The Preventative Modes of Anti Androgen Drugs Against Androgens

Male Pattern Baldness
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Anti androgens - Agents Countering Male Pattern Baldness
Anti androgens offer a solid guard against the Effects of Androgens. Thus, they have a key role to play in any androgenetic alopecia cure.

The term anti androgen (aka androgen antagonist) refers to any of a group of hormone receptor antagonist compounds capable of preventing or inhibiting the biologic effects of androgens (male sex hormones) on Normally Responsive Body Tissues.

Anti Androgens typically work by blocking the appropriate androgen receptors. They compete for binding sites on the cell's surface, and thus obstruct the androgen's pathway.
Uses of Anti Androgens
Anti androgens have various curative uses. They can be used in various ways for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia. They also have various other curative applications as well. Some of them are as follows:
  1. They are sometimes indicated to treat certain male sexual disorders.
  2. Anti androgens are also sometimes used as anti neoplastic agents (anti tumor drugs).
  3. They are used as a palliative and for adjuvant and neoadjuvant hormonal therapy in prostate cancer.
  4. They are used for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (prostate enlargement).
  5. They are used for the treatment of acne vulgaris- an inflammatory disease of the skin.
  6. They are used for treating hirsutism (excessive hairiness) in women
  7. They can be used as a male contraceptive agent in some circumstances
  8. They can be used to prevent masculinization in transwomen undergoing gender reassignment therapy
  9. Anti androgens are used to counter symptoms of increased testosterone.
Administration of Anti Androgens in Males
Administration of anti androgens in males can slow down or halt the development of male secondary sex characteristics or even reverse them. It can also reduce activity or function of the accessory male sex organs, and hyposexuality. Consequently, anti-adnrogens are usually only used in men as a last resort.
Anti Androgen Withdrawal Response (AAWR)
It refers to the medical course taken when cancer cells adapt to feed on the anti androgens rather than androgen. This situation warrants the stopping of the anti androgen for a period of time. This will make those cells starve that are thriving on anti androgens. This syndrome is common in prostate cancer patients undergoing anti androgen therapy.
Some Prominent Anti-Androgen Drugs are as Follows
Spironolactone (examples include Aldactone, Spiritone) - It is a synthetic 17-spirolactone corticosteroid (a class of steroid hormone). This renal competitive aldosterone (another steroid hormone) antagonist belongs to the class of pharmaceuticals called potassium-sparing diuretics. Its primary use is to treat low-renin hypertension, hypokalemia and Conn's syndrome.

Hypokalemia is the inability to retain potassium sufficient for health. Conn's syndrome is a symptom causing nonessential hypertension.

Cyproterone acetate (examples include Androcur, Climen, Diane 35, Ginette 35) - This synthetic steroid is a potent anti-androgen. It also carries progestational properties. The latter refers to properties related to female menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and embryogenesis of humans and other species.

Flutamide (Eulexin), Nilutamide (Anandron, Nilandron) and Bicalutamide (Casodex) - These are non-steroidal pure anti-androgens. Flutamide is the oldest of the lot, with more unwanted side effects than the others. Biculatamide, the newest, has fewest side effects.

Ketoconazole (Nizoral) - A relatively weak anti-androgen, it is effective against a variety of fungal infections. Its side effects when used orally can include serious liver damage.

Finasteride (examples include Proscar, Propecia) and Dutasteride (Avodart) - They prevent Testosterone's conversion into DHT.
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