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Does
finasteride work for women
Merck, manufacturers of finasteride, have completed a phase III
trial on the effects of finasteride (propecia) in post menopausal
women. Their conclusion was that finasteride was ineffective in
treating female androgenetic alopecia.
Officially, Merck do not recommend finasteride for use by women
and the FDA has not passed it for use by women. However, some dermatologists
have suggested that the trial was intentionally biased to produce
this result. The rumor (and it is only a rumor) is that Merck specifically
wanted to avoid obtaining Federal Drug Administration approval for
treating women with finasteride. Propecia/finasteride is dangerous
during pregnancy as it causes multiple and extensive birth defects
to male embryos. The suggestion is that Merck want to avoid any
court action by pregnant women who took finasteride for their hair
loss and subsequently had a child with birth defects. Indeed, advertisements
for propecia recommend that women do not even handle the pills without
using latex gloves to ensure none of the drug is absorbed through
the skin.
Despite these contraindications some dermatologists outside the
USA do sometimes prescribe finasteride for use by women. These dermatologists
recommend the individual uses at least two forms of birth control
while taking propecia as the risk of birth defects is very serious.
However, without independent trials on pre menopausal women the
true effect of finasteride on female pattern baldness is unknown.
It has been used in pre menopausal women with hirsutism with some
success. Studies on hirsute women suggest finasteride can be effective
in reducing dihydrotestosterone levels. One trial suggests it is
as effective as oral antiandrogens spironolactone and flutamide,
both of which are used to treat female androgenetic alopecia.
Does
finasteride work for women references
- Moghetti
P, Tosi F, Tosti A, Negri C, Misciali C, Perrone F, Caputo M,
Muggeo M, Castello R. Comparison of spironolactone, flutamide,
and finasteride efficacy in the treatment of hirsutism: a randomized,
double blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Clin Endocrinol Metab.
2000 Jan;85(1):89-94.
- Whiting
DA, Waldstreicher J, Sanchez M, Kaufman KD. Measuring reversal
of hair miniaturization in androgenetic alopecia by follicular
counts in horizontal sections of serial scalp biopsies: results
of finasteride 1 mg treatment of men and postmenopausal women.
J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc. 1999 Dec;4(3):282-4.
- Faloia
E, Filipponi S, Mancini V, Di Marco S, Mantero F. Effect of finasteride
in idiopathic hirsutism. J Endocrinol Invest. 1998 Nov;21(10):694-8.
- Bayram
F, Muderris II, Sahin Y, Kelestimur F. Related Articles Finasteride
treatment for one year in 35 hirsute patients. Exp Clin Endocrinol
Diabetes. 1999;107(3):195-7.
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