Provillus - Just another name for Rogaine?
Posted By candace on July 2, 2009
Since engaging TweetDeck and using the search feature for #hair loss, I’ve been amazed at the amount of “information” out there. One product Tweeted constantly from many sources is Provillus. At first I dismissed it, but then when I went the product’s Web site , I decided to see what it’s about.
First the Provillus homepage says “contains FDA approved ingredient for hair regrowth.” Yup, it contains topical minoxidil(Rogaine). But it is the ingredient that is FDA approved NOT Provillus. Provillus has two formulations — one for men and one for women. For this report I am going to concentrate on the formulation for women.
Provillus uses a two-pronged approach to hair loss:
- A 2 percent topical minoxidil solution
- An oral supplement.
I give Provillus credit for being so upfront about the active ingredients for both of these products. All the information is there for everyone to read. And I suggest reading them and then looking them up.
Is the supplement safe?
My concern, and those of you who have read my book know this is a sticking point of mine, is the supplement. The supplement contains Vitamin B6 (4 mg); Biotin (10 mg), Magnesium (150 mg) and its 1,200 mg proprietary blend of Horsetail Silica (Equesetum arvense) and pare-Amino-Benzoic Acid (PABA).
While I have concern about the vitamins, it’s the proprietary blend I have the most issues with.
Horsetail silica (E. arvense)
This herb has been around for thousands of years. According to the University of Maryland’smedical reference library it has been used to stop bleeding, heal ulcers, ounds, treat tuberculosis and kidney problems MedLine Plus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Medicine, note that E. arvense is approved in Germany for use as a diuretic and there are claims it may help increase bone density. So far so good.
However, both sources list a host of side effects and possible interactions. I won’t list them all here, but do hope you will link to the sites, especially if you are taking any medications. Here’s a partial list:
- May deplete vitamin B1 (thiamin) when used regularly.
- May enhance toxic effects of certain medications such as digoxin, phenytoin, nicotine
- Should not be taken if pregnant or breast feeding
- Could cause adverse reaction for people taking diuretics, steroids laxitives, antigout agents, ephedra and licorice.
PABA
You have probably heard of this as it’s an active ingredient in some sun screens and some people have an allergic reaction to it when used topically. Taken orally, PDRHealthnotes people should not take more than 400 mg of it without consulting a physician. Possible side effects inclue breathing problems, chest pain, rash.
Looking at these two ingredients alone gives me pause. And to be fair, Provillus does include precautions about both its topical solution and its supplement. However, since Horsetail is known to deplete B1, why not include B1 in the formulation?
Another question is how many milligrams of PABA are in the proprietary blend. Is it below the recommended tolerable upper limit of 400 mg? We don’t know.
As for the B6, biotin and magnesium, they too come with their side effects, but I’m less concerned with them but wonder why this blend? Biotin and folic acid are typically seen as the hair loss dynamic duo (although they mostly just help hair stay healthy and strong, not regrow hair). A good B vitamin formulation or a good multivitamin is just as well and you will avoid overdosing.
As for horsetail and PABA — in my opinion, it would be wise to avoid them.
However, if you decide to try Provillus or are currently taking Provillus, please tell you physician that you are taking this supplement. Especially if you are taking any other medication — over-the-counter or prescription — or if you are taking other herbs and supplements. A quick example of a biotin interaction – it can enhance the effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs such as Lipitor, and should probably be avoided if you are taking statins. Enhancement of statins is not good as it means there is too much of the drug in your system, which could cause liver damage. Your physician monitors your liver function when you are on these drugs. So be sure to come clean with all the supplements you take.
Cost
Since Provillus’ active and proven hair regrowth ingredient is topical minoxidil, you should weigh the cost agains the cost of Rogaine and other generic brands of minoxidil.
Another consideration, if you’ve been using topical minoxidil whether as Rogaine or a generic and it’s working for you, why buy the same thing under another label, unless it’s less expensive. And, if it has not been working for you, why bother to buy the same thing under another name? A rose is a rose.
Warning:If you are a woman and think you might get more bang for your buck by buying the men’s formulation of Provillus, think again. While the 5 percent minoxidil in the topical solution may not hurt you, the men’s supplement contains saw palmetto, which for women could cause some unwanted side effects, particularly if you are still menstruating, pregnant or breast feeding. Again, if you decide to take such supplements, please speak with a health care professional. In future posts I’ll discuss saw palmetto as well.
Here’s another good article on Provillus from the American Hair Loss Association.
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