Drugs
- Finasteride
- A 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor that lowers scalp DHT to slow hair loss; FDA-approved for male pattern loss.
- Liraglutide
- First-generation GLP-1 receptor agonist; active ingredient in Saxenda and Victoza.
- Melatonin
- Hormone the brain releases at night to signal sleep; also a supplement used to shift sleep timing.
- Minoxidil
- A topical (or off-label oral) treatment that prolongs the hair growth phase; OTC for pattern hair loss.
- Semaglutide
- GLP-1 receptor agonist; active ingredient in Wegovy, Ozempic, and Rybelsus.
- Tirzepatide
- Dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist; active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound.
- TRT
- Prescription testosterone (gel, injection, or pellet) for men with clinically low, symptomatic levels.Also known as: testosterone replacement therapy.
Mechanism
- Circadian rhythm
- The ~24-hour internal clock that governs sleep, alertness, and hormone release, set mainly by light.
- DHT
- A potent androgen made from testosterone that miniaturizes scalp follicles in pattern hair loss.Also known as: dihydrotestosterone.
- GIP
- Second gut hormone targeted by tirzepatide (Zepbound, Mounjaro). Dual GIP/GLP-1 action drives stronger weight loss than single-agonist drugs.Also known as: glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide.
- GLP-1
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist — class of drugs that mimic a gut hormone to reduce appetite and slow stomach emptying.Also known as: GLP-1 agonist, GLP-1 receptor agonist, GLP-1 RA.
- Incretin
- Gut hormone (GLP-1 or GIP) that stimulates insulin secretion in response to oral glucose.
- NAD+
- A coenzyme central to energy metabolism and DNA repair that declines with age.Also known as: nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide.
- SHBG
- A blood protein that binds sex hormones; high SHBG lowers usable (free) testosterone.Also known as: sex hormone-binding globulin.
Metrics
- A1C
- Average blood sugar over the past 2-3 months. Healthy: <5.7%. Pre-diabetes: 5.7-6.4%. Diabetes: ≥6.5%.Also known as: HbA1c, hemoglobin A1C.
- BMI
- Body mass index = weight (kg) / height (m)². Overweight: 25-29.9. Obese: ≥30. FDA threshold for Wegovy/Zepbound: BMI ≥30, or ≥27 with weight-related condition.Also known as: body mass index.
- Free testosterone
- The fraction of testosterone not bound to proteins and available to tissues — often more telling than total.
- Sleep latency
- How long it takes to fall asleep after lights out — typically 10–20 minutes in healthy sleepers.Also known as: sleep onset latency.
Conditions
- Androgenetic alopecia
- The most common cause of hair thinning, driven by genetics and DHT sensitivity.Also known as: pattern hair loss, male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss.
- Hypogonadism
- Clinically low testosterone plus symptoms — diagnosed by blood tests, not symptoms alone.Also known as: low testosterone, low T.
- Type 2 diabetes
- Chronic insulin resistance with relative insulin deficiency. Diagnosis: A1C ≥6.5%.Also known as: T2D, type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Clinical trials
- SCALE
- Pivotal trial of Saxenda (liraglutide 3.0 mg) for chronic weight management.
- SELECT trial
- Landmark 2023 cardiovascular outcomes study showing semaglutide (Wegovy) cut major cardiovascular events by 20% in adults with prior heart disease.
- STEP 1
- Pivotal 68-week trial that earned Wegovy its FDA weight-loss approval. Average 14.9% body weight loss vs 2.4% placebo.Also known as: STEP 1 trial.
- SURMOUNT-1
- Pivotal 72-week trial behind Zepbound's FDA approval. Average 20.9% body weight loss at the 15 mg dose.Also known as: SURMOUNT trial.
- SURPASS-2
- Head-to-head trial of Mounjaro (tirzepatide) vs Ozempic (semaglutide) in T2D.
- SUSTAIN 6
- CV outcomes trial of Ozempic (semaglutide) in T2D. 26% MACE reduction.
Regulatory
- Compounded
- Non-FDA-approved version mixed by a licensed pharmacy. Cheaper than brand-name but quality varies. Only legal when the FDA declares a drug in shortage.Also known as: compounded semaglutide, compounded tirzepatide.
- MTC
- Rare thyroid cancer; GLP-1s carry an FDA black-box warning for personal or family history of MTC or MEN 2.Also known as: medullary thyroid carcinoma.
- NPI
- 10-digit identifier for US healthcare providers, publicly searchable via NPPES Registry.Also known as: National Provider Identifier.
Other terms
- Bioavailability
- The share of a dose that actually reaches the bloodstream in active form.
- Third-party tested
- Independent lab verification that a supplement matches its label and is free of meaningful contaminants.Also known as: third-party testing, NSF Certified, USP Verified.
- Titration
- Gradual dose increase over weeks to build tolerance and minimize GI side effects. Typical GLP-1 schedule: 4-week steps up to the maintenance dose.