January 2020 in “Current trends in diagnosis & treatment”
The review suggests doctors should carefully weigh risks and benefits of off-label drug use, involve patients in decisions, and calls for better regulations and monitoring.
8 citations
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August 2018 in “International Journal of Dermatology”
The document concludes that doctors should carefully consider off-label drug use in dermatology and always inform patients, while more research is needed on the safety and effectiveness of such practices.
A woman with androgenic alopecia has been using birth control, spironolactone, finasteride, and oral minoxidil for hair loss. She sought to change her medications to dutasteride and bicalutamide, but her new dermatologist refused to prescribe them for off-label use.
Finasteride is favored for hair loss due to FDA approval, accessibility, and manageable side effects. Dutasteride, though more effective in reducing DHT, is used off-label and may have more side effects.
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.
A 22-year-old male has been using oral finasteride for a year with no improvement in hair loss and was denied dutasteride by a dermatologist due to FDA approval issues but was prescribed oral minoxidil instead. The user is seeking advice on whether to switch to dutasteride, continue finasteride, or add minoxidil.
Dutasteride and finasteride for hair loss, with dissatisfaction expressed about dutasteride and consideration of switching back to finasteride. Users share varied experiences, noting individual responses to treatments differ.