From the Research
Effects of Flutamide on PCOS
The effects of taking flutamide (250 mg per day) for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) for 5 years can be understood by examining the available evidence.
- Flutamide has been shown to be effective in improving hirsutism, reducing androgen levels, and restoring ovulatory cycles in women with PCOS 1.
- A study found that low-dose flutamide (250 mg/day) was not hepatotoxic in hyperandrogenic girls and young women with PCOS, with no evidence of hepatotoxicity after up to 54 months of treatment 2.
- Flutamide therapy has been shown to increase the percentage of ovulatory cycles and regularize menstrual profiles in PCOS patients, with effects maintained over three years of treatment 3.
- The use of flutamide has also been found to restore sensitivity of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone pulse generator to inhibition by estradiol and progesterone in women with PCOS 4.
- Combination therapy with flutamide, metformin, and a low-dose oral contraceptive has been shown to maintain beneficial effects on hyperandrogenemia, hyperinsulinemia, and dyslipidemia in non-obese, young women with PCOS 5.
Key Findings
- Flutamide is effective in improving symptoms of PCOS, including hirsutism and ovulatory dysfunction.
- Low-dose flutamide is not hepatotoxic in hyperandrogenic girls and young women with PCOS.
- Flutamide therapy can increase the percentage of ovulatory cycles and regularize menstrual profiles in PCOS patients.
- Combination therapy with flutamide, metformin, and a low-dose oral contraceptive may be a therapeutic option for young women with PCOS.