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How
might cyproterone acetate treat androgenetic alopecia
Cyprtoerone acetate, or CPA, is the generic name for the commercial
brand name drugs Androcur® and Androcur Depot® by Schering
AG, Farma, Germany, and Cyproteron by NM Pharma, United Kingdom.
Cyproterone Acetate comes in two basic formats 10mg or 50mg oral
tablets, and depot for injection 100 mg/mL (3 mL ampul).
Cyproterone Acetate is a steroidal antiandrogen. Treatment with
cyproterone alone results in incomplete suppression of serum testosterone
levels. The addition of low dose diethylstilbestrol has been found
to almost entirely suppress testosterone activity. Cyproterone acetate
is also known to block dihydrotestosterone from binding to receptors
in prostatic carcinoma cells. In addition, cyproterone acetate has
a weak progestational activity that results in the partial suppression
of pituitary gonadotropin. This subsequently has the effect of decreasing
serum testosterone levels.
Cyproterone acetate my act as a direct antiandrogen drug it has
the effect of lowering androgen hormone production. With lower levels
of testosterone and by blocking the binding of dihyrotestosterone
(DHT) to DHT receptors, cyproterone may be effective at limiting
hair loss due to the effects of androgens.
Cyproterone acetate is used for women who have too much androgen
production and/or seem to be overly sensitive to androgen activity
in their bodies. Cyproterone acetate is used for acne and/or overactive
oil glands and hirsutism as well as androgen dependent hair loss.
In men, cyproterone acetate is used for prostate cancer treatment,
to reduce sex drive in men, for the treatment of sexual aggression,
and for use by male to female transsexuals in conjucntion with estrogen
supplements. Genrally cyproterone acetate is not given to men for
androgen hair loss due to the nature of side effects in men as compared
to women.
Note: Cyproterone Acetate is not approved by the US FDA and is
not available in the USA!
How
might cyproterone acetate treat androgenetic alopecia references
- de
Vries CP, Gooren LJ, van der Veen EA. The effect of cyproterone
acetate alone and in combination with ethinylestradiol on the
hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, prolactin and growth hormone
release in male-to-female transsexuals. Horm Metab Res. 1986
Mar;18(3):203-5.
- Migliari
R, Muscas G, Murru M, Verdacchi T, De Benedetto G, De Angelis
M. Antiandrogens: a summary review of pharmacodynamic properties
and tolerability in prostate cancer therapy. Arch Ital Urol
Androl. 1999 Dec;71(5):293-302.
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