost (it's not covered by any health plan)
3. Lifetime commitment: all hair gained is lost if
treatment is stopped
4. Only for those who are younger, and have just started
to experience hair loss
5. Questionable results 6. Somewhat messy to apply
Pluses
1. It works for a select group of patients.
|
 PROPECIA
Finasteride 1 mg (Propecia) is a newer drug available for
treating hair loss in MEN ONLY. This drug was originally
developed to treat prostate enlargement (in higher doses)
but was found not to be very effective for this problem.
Luckily (for Merck, & Co.), it was found to be effective
in some forms of male pattern baldness and has since been
renamed and reformulated to treat hair loss. Propecia is
a pill that's taken orally.
| Target
Users |
MEN
ONLY, who are younger (20's to 30's) with recent onset
of male pattern hair loss (< 5 years), and who do not
plan on fathering children; not bald at sides. |
| Best
Effects |
Top
and crown (vertex) of head. Good at maintaining the
hair you still have. |
| Cost |
$500
- $1000 dollars a year ($50 - $80/month depending on
where purchased). |
| Length
of Treatment |
Lifetime commitment; it is recommended to try for at
least 3 months to decide if it works, and must taken
orally once a day, every day. Do not take an extra
pill if you skip a day. |
| How
it Works |
Propecia
is believed to block the production of the DHT (dihydrotestosterone)
from testosterone. DHT turns off susceptible hair follicles. |
| Effectiveness |
Two
main studies were done that lasted 24 months and involved
1,879 men aged 18 to 41 with mild to moderate, but
not complete male pattern hair loss.
 These
studies showed that for men with predominantly vertex
(crown of head) hair loss, taking Propecia resulted
in the following:
Great
Improvement: 5% of study participants
Moderate Improvement: 31%
Slight Improvement: 30%
No visible hair loss: 33%
Slight hair loss: 1%
 For
men with predominantly front and mid-scalp hair loss,
Propecia did not work as well at improving growth
, though it was still effective at maintaining hair
count:
Great Improvement: 0% of study participants
Moderate Improvement: 4%
Slight Improvement: 38%
No visible hair loss: 53%
Slight hair loss: 5%
|
| Side
Effects |
Propecia
SHOULD NOT BE USED BY WOMEN OR CHILDREN because its
been found to cause abnormalities in the developing
genitals of male children. Women and children should
not even touch the tablets, since Propecia can be absorbed
through the skin (even though it has a protective coating,
it can be easily crushed or damaged). Less than 2% of
men complained of side effects. The most common side-effects
related to sexual dysfunction, such as decreased libido
(desire to have sex), problems with erections, and problems
with ejaculation (see our Male
Genitalia Kit for detailed information on sexual
dysfunction & impotence). These side effects resolved
after stopping the drug. |
| Availability |
By
doctor's prescription only. |
| SUMMARY |
minuses
1.
Side-effects
2. Cost (it's not covered by any health plan)
3. Lifetime commitment: all hair gained is lost if
treatment is stopped
4. Only for adult MEN!
Pluses
1. It works for a select group of patients.
2. It is quite good at maintaining the hair you still
have.
3. Its a once-a-day pill that is easy to take.
|
TOPICAL,
HERBAL, & OTHER REMEDIES
 People
have literally tried thousands of things to stop baldness,
non of which have apparently worked. From the ancient Egyptians
putting animal fat on their heads, to drinking mandrake
roots in medieval Europe, to castor oil, to chamomile, to
Jujube oil, to Aloe, to Horsetail, to the many herbal shampoos
in the health food store, if there was anything that really
worked, it would already be on the 6 o'clock news. Until
then, we can be sure people will keep trying. Remember this
before you try something - find out what studies, if any,
have been completed. Just because something is "herbal"
or "natural" does not mean it works or is safe! Many herbal
remedies that are beginning to be studies have been shown
to have just as many significant side-effects as "drug company"
medications. And, if a new "Miracle Cure" is found, see
if it's around in a few months before thinking of trying
it. After all, miracles last longer than that! Watch
for our Herbal Remedy Online Guide, which will evaluate
the herbal & supplemental remedy market - coming soon!
101
HAIR REGROWTH LOTION
This is a concoction from Asia, which reportedly works
by increasing the blood supply to the scalp, and prevents
clogging and malnutrition of the hair roots. It also
reportedly has no known side effects. Keep in mind that
no reported medical testing has been done on this lotion
so far, and we don't know what it is, how exactly it works,
or how we should use it. Although the marketing department
of the company that makes it promises arrival to the USA,
it may very well be just another harebrained scheme.
we strongly recommend avoiding this medication until efficacy
and safety studies have been completed.
ANTIANDROGEN
THERAPY
This form of treatment decreases androgens (like testosterone)
in an effort to prevent hair loss. CPA (cyproterone acetate)
is currently used in combination with ethinyl-estradiol
in the United Kingdom. In the USA, Spironolactone, a
drug used to lower aldosterone levels, is the counterpart.
Aldosterone is a hormone in the body that increases androgen
levels. This drug must be used for 1 to 2 years before
visible results occur. It's recommended within 2 years
of onset of hair loss, and patients must maintain high
levels of vitamins and ferritin (a substance that stores
iron). Spironolactone tends to disrupt the menstrual cycle
and increases menstrual bleeding. It is not intended for
men, as it decreases sex drive and increases voice pitch.
Currently, there are not enough clinical data using spironolactone
for hair loss to recommend this medication for this purpose.
|
