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Flutamide for the Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia in Women

Flutamide is an oral prescription drug which blocks androgen hormones and can sometimes be used in the treatment of women with androgenetic alopecia.  Italian researchers recently studied how well flutamide works in 101 women diagnosed with female pattern hair loss.   33 women were treated with flutamide and 68 women were treated with flutamide and a birth control pill. The researchers showed that both groups benefitted from treatment with flutamide.  The drug effectively blocked androgens and improved hair loss scores.  Benefits were seen after year 1 of treatment and extended into year 2.  They were maintained in year 3 and 4 of the study.

Conclusion: Flutamide is an oral drug which may be helpful in some women with female pattern hair loss.

Study source: Paradisi et al. Prospective cohort study on the effects and tolerability of flutamide in patients with female pattern hair loss. Ann Pharmacother 2011; 45: 469-75.