Treatment of Hirsutism with Spironolactone

    March 1982 in “ JAMA ”
    D. C. Cumming
    TLDR Spironolactone is effective and safe for treating excessive facial hair in women.
    In 1982, a study was conducted on 39 patients with hirsutism to evaluate the effectiveness of spironolactone, an antiandrogenic compound. The treatment, administered at a dose of 200 mg/day, showed a clear beneficial effect on the quantity and quality of facial hair growth in 19 out of 20 patients with moderate to severe hirsutism. Improvements were noticeable within two months, with the maximal effect observed at six months and maintained at 12 months of treatment. The drug was equally effective in reducing hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome and idiopathic hirsutism. The treatment led to a prompt and sustained reduction in levels of ovarian-origin androgen without affecting adrenal androgen and cortisol levels. Apart from diuresis in the first few days, no discernible side effects were observed during the one-year study. The results indicated that spironolactone was a highly effective and safe treatment for hirsutism.
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      community Female, 30, PCOS diagnosis, MPB Norwood 2. Endo refuses to give anything other than Spironolactone. Feel like I’m at my wit’s end here.

      in Female  56 upvotes 1 year ago
      A 30-year-old female with PCOS and male pattern baldness is frustrated with her endocrinologist's recommendation of only Spironolactone and minoxidil, feeling that dutasteride, finasteride, and progesterone would be more effective. Other users suggest various online sources for treatments, warn against self-medicating due to potential risks, and recommend seeking a specialized endocrinologist or considering additional treatments like Inositol, Berberine, and dermaneedling.

      community Spironolactone for 11 years, finasteride for almost 5 years, started oral minoxidil in November 😢 ended oral contraceptive in Dec.

      in Progress Pictures  224 upvotes 7 months ago
      A user shared their 11-year experience with spironolactone and nearly 5 years with finasteride for hair loss, recently adding oral minoxidil and stopping birth control. Various treatments were discussed, including organic options, checking for underlying health issues, considering dutasteride, and the potential role of progesterone in hair loss.

      community Spironolactone or bicalutamide prescription

      in Treatment  4 upvotes 1 year ago
      The conversation is about someone seeking a doctor in the EU who prescribes spironolactone or bicalutamide for female pattern hair loss, as they are having difficulty finding treatment options beyond Minoxidil in Austria. They are asking for recommendations and are open to direct messages for assistance.

      community DHT levels after 4 weeks of Fina and 8 weeks of Fina + 4 weeks of Duta

      in Update  36 upvotes 5 years ago
      The user reported early stage diffuse hair thinning and increased DHT levels after 4 weeks on Finasteride and 8 weeks on Finasteride plus 4 weeks on Dutasteride, despite the medications being authentic and stored properly. They are considering increasing their Dutasteride dosage due to the lack of side effects and are unsure if the treatment is helping their hair.

      community AA and Hirsutism but T levels are normal

      in Female  8 upvotes 3 years ago
      27-year-old female experiences aggressive hair thinning and hirsutism despite normal testosterone levels. Spironolactone and 2% minoxidil were ineffective; high DHEA sulfate levels may be the cause.

      community No, Finasteride as a treatment for MPB was not an "accident"

      in Research/Science  105 upvotes 3 years ago
      Finasteride was intentionally developed to treat BPH and later approved for male pattern baldness (MPB) due to its 5AR inhibition effects. The delay in MPB approval was due to concerns about off-label use for female hirsutism and the prioritization of treating a more debilitating condition.

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