10 yrs Propecia: Considering Avodart...feedback?

[HairlossCA]

So I have been on Propecia for 10 years and while it has slowed down my hairloss, I have not had regrowth and I am still losing hair, slowly but surely.

I am currently on the Big 3 and have previously tried Revivogen, spironolactone and a few other topicals (no results w/Revivogen or spironolactone). I am almost 40 and am probably a Norwood 3.

TO CUT THROUGH THE CHASE
I can get an Rx for Avodart if I want it. I am reaching out to anyone in this forum that has made this switch to Avodart:

-How were your results after dropping finasteride and going to Avodart/Duta, were they better and did you have any regrowth?
-Any noticeable side effects with Avodart - I have tolerated finasteride well with no side effects

Thanks so much for your input.

 

[Rawtashk]

finasteride for 3 years, but decided to go with dutasteride (Generic Avodart) to try and get some regrowth. Went through an insane shed for 3 weeks, which scared me back to finasteride. Hairline took a pretty major hit...but I'm hoping that it will come back. For me my hairline got noticeably worse in just those 3 weeks. I've heard people say that it did great things for them, but other people say that it wrecked their hairline.

 

[Belmondo]

I would never try dutasteride, it's too risky. I've been on finasteride for 14 years, it's not perfect but it works.

 

[HairlossCA]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I've seen some post good results with dutasteride, may just be a case by case scenario where it works for some but not others.

The finasteride has definitely slowed things down, just wondering if I am losing some efficacy now that it's been 10-11 yrs.

 

[drex1999]

Yes you are losing efficacy. Welcome to the club. I am also seaching the next step and dutasteride is not somewhere I want to go. spironolactone and Folligen on the way in a last ditch attempt to help the finasteride. 14 year finasteride user.

 

[Mr_Reeses]

i was on finasteride for 1 year and maintained i really like finasteride, i made the switch to dutasteride and i'm glad i did i noticed a shed right away but it's starting to fill in 1 month later and the sides for me are bearable same as finasteride maybe a little more so but if you were fine on finasteride you should be ok on dutasteride (but like you said it may be different for you), although i had a mood change in the first week, i was angry at everything and my testosterone shot through the roof, i felt like i was a body builder or something but i don't lift weights, it has gone away completely and now I feel back to normal only side I notice now is I feel a bit tired and if I don't take the dutasteride at the same time everyday I start to feel like I have more energy (very weird). All in all dutasteride has been good to me, the sides the first week and the shed scared me but the shed hairs are growing back thicker and the sides are fading slowly... I will continue on dutasteride as I have heard shedding is a good sign, some people panic, but I'm optimistic! Wish me luck.

Current Regime: Avodart 0.5mg, 5% S5 Cream, Revivogen Shampoo + Conditioner, Nizoral EOD, Rogaine 5%

 

[ahmeda]

I'm also considering 0.5 dutasteride as iv been on Propecia for 5.5 years and think its loosing its efficiency.

I am getting a mixed vibe... does dutasteride stop you from having babies, kill off all your sperm so you can never have babies?

Also I heard about Revivagen, is it worth getting?

 

[HairlossCA]

Thanks Mr_Reeses - helpful info.

So you have been on dutasteride for 1 month or so and are starting to grow back the shedded hairs? If I started dutasteride I would honestly be happy if I could just maintain better than finasteride - hairline continues to slowly recede in front.

I think I am willing to give dutasteride a shot - if it doesn't work out, I can always fall back on the finasteride.

[Btw, to all posting on this thread - for what it's worth, I have tried spironolactone and Revivogen - applied them religiously and gave each a 1 - 2 yr chance but got zero results. ]

 

[Mr_Reeses]

Thanks Mr_Reeses - helpful info.

So you have been on dutasteride for 1 month or so and are starting to grow back the shedded hairs? If I started dutasteride I would honestly be happy if I could just maintain better than finasteride - hairline continues to slowly recede in front.

I think I am willing to give dutasteride a shot - if it doesn't work out, I can always fall back on the finasteride.

[Btw, to all posting on this thread - for what it's worth, I have tried spironolactone and Revivogen - applied them religiously and gave each a 1 - 2 yr chance but got zero results. ]

All hair shed from the first week has started coming in thicker/stronger one month later (sheds may still come, they come and go), my hairline is coming back too (from a NW3 to a NW2). finasteride maintained and dutasteride is regrowing, I'm impressed (powerful stuff), I'm just starting Rogaine and things may get even better! I have to tell you though I have only been receding for 5 years and my dormant hairs may still be alive. Also I have read on a few forum posts that after making the switch from finasteride to dutasteride then switching back to finasteride, finasteride may not be as effective the second time around. My conclusion based on results within the first month on dutasteride, I hope to see a solid NW2 from a NW3 within the next 6-12 months and maybe even a NW1.5 after including 5% Rogaine. If I were you I would get on Avodart 0.5mg, Rogaine 5% (try and avoid Generics) and get a good S&C to keep your scalp clean, free of oil and sebum.

I want to ask you, you say spironolactone and Revivogen hadn't worked for you, have you heard of RU? and do you have any suggestions for a shampoo/conditioner that may be better then Revivogen?

Current Regime: 0.5mg Avodart one a day, Rogaine 5% twice a day, spironolactone/S5Cream twice a day, Revivogen Shampoo/Conditioner twice a week and Nizoral 2% twice a week.

 

[HairlossCA]

Thanks man, your feedback on dutasteride .5mg is encouraging. I think I am going to give it a shot.

With regard to RU: I have heard of it but have not tried it. I used to visit this board all the time back around '04 - '05 and at the time, if I remember correctly, I believe alot of folks on this board were very skeptical of RU being a bogus product. So I steered clear of it, don't know much about it since then.

I use Nizoral 2% shampoo but do not use an add'l shampoo (ie, revivogen or rogaine). Some of the other guys on this board may be able to recommend a good shampoo for you?

 

[kthxbi]

you considered just upping the dose of finasteride? it was quite a long time ago now but spencer kobren did a feature on this very topic that was on the front page of thebaldtruth maybe 10 months ago, and had another guy on the show agreeing that it could help. it's what spence himself does, he now takes something like 2.5mg finasteride doses.

 

[TheInvincible]

HairlossCCA, I had the same thing with some differences (3 years, not 10 and finasteride really stopped my hair loss, didn't just slow it down) and also considered dutasteride. but after doing researches, I opted for RU and it was a great hit. I haven't had any hair loss since starting it (4 months) but I continued with finasteride too. I will decrease the dosage of finasteride after a year if I won't lose any hair.

 

[HairlossCA]

All-

Just wanted to mention that I tried dutasteride (Avodart) for about 2.5 months - while I did not notice a significant difference or improvement in hair stabilization or regrowth, I did have fairly moderate side effects.

I had reviewed the entire safety profile of dutasteride vesus finasteride before starting it - I did not experience any of the reported finasteride side effects so I went ahead with dutasteride with hopes of enhanced results. After about a month I noticed some side effects that I would classify under ejaculation disorder - lack of sensation, control, delayed response, etc - just a weirdass feeling, almost like I was drugged up and couldn't control anything.

Has anyone had this same sort of side effect, and then dropped the dose (maybe cut the .5 cap in half) and then the sides went away?

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

All-

Just wanted to mention that I tried dutasteride (Avodart) for about 2.5 months - while I did not notice a significant difference or improvement in hair stabilization or regrowth, I did have fairly moderate side effects.

I had reviewed the entire safety profile of dutasteride vesus finasteride before starting it - I did not experience any of the reported finasteride side effects so I went ahead with dutasteride with hopes of enhanced results. After about a month I noticed some side effects that I would classify under ejaculation disorder - lack of sensation, control, delayed response, etc - just a weirdass feeling, almost like I was drugged up and couldn't control anything.

Has anyone had this same sort of side effect, and then dropped the dose (maybe cut the .5 cap in half) and then the sides went away?

I don't think you can shrink the dose of dutasteride to make the side effects go away. This doesn't even work with finasteride for a lot of people.