Clinical efficacy of lower dose flutamide 125 mg/day in the treatment of hirsutism

J Endocrinol Invest. 1999 Mar;22(3):165-8. doi: 10.1007/BF03343536.

Abstract

Thirty-four patients with moderate-severe hirsutism were enrolled in this study. The patients received 125 mg/day flutamide for a period of 6 months. Hirsutism score and hormone parameters including FSH, LH, T, free T, androstenedione (A), DHEAS, PRL and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) levels were evaluated in all patients before treatment and repeated at every three-monthly intervals. Hirsutism greatly improved during flutamide therapy, and the hirsutism score significantly decreased at month 3 and 6 from a mean (+/-SD) of 17.19+/-4.55 to 10.75+/-3.84 (p<0.001) and 17.19+/-4.55 to 5.91+/-2.53 (p<0.001), respectively. A significant reduction in hirsutism score (mean%+/-SD) as compared to baseline was observed at 3 months (37.78+/-13.30, p<0.001) and at 6 months (65.47+/-13.49, p<0.001). No significant changes in the levels of hormone and no serious side effects were observed in the patients. The lower dose flutamide, 125 mg/day, is a safe and cost-effective drug in the treatment of hirsutism. Lower dose flutamide may be used in place of high dose flutamide, 250 to 750 mg/day.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Androgen Antagonists / administration & dosage*
  • Androgen Antagonists / adverse effects
  • Androgen Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Androstenedione / blood
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate / blood
  • Estradiol / blood
  • Female
  • Flutamide / administration & dosage*
  • Flutamide / adverse effects
  • Flutamide / therapeutic use
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone / blood
  • Hirsutism / drug therapy*
  • Humans
  • Luteinizing Hormone / blood
  • Prolactin / blood
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / analysis
  • Testosterone / blood

Substances

  • Androgen Antagonists
  • Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin
  • Testosterone
  • Androstenedione
  • Estradiol
  • Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate
  • Flutamide
  • Prolactin
  • Luteinizing Hormone
  • Follicle Stimulating Hormone