TLDR Low-dose flutamide improved hirsutism and satisfaction in women but had common side effects, causing some to stop treatment.
The study assessed the long-term effects of low-dose flutamide on 120 hyperandrogenic women over 20 years, finding significant improvements in hirsutism with a high patient satisfaction rate. Over 91% of participants reported satisfaction, and hirsutism scores were nearly halved after 12 months of treatment. However, 54.2% experienced adverse effects, with 33.3% possibly related to flutamide, leading to a 24.1% withdrawal rate. Common side effects included dry skin, abdominal pain, flatulence, and nausea, with 11 cases of mild hypertransaminasemia and one case of acute fatty liver. Despite the high efficacy, the study emphasized the need for careful consideration of flutamide use due to the common occurrence of adverse effects.
343 citations,
October 2015 in “Endocrine Practice” The guide recommends specific methods for diagnosing PCOS and various treatments for its symptoms, while considering the health impacts on adolescents.
29 citations,
July 2012 in “Fertility and Sterility” Low and ultralow doses of flutamide can cause liver damage in young women with high androgen levels, regardless of dose or birth control use, with higher risk for those with higher BMI and liver enzyme levels before treatment.
42 citations,
April 2011 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy” Flutamide effectively treats female pattern hair loss with low doses showing good liver tolerance.
14 citations,
March 2010 in “Gynecological endocrinology” New treatments for excessive hair growth in women include insulin modulators and enzyme inhibitors.
105 citations,
January 2009 in “Medicine” Hirsutism is more linked to high androgen levels than acne or hair loss, and a mix of hormonal tests is best for diagnosis; certain treatments can reduce symptoms.
169 citations,
August 2004 in “Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology/Baillière's best practice and research in clinical obstetrics and gynaecology” Lower doses of treatments for hirsutism and acne in PCOS are effective and cause fewer side effects.
29 citations,
April 2004 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy” Finasteride reduces hirsutism effectively with fewer side effects but is a second-choice treatment due to safety concerns.
3 citations,
May 2016 in “Gynecological Endocrinology” Low-dose flutamide improved hirsutism and satisfaction in women but had common side effects, causing some to stop treatment.
