From the Guidelines
No, Vivitrol (naltrexone) is not effective for promoting hair growth. The provided evidence does not support the use of Vivitrol for hair growth, as it primarily focuses on the effectiveness of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) in treating androgenetic alopecia (AGA) 1.
Key Points:
- Vivitrol is an opioid antagonist medication used to treat alcohol and opioid dependence, with no known mechanisms for stimulating hair follicles or addressing hair loss conditions.
- The FDA-approved treatments for hair loss include topical minoxidil, oral finasteride, and oral dutasteride, which work through different mechanisms such as increasing blood flow to hair follicles or blocking DHT.
- PRP and PRF have shown promise in treating AGA, with studies demonstrating significant increases in hair density, diameter, and proliferative activity 1.
- However, these findings do not support the use of Vivitrol for hair growth, and patients experiencing hair loss should consult with a dermatologist for evidence-based treatments tailored to their specific condition and medical history. Some of the key evidence for PRP and PRF includes:
- A study published in Periodontology 2000, which found that PRP increased hair density by 1.74 times and hair diameter by 14.3 times 1.
- Another study, which concluded that complex therapy (PRP with minoxidil) is more effective than minoxidil monotherapy 1.
- The use of PRF has also shown clinical efficacy in AGA, with studies demonstrating improvements in hair growth and density 1.
From the Research
Effectiveness of Vivitrol for Hair Growth
- There are no research papers to assist in answering this question, as the provided studies do not mention Vivitrol (naltrexone) as a treatment for hair growth.
- The studies focus on the effectiveness of various treatments for androgenetic alopecia, including minoxidil, finasteride, low-level laser light therapy, and platelet-rich plasma 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These treatments have shown promise in promoting hair growth, but there is no evidence to suggest that Vivitrol is effective for this purpose.
- Further research would be needed to determine the potential effectiveness of Vivitrol for hair growth, but currently, there is no available data to support its use for this indication.