Locklab is a 3-in-1 compounded medication containing Oral Minoxidil, Oral Finasteride, and Oral Biotin. This overview reviews the risks and benefits of using Locklab to treat male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia).
Minoxidil works by boosting blood flow, oxygen, and nutrients to hair follicles, which puts hair into the growth phase (anagen phase) indefinitely where hair becomes thicker and fuller.
Finasteride prevents the loss and conversion of testosterone to its active metabolite, DHT. By blocking this conversion, finasteride decreases the level of DHT and the resulting hair loss it causes.
Biotin is a B vitamin essential for metabolism that is often used to support healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Oral minoxidil is a prescription medication proven in decades of clinical trials to stimulate hair growth. It has been found that that the higher the dose, the greater the clinical effect; however, it is important not to take more than your healthcare provider has prescribed to you. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions.
They need to know if you have any of these conditions:
Minoxidil is contraindicated in patients who are currently taking guanethidine.
This list may not describe all possible interactions. Give your healthcare provider a list of all the medicines, herbs, non-prescription drugs, or dietary supplements you use. Also, tell them if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs. Some items may interact with your medicine.
Side effects that you should immediately report to your doctor or health care professional:
Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your doctor or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
This list may not describe all possible side effects. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects.
Finasteride is used to treat male pattern baldness in men only. This medicine is not for use by women.
This medicine is for men only and should not be taken by women. Finasteride can affect hormone levels so it is very important that women who are pregnant or could become pregnant don't handle it, as it can lead to complications with pregnancy.
If you have the following conditions, do not take this medication before informing your doctor:
Do not take this medicine if you are allergic to finasteride (including Proscar and Propecia®).
Like all prescription products, finasteride may cause side effects. Contact your doctor or a health care professional immediately if you experience any of the following:
Though rare, in clinical trials, 3.8% of male patients noticed some form of sexual side effects (versus 2.1% of patients taking the placebo). It’s important to note that only 1.2% of men taking finasteride actually stopped treatment (versus 0.9% of the placebo group) since the majority of side effects resolve themselves. So if the same percentage of men in the finasteride group also incorrectly attributed side effects to finasteride, then the total proportion of men who stopped treatment would be only 0.3%. It has been reported in general use with finasteride tablets that symptoms continue after stopping treatment.
These are not all the possible side effects of finasteride. For more information, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist. Contact your doctor if you have additional questions about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Biotin is a B vitamin essential for metabolism that is often used to support healthy hair, skin, and nails.
We recommend that you do not take additional biotin, since high doses of biotin (5 mg or higher) may interfere with certain lab tests, including specific tests to aid in heart attack diagnosis. Biotin is a vitamin naturally found in food and as such does not generally interact with other medications. However, it's advisable to have a conversation with your healthcare provider before introducing any new supplements. Seeking guidance from a medical professional ensures a thoughtful approach to incorporating dietary enhancements into your daily routine, prioritizing your health and well-being.
Locklab must be used on a regular basis for your hair to regrow. It typically takes 4 months to notice any improvement and may take up to 12 months of regular use before you reach peak regrowth, although many men reach peak regrowth in 6 months. It is important to continue to use this product to maintain regrowth of hair. Once you stop using it, the regrown hair will usually fall out within 1-6 months.
If you miss a dose, don’t double up, just skip that dose and take it as usual the next day. There are no additional benefits from taking Locklab more than once a day.
Do not donate blood while you are taking this medicine. Ask your doctor or health care professional when it is safe to donate blood after you stop taking this medicine.
This medicine can interfere with PSA laboratory tests for prostate cancer. If you are scheduled to have a lab test for prostate cancer, tell your doctor or healthcare professional that you are taking a pill that contains finasteride.
Telemedicine does not replace your primary care physician. It is important to keep your primary care and other healthcare providers, and your pharmacists informed of all medications you are taking, including Locklab, as they can interact with other medicines you may be taking.
This page is a summary and may not cover all possible information. If you have questions about this medicine, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or health care provider.
Your prescription expires after one year. When you run out of refills, you will need to return for a follow-up visit with a Locklab provider to make sure this medication is still appropriate for you.
Store your Locklab tablets at room temperature (between 68 and 77 degrees F) in the packaging provided by the pharmacy until you need it. Keep out of reach of children and pets.
If you no longer need your medication, the best way to dispose of most types of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately. You can use the DEA DIVERSION CONTROL DIVISION LOOKUP to find your nearest drug disposal site.
Your provider evaluated the specific health information you provided and made recommendations based on it. If you incorrectly or forgot to provide any information, your provider may misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions you may have — which could affect their treatment recommendation. If you need to clarify or update any information about your health, please message a provider through your Locklab "Messages" portal.
This treatment is not 100% effective. It may not work or may partially resolve the condition you are seeking treatment for. If you do not see any signs of improvement or if you are experiencing new or worsening symptoms, message a provider through your Locklab "Messages" portal anytime or contact your regular healthcare provider. If it is an emergency, call 911 or seek immediate help in-person.
There is also a risk that your provider will misdiagnose or fail to diagnose conditions that you may have, which could affect the treatment recommendation. The healthcare providers providing treatment through the Locklab platform use evidence-based guidelines as well as clinical decision-making to minimize these risks.
Your provider is recommending this treatment for you because the potential benefits outweigh the risks in their estimation. You’re encouraged to evaluate this information, including any input from your in-person healthcare team and any relevant sources to decide if this treatment plan is right for you. You are free to decline recommendations you received from the provider through the Locklab platform.
