How are those of you taking flutamide doing? Or if you've taken it in the past, how did it go?
I'm particularly interested in how long it took for your hair loss to stop or slow down, if the drug did end up helping in that area.
I've been taking 250mg/day for three months now, and my acne cleared up briefly earlier this month and I was hoping my hair loss was slowing down, but my face has broken out again and my hair loss is worse than ever, so I'm feeling extremely discouraged. I know hair regrowth is supposed to take a long time (and usually never happens), but I'm afraid that if the drug hasn't slowed the loss by now, it will never help.
Flutamide worked great for me. At the time, I was also working out VERY hard and regularly, and was on a strict veggies & lean protein WOE, so my improvement in symptoms was probably a combination of things...
Re: hair regrowth, it really does take a long time - even under the best circumstances. Have you tried something topical like Nizoral or Nioxin? (see the sticky in this forum).
When I was on Flutamide, I was also washing my hair every day, so no DHT built up on my scalp.
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Hey, SoulCysters! Need to eat more veggies, but can't find recipes??
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I have been on 250mgs of Flutamide since June. My hair loss stopped almost immediately. I've recently noticed a lot of hair regrowth on top and at temples. I wash my hair every third day with Nizoral.
I expected it to take much more time. It can take several months to work. I would try and stick with it a little longer. Are you having liver lab tests done? I really hope that it will work for you. I am very happy with the results so far.
__________________ Allison
I have to exercise in the morning, before my brain figures out what the hell I am actually doing To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. . Traditional PCOS - Anovulatory, increased androgens, no insulin resistance
Medications and Supps listed on my profile.
Yes, I'm having bloodwork to test my liver every month for the first four months or so. And I shampoo with either the 1% Nizoral, generic 2% ketoconazole shampoo, or either 1% or 2% pyrithione zinc shampoo (which also have studies showing improvement in male pattern baldness).
I really don't expect to see regrowth for quite a few months, if ever. But I don't know whether the drug may still work if it doesn't slow down the loss in the first few months. I do plan to give it a longer trial. I would just really love to hear a success story where it took several months to kick in but then worked miracles.
I've been taking flutamide for a year now and have experienced some ups and downs as well. I don't have hair loss problems but my symptoms got better after about three months and then got worse for a while and then got much better. Did you start taking any other meds or supplements that might be competing with the flutamide? Did you switch brands? Hang in there for a while longer. It's a rocky road but its worth it.
I've been taking flutamide for a year now and have experienced some ups and downs as well. I don't have hair loss problems but my symptoms got better after about three months and then got worse for a while and then got much better. Did you start taking any other meds or supplements that might be competing with the flutamide? Did you switch brands? Hang in there for a while longer. It's a rocky road but its worth it.
May I ask what symptoms the flutamide helps for you?
I take several supplements, but didn't change anything at that time. I take metformin as well, and I wonder if I should try going off it, as the receding of my hairline accelerated dramatically after starting it (six months ago). The metformin also hasn't had any noticable positive effects, but I guess I keep hoping it will. And I was losing hair for years before the metformin.
I currently have a theory that maybe my hair needs more estradiol and/or progesterone (either in absolute levels, or relative to androgens), and am actually considering trying oral contraceptives again, though the one time I tried them I felt awful. I also think my hair needs more iron, but I don't know of anything I can do about that besides taking iron supplements for months and months before my iron stores get to the levels hair regrowth requires. Sigh.
I finally started using 5% minoxidil, just on my temples (although the info says it doesn't even work on receding hairlines, sigh). My whole scalp needs the help actually (not that I think it's going to work anyway), but the application seems like it would be pretty annoying with long hair. There are no long hairs left on my temples so it's easy to apply there.
I still just don't believe that this balding is really happening to me. But it is, and chances are the hair will never regrow (and will get considerably thinner), and damn. It's so hard, when I still think I'm someone with pretty, long hair. But that isn't who I am anymore, and that's so hard to let go.
Sorry for the rambling whining. But I know you all understand.
Zorah, I too am experiencing some changes in my hair. Though this has just gradually started occuring since being off of my Avandia for two years...it still affects me emotionally, physically and mentally. I too have long hair which I seem to always have a lot of comments on. Its been extremely hard experiencing my hair thinning...not to mention my hair is already fine. I havent started anything advanced yet...I am taking spironolactone 100mg, bcp and just recently got back on Avandia 2mg .
I just wanted to let you know that I understand your pain. I'm sorry that you are experiencing this...And although none of us know how bad it might get...you are not alone...we are all dealing with it and other things to some degree. I'm glad we have this site where we can share our struggles and disappointments as well as our successes.
Best wishes to you...I look forward to hearing how things work out and am hoping with a little more time the Flutamide will settle things.
__________________ Me 31/DH 33
BCP & Spiro
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Zorah, I am suffering from the same issue ... long hair, and exceedingly thin and/or disappearing altogether. At the best of times, I find a way to stick my hair to my scalp with hair spray, so that at least only on the top of my head the scalp is actually visible to others. I keep my hair long so I can cover the thin spots somewhat. My endo has recently put me on Spiro to help the hair growth and stop the loss - but it's early days yet, I need to wait 6 months or so until I can say if it works at all. If I still have hair left by then that is. Every morning, in front of the mirror, my inner eye still seems to see the woman with the thick locks and troube to find a hair clip that would hold them all up. Now I have trouble finding one thin enough to keep it tight... I get every emotional about it, and the thought of it never getting better is almost too much to bear ...
You're not alone in this. I just wish someone would find a cure for it. Soon.
__________________ Things are getting worse - send chocolate! __________________________________ Tina, 43, dx in 02/2006 DBF Peter, two kitties Fuzzy and Cutie IR and PCOS: 2500 mg Met, 30 mg Actos, 50 mg Spironolactone and a boatload of supplements...
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I actually didn't have any trouble getting flutamide prescriptions from both my internist and my dermatologist (even though I never tried spironolactone, which I think many doctors would make you try first).
Neither doctor was familiar with the use of flutamide in PCOS (an endocrinologist would be more likely to be familiar with that therapy I suppose), but I gave them a stack of studies, and they had no problem prescribing it. So try giving your doctor these:
Flamenca, yes, it is so upsetting! I too wish they would find a cure for it.
I may try going wig shopping soon. I'm afraid it will depress me more -- I'm sure it will if wigs are uncomfortable or don't look good, both very real dangers. But I think I would feel so much better if I found a wig that was comfortable to wear and looked good. It would alleviate some of the panic I feel every time I look in the mirror and see more of my scalp.
The thing with a wig is that with all the dancing I do, I would be terrified to lose it, or for it to not stay on properly - KWIM? What would be worse than being on stage and your wig coming off or tilting at an awkward angle? I really, really need my hair ...
__________________ Things are getting worse - send chocolate! __________________________________ Tina, 43, dx in 02/2006 DBF Peter, two kitties Fuzzy and Cutie IR and PCOS: 2500 mg Met, 30 mg Actos, 50 mg Spironolactone and a boatload of supplements...
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Zorah,
Thank you so much for taking the time to post these articles.
I have requested Flutamide from a series of doctors (my endocrinologists (2 of them), my gynecologist (2 of them), my reproductive endocrinolgist(2 of them) all within the last two years (I've switched docs to try to get the help I need.) Anyway, they all reference is either: 1.) my testosterone is low NORMAL range and it wouldn't help or either site it is too dangerous due to liver damage potential even though I told I would take the liver panel tests as often as they wanted! But still, no Rx for flutamide. I'm getting desperate and am willing to travel to a doctor (your's) that I know has a history of prescribing it (so that I don't waste my time, money and emotions).
I've seen two very well known "hormonal" docs who have written books and seem to be in the know and appear at first meeting to really want to help you and it has only lead to further disappointments.
Please, if you don't mind giving your personal doctor's name and contact information? If you would like to email me directly, that would be great too!
Again, thank you for all your help, Sherlynn
Allison and KatCarney,
Would you mind sharing who is your doctor that prescribes Flutamide?
Also, for you ladies that Flutamide didn't work or Spiro/Aldactone quit working/doesn't work and you want to try something else??? Give Casodex a try. I was on it for about 8 months and it regrew alot of my hair back, then it stopped working all of a sudden. But, it might be long term for some? I got it off an internet site: www.inhousepharmacy.com. initially (for three months) Then, after I showed my endo it was working, he prescribed it for me.
I've had two surgeries addressing PCOS, the second made things 100 times worse! So, I've two more additional surgeries to try to correct what the second did and am expected to have another one.
Thank you all for sharing your feelings with us, it helps so much to talk to women who are going thru the same thing.
-Sherlynn
flutamide (eulexin) users 
Flutamide 
