Commentary on Article on Clinical Efficacy of Oral Finasteride by Won, Lew, and Sim

The article discusses the use of finasteride for female pattern hair loss (FPHL). While the drug has been successful in treating male pattern hair loss, lower doses of 1mg/day have shown limited results in women. However, higher doses of 2.5-5mg/day have been associated with side effects such as headaches, hirsutism, and menstrual irregularities. In the present study, 2.5mg/day seemed to be well tolerated and showed clinical benefit in postmenopausal women with FPHL. The author suggests that while more studies need to be done, a trial of this drug at the 2.5mg/day dosage seems like a reasonable option for clinical benefit to postmenopausal patients with FPHL.