Bryan's help on spironolactone cream

[jimmystanley]

hey bryan, just wondering if you know if dr. lee's 5% spironolactone cream can be systemically absorbed...and if it isn't, how? thanks

 

[The Gardener]

Here is Dr Lee's answer to your question:

Surprisingly, there is such a medication: spironolactone. And it’s not a new medication [7.8.]. For over thirty years spironolactone has been used for its anti-androgenic effects in both males and females [14.15.]. Taken orally, it is such a potent anti-androgen that, although it is an effective anti-hypertensive drug, it is rarely used to treat men with hypertension because of its feminizing properties which can include painful gynecomastia [16.17.].

Applied topically, however, spironolactone does not have systemic side effects [12.18.19.20.]. Clinical evaluators of topical applications of spironolactone concluded, "as far as the topical use is concerned, spironolactone seems to be highly effective with absence of systemic effects"[19]. Physicians have been treating patients for male pattern baldness for well over fifteen years and there have not been any reports of systemic side effects. In my own research, the use of topical 5% spironolactone along with Xandrox 5% solution yielded improved results as compared to the use of Xandrox 5% alone. Likewise, the combination of 5% spironolactone with Regrowth's 5% minoxidil yielded improved results as compared to the use of 5% minoxidil used with daily 1 mg doses of finasteride (with the added advantage of zero side effects).

Among its other properties as an anti-androgen, spironolactone is a potent competitive inhibitor of DHT at its receptor sites [21]. Therefore, spironolactone effectively prevents DHT from attaching to the receptor sites on the hair follicles [22].

As a result, the follicles no longer atrophy and can mature again to their normal size. And it does so without decreasing the circulating levels of DHT in the body. By comparison, finasteride inhibits the formation of DHT, causing troublesome side effects in many patients.

And, here are the footnotes to studies that Dr Lee was referencing above, if you want to check the actual studies to verify the information yourself:

12. Yamamoto A, Ito M. Topical spironolactone reduces sebum secretion rates in young adults. J Dermatol, 1996 Apr,23:4,243-6

18. Corval P, Michaued A, Menard J, et al: Antiandrogenic effect of spironolactones: Mechanism of action.

Endocrinology 1975;97:52-8

19. Messina M, Manieri C, Musso MC, Pastorino R.: Oral and topical spironolactone therapies in skin androgenization. anminerva Med, 1990 Apr-Jun,32:2,49-55

20. Wendt A, Hasan SH, Heinz I, Tauber U: Systemic effects of local antiandrogen therapy. Arch Dermatol Res 273:171,1982

 

[jimmystanley]

right on...i read that before, but just wondering what the science is....studies help though. thanks gardener. i think i'm going to start using the friggin cream...yeah