A new drug for FFA - Avodart

I recently saw a specialist here in Colorado who prescribed Avodart.  That is a drug for men with enlarged prostates.  Have any of you heard of that treatment?  I thought he was crazy and so did my pharmacy. My pharmacist called me on the phone when he got the prescription and asked if I knew why I had been prescribed the medication.  He said it was not recommended for use in women, and he had never seen it prescribed for them.  I honestly did not know what this derm, the most esteemed for treatment of alopecia in Colorado, had prescribed because he just quickly came into the consult room and told me that since I did not think I should take Plaquenil because it can cause heart arrhythmia  he would look into another drug for me.  He said it was a hormone used in men, didn't tell me the name, and left the room.  

I was skeptical.  I took the information my pharmacist gave me, and decided I was not willing to be a research project.  I declined using the drug.

I found a new dermatologist   I asked him about Avodart.  My new derm told me that this is a drug that is being used with success to treat FFA.  I passed on trying it.  I am too old to mess with my system at this point in my life.  I will stick with trying to live with the hair loss.

Has anyone else been prescribed the drug?

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Annie on May 31, 2014 at 9:47am

Alice, I'm currently using betamethasone as well.  The clobetesol was irritating, so my doctor switched my topical last September.  My doctor prescribed using betamethasone twice daily, but I'm only able to tolerate it once a day.  The pain has gradually lessened with treatment, but it's still hurts whenever my hair moves or I wear a hat or headband.  I suspect the pain is a combination of the ffa, topical, and rogaine, but (knock on wood!), but the shedding has definitely lessened since this time last year, so I'll continue with my plaquenil / topical routine.   

Permalink Reply by Celia on May 31, 2014 at 11:54am

Sally - dermovate is the UK equivalent of clobetasol.

Permalink Reply by sallylwess on May 31, 2014 at 4:20pm

Ok, thanks. 

Permalink Reply by sallylwess on May 31, 2014 at 4:27pm

I have appreciated reading all of this input.  I have been using clobetesol foam very consistently for about six weeks in an attempt to get this to "burn out."  This was the advice my doctor gave me.  I use it once a day.  My scalp is more scaly and red than it was before I began the treatment.  It also is itching again.  I don't remember it being this bad for at least eight years.  That is when this entire thing started - eight years ago.  (Actually it began before that if you take into account that my hair on my arms and legs disappeared a long time ago.)  I don't take any other medication for FFA.  I have decided I will not even consider Avodart.  I don't know if the clobetesol has triggered a new flare-up or not.  I just had surgery, so perhaps my immune system was compromised by the surgery. 

I haven't noticed a lot of shedding, but I really can see the difference in how my hair looks when I see photos of myself.  I think I am covering up the problem, but I'm not.  FFA is so frustrating!  

Permalink Reply by Christi Q. on February 3, 2017 at 11:56am

Last post was 2014. Sure would like to hear from all of you who were original participants of this forum. How are you doing now with your hair loss?

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