Contraindicated Use of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors in Women

August 2016 in “ British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology ”

Martina Teichert, Eugène van Puijenbroek, Bruno H. Ch. Stricker

5-alpha-reductase inhibitors finasteride dutasteride female alopecia hirsutism birth defects medication surveillance systems Propecia Avodart

From the encyclopedia

Finasteride →

Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

Dutasteride →

Heavy duty finasteride that comes with higher risks

Studysummary This study found that from 2011 to 2015, a substantial portion of women in the Netherlands dispensed finasteride or dutasteride were not using adequate contraception, prompting calls for improved risk management.

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The document from 2016 highlights the risks associated with the use of 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors, such as finasteride and dutasteride, in women, which are not recommended due to potential birth defects in male fetuses. Despite this, the drugs have been used off-label for female alopecia and hirsutism, but with limited effectiveness. The study showed a decline in prescriptions to women in the Netherlands from 920 in 2011 to 651 in 2015, but concerningly, many recipients were of childbearing age and not using contraceptives. The authors call for medication surveillance systems to alert healthcare providers when these drugs are prescribed to women and to ensure contraceptive use is considered.

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Research cited in this study

7 / 7 results

research The Effectiveness of Finasteride and Dutasteride Used for 3 Years in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

32 citations , January 2014 in “Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology”

This study found that both finasteride and dutasteride effectively increased hair thickness in women with androgenetic alopecia over three years, with dutasteride performing better in women under 50 at specific scalp sites.

research Finasteride 5 mg/Day Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normo-Androgenetic Postmenopausal Women

44 citations , January 2013 in “International Journal of Trichology”

This study found that 5 mg/day oral finasteride was effective and safe for improving hair outcomes in normoandrogenic postmenopausal women with androgenetic alopecia over 18 months.

research 5 mg/Day Finasteride Treatment for Normoandrogenic Asian Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss

64 citations , June 2010 in “Journal of The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology”

This study suggests that 5 mg/day oral finasteride may increase hair density and thickness in normoandrogenic Asian women with female pattern hair loss over 12 months.

research Finasteride Treatment of Hair Loss in Women

29 citations , May 2010 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy”

This review discusses the limited objective evidence for using finasteride in women with alopecia, suggesting that it could be considered for those who don't benefit from minoxidil, but reports no new clinical results.

Finasteride Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normoandrogenic Postmenopausal Women

Contraindicated Use of 5-Alpha-Reductase Inhibitors in Women

Research cited in this study

research The Effectiveness of Finasteride and Dutasteride Used for 3 Years in Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

research Finasteride 5 mg/Day Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normo-Androgenetic Postmenopausal Women

research 5 mg/Day Finasteride Treatment for Normoandrogenic Asian Women with Female Pattern Hair Loss

research Finasteride Treatment of Hair Loss in Women

research Finasteride Treatment of Patterned Hair Loss in Normoandrogenic Postmenopausal Women

research Lack of Efficacy of Finasteride in Postmenopausal Women with Androgenetic Alopecia

research External Genitalia Abnormalities in Male Rats Exposed In Utero to Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor