Khaberni - Some drug stories reveal that medical discoveries do not always go according to the plan set for them, as a drug may be developed to treat a specific disease, and then doctors discover that it is more effective in treating a completely different condition.
This approach is known as "drug repurposing," and it has contributed to providing effective and less expensive treatments for a number of health problems.
In the field of men's health, three drugs have emerged as some of the most famous examples of this, having moved from their original uses to widespread treatments for erectile dysfunction and hair loss, namely: "sildenafil," "finasteride," and "minoxidil."
In the early 1990s, researchers were testing "sildenafil" to treat angina pectoris, a condition resulting from reduced blood flow to the heart muscle.
The drug works by relaxing blood vessels and improving blood flow by inhibiting an enzyme known as "type 5 phosphodiesterase" (PDE5).
Although its results in treating angina pectoris were not as expected, researchers noticed that participants in clinical trials reported a significant improvement in their ability to achieve an erection.
This unexpected discovery led to the development of the first oral treatment for erectile dysfunction, which was introduced in the market in 1998 under the brand name "Viagra," becoming one of the most famous drugs in the world.
Today, "sildenafil" is not limited to treating erectile dysfunction; it is also used to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension, a rare disease that affects the blood vessels in the lungs.
Usually, its side effects are mild, such as headaches, facial flushing, and nasal congestion, but it may interact with some heart medications, necessitating a doctor's consultation before use.
The prostate drug that re-grew hair
Meanwhile, "finasteride" was initially developed to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a common condition in men as they age.
The drug works by lowering levels of the hormone "dihydrotestosterone" (DHT), responsible for stimulating prostate growth.
During clinical trials, researchers noticed that some patients began losing less hair than usual, and some even experienced new hair growth.
This discovery prompted researchers to test the drug to treat male pattern baldness, which subsequently became one of the most commonly used treatments for hair loss problems.
"Finasteride" helps protect hair follicles from hormonal effects that gradually shrink them, aiding in the preservation of hair and stimulating growth in some users.
Despite its effectiveness, it may cause uncommon side effects, including decreased libido or erection problems, and some users have reported psychological symptoms such as depression.
"Minoxidil" was originally used in the 1960s to treat cases of severe high blood pressure.
While using it, doctors noticed hair growth in patients, including in areas where hair typically did not grow.
This effect sparked researchers' interest, so a topical version of the drug was developed for direct use on the scalp, which later received approval to treat hair loss.
"Minoxidil" is believed to stimulate hair follicles by improving blood flow to them and prolonging the natural growth phase of the hair, thereby increasing hair density in some users.
Some people may notice a temporary increase in hair loss during the first few weeks of treatment, which is often a natural phenomenon reflecting the start of a new hair growth cycle.
Today, "minoxidil" is one of the most commonly used treatments for hair loss in both men and women, while its side effects are generally limited to scalp irritation or dryness.
Researchers believe that some of the major medical discoveries may not always come from developing new drugs, but from discovering new uses for existing drugs, and many of them may still be waiting for someone to uncover their full potential.
The report was prepared by Deepa Kamdar, a senior lecturer in pharmacy practice at Kingston University.
