What Is an Androgen Receptor Antagonist?

By Deepika Sharma On Jul 21, 2021

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It’s estimated that 66% of men will have some level of hair loss by the time they reach the age of 35. Thanks to advances in medicine, there are many treatments for male pattern baldness and hair loss. One of those treatments is androgen receptor antagonists. An androgen receptor antagonist can be used to treat a number of hormone-related conditions. Keep reading to learn what they are, what they treat, and what you can expect from treatment.

What Is an Androgen Receptor Antagonist?

Androgens are male sex hormones. An androgen receptor antagonist is sometimes called an androgen receptor blocker or anti-androgen. These are a class of drugs that affect the level of androgen hormones in the body.

This class of drugs can be used to treat a wide range of conditions. They work by keeping androgens like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) from binding to androgen receptor proteins. In so doing, they hinder the biological effect of these hormones on the body.

What Do Androgen Receptor Antagonists Treat?

Males and females both make androgens. However, androgens are higher in males. In too high levels, this can lead to all sorts of conditions.

High androgen levels in men can cause prostate cancer, benign prostatic hyperplasia, sexual disorders, precocious puberty, and androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness).

Types of Androgen Receptor Antagonists For Hair Loss

One of the most commonly used androgen receptor antagonists for hair loss is finasteride. Among males with androgenetic alopecia or male pattern baldness, DHT concentrations are high on the scalp. Finasteride increases testosterone levels while reducing DHT in scalp tissue.

The FDA has approved oral finasteride for the treatment of hair loss caused by male pattern baldness. It takes as little as 3 months to start seeing improvements. Those improvements only last as long as the individual continues to take finasteride. Other androgen receptor antagonists used for the treatment of male hair loss include alfatradiol, dutasteride, and topilutamide. This ru58841 solution can also be used to treat hair loss as well as acne caused by androgens.

Potential Side Effects of Androgen Receptor Antagonists

Like any medication, there are side effects associated with androgen receptor antagonists. Some of the most common side effects include:

resistance to the medication/medication stops working
decreased sex drive
erectile dysfunction
breast tenderness
diarrhea
elevated liver enzymes
live injury
hepatitis
skin rash
increased risk of depression

Your doctor should discuss these side effects with you before starting an androgen receptor antagonist treatment.

More Health & Wellness

An androgen receptor antagonist works to block androgens in the body from binding with androgen receptor proteins. They can be used to treat everything from prostate cancer and hair loss in men. Discuss anti-androgens with your doctor if you think these might be a treatment that’s right for you. And for more on things that make your body feel good, be sure to check out our health and wellness section regularly.

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