Tagamet in the Treatment of Hair Loss

According to the American Hair Loss Association, hair loss can result from numerous conditions. The most commonly recognized word for hair loss is alopecia, however, other types of hair loss such as telogen effluvium and hair loss from chemical over-processing, are just as common.

Identification

• Kevin J. McElwee, PhD, Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, states that hair biology research makes up a very small part of research in general, and although there has been an increase in such research since the 1980s, more focus on this topic is still needed to determine if additional hair loss treatments can be discovered.

Significance

• Tagamet is an over the counter medication that was originally developed for conditions such as heartburn and acid reflux. Dihydrotestosterone is an androgen believed to be the primary cause of most types of hair loss. Since Tagamet has anti-androgen effects, it has received some notoriety as a hair regrowth agent.

Expert Insight

• According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, although Tagamet is recognized as a hair regrowth agent, it is not generally recommended by physicians, since accessing its anti-androgen properties requires an individual to consume a higher than average dose of the medication. As of August 2010, it has not yet been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration--FDA--for use as a hair loss treatment.