Treatment of female androgenetic alopecia with cimetidine.
Ten white women with moderate to severe androgenetic alopecia were treated with cimetidine 300 mg by mouth five times a day. Duration of therapy ranged from 1.5-9 months, with a median of 5 months. Seven patients (70%) showed good to excellent regrowth of hair. No major side effects were noted. The patients were followed up for 5 months. Cimetidine presumably has the ability to block androgen action. Cimetidine is not a first-line drug for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in women and should be used only in selected cases.
D000328:Adult; D000505:Alopecia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000728:Androgens / Q000502:physiology; D002927:Cimetidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D000728:Androgens; D002927:Cimetidine