A Comparative Study of Aldactone and Diane in the Treatment of Hirsutism

In a study from 1987 involving 36 women, Aldactone® (50 mg per day) was compared to Diane® for the treatment of hirsutism. The study found that while Aldactone had little effect on hormone concentrations except for a significant reduction in LH after 12 months, all 14 women treated with it reported reduced hair growth, and 58% noted a decrease in new hair growth after 5 months. In contrast, Diane led to a marked decrease in hormone levels and affected hair parameters, but the clinical effects were not as pronounced as with Aldactone, with about 20% of the 22 women showing no response in hair growth reduction, new hair formation, or hair softening. Additionally, the response time was longer with Diane than with Aldactone. The results suggest that Aldactone may have a better clinical effect on hair parameters at the dosages used, despite its minimal hormonal effects. However, it was noted that Diane contains only 2 mg of cyproterone acetate (CPA), and a higher dosage might yield better results.