Transdermal treatment with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors

Abstract

The instant invention involves a method of treating and/or reversing androgenic alopecia and promoting hair growth, and methods of treating acne vulgaris, seborrhea, and female hirsutism, by administering to a patient in need of such treatment a 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor, such as finasteride, in a dosage amount under 5 mgs/day.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of treating androgenic alopecia comprising administering to a person in need of such treatment a 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor in a dosage amount under 5.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.01 to 3.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         3 . The method of claim I wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.05 to 1.0 mg/day.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.05 mg/day.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.2 mgs/day.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the androgenic alopecia is male pattern baldness.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor is administered orally.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor is administered topically.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor has the structural formula I  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein: 
 R 1  is hydrogen, methyl or ethyl;  
 R 2  is a hydrocarbon radical selected from straight and branched chain alkyl of from 1-12 carbons or monocyclic aryl optionally containing 1 or more lower alkyl substituents of from 1-2 carbon atoms and/or 1 or more halogen (Cl, F or Br) substitints.;  
 R′ is hydrogen or methyl;  
 R″ is hydrogen or β-methyl; and  
 R′″ is hydrogen, α-methyl or β-methyl.  
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor has the structural formula II  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein 
 R 1  is hydrogen, or methyl; and  
 R 3  is branched chain alkyl of from 4-8 carbons.  
 
     
     
         11 . A method of treating androgenic alopecia comprising administering to a person in need of such treatment 17β-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-ene-3-one in a dosage amount under 5.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the androgenic alopecia is male pattern baldness.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.01 to 3.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.05 to 1.0 mg/day.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.05 mg/day.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.2 mg/day.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the 17p-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-ene-3-one is administered topically.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the 17β-(N-tert-butylcarbamoyl)-4-aza-5α-androst-1-ene-3-one is administered orally.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.2 mg/day.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the dosage amount it about 0.05 mg/day.  
     
     
         21 . A method of arresting and reversing androgenic alopecia comprising administering to a person in need of such treatment a 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor in a dosage amount under 5.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         22 . A method of lowering the level of 5α-dihydrotestosterone in human scalp comprising administering to a person in need of such treatment a 5α-reductase 2 inhibitor in a dosage amount under 5.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.01 to 3.0 mgs/day.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the dosage amount is from about 0.05 to 1.0 mg/day.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.05 mg/day.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the dosage amount is about 0.2 mg/day.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the dosage amount is about 1.0 mg/day.