Topical Finasteride 2%

[Duke Flauros]

I'm not a native speaker of English, so take it easy. xP


I suffer of Androgenetic Alopecia (it started almost five years ago) and I stopped my treatment with oral finasteride because of the side effects. But my hair began to fall down more and more, so I went to a dermatologist to seek another treatment. He prescribed topical solution of finasteride 2%, but I think it's an overdose! Most of the formulations I see is just 0.1%.


I think I will have systemic absorption and all of the side effects... What do you guys think?

 

[zzzzz]

Studies have shown there is enough systemic absorbtion for it to be almost identical to oral finasteride in the bloodstream. But I guess you could try it if you want. Here is the study

Int J Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2014 Jul 30. [Epub ahead of print]
A novel finasteride 0.25% topical solution for androgenetic alopecia: pharmacokinetics and effects on plasma androgen levels in healthy male volunteers.

Caserini M, Radicioni M, Leuratti C, Annoni O, Palmieri R.
Abstract

Objective: Finasteride, a selective inhibitor of type 2 5-alpha reductase isoenzyme, inhibits the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and is indicated in the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia. The study objective was to evaluate a newly developed finasteride 0.25% topical solution in comparison to the marketed finasteride 1 mg tablet, with respect to finasteride pharmacokinetics and suppressive effects on plasma DHT. Methods: 24 healthy men with androgenetic alopecia were randomized in a single center, open-label, parallel-group, exploratory study, and received either multiple scalp applications of the topical solution b.i.d. or oral doses of the reference tablet o.d. for 7 days. Plasma finasteride, testosterone and DHT concentrations were determined. Results: After multiple doses, mean (± SD) finasteride Cmax and AUC00-t corresponded to 0.46 ± 0.28 ng/mL and 6.64 ± 7.50 ng/mL x h for the topical solution and to 6.86 ± 1.78 ng/mL and 57.93 ± 29.38 ng/mL x h for the tablet. Plasma DHT was reduced by ~ 68 - 75% with the topical solution and by ~ 62 - 72% with the tablet. No relevant changes occurred for plasma testosterone with either treatment. No clinically significant adverse events occurred. Conclusions: A strong and similar inhibition of plasma DHT was found after 1 week of treatment with the topical and tablet finasteride ormulations, albeit finasteride plasma exposure was significantly lower with the topical than with the oral product (p < 0.0001).