Could Have Stopping Finasteride With No Success And Restarting Months Later Yield Different Results

[AnxiousAndy]

OK the title is a bit confusing so I will explain. Was on finasteride for a year, didn't work lost more hair til I added in oral minoxidil. Initially had good results (still on finasteride at this point) but that all went downhill when I dropped finasteride and switched oral minoxidil brands about the same time. It's been 2 months since stopping finasteride and switching brands and I'm still shedding. So my conclusion is that it was not entirely the brand switching that has caused this shedding and probably more to do with dropping finasteride. I very recently (today) got back on finasteride and I'm hoping to recover what I lost. I'm also temporarily on oral spironolactone (only got two 100mg pills left out of fourteen.) and have indefinitely added in topical estrogen (about 1mg of estradiol per day) which I've been on for 5 days I think.
I would like to know what peoples opinions on what's going on with my situation would be. Do you think I could recover with this regimen? I'm 20 and a little bit past Norwood 2.

 

[DoctorHouse]

OK the title is a bit confusing so I will explain. Was on finasteride for a year, didn't work lost more hair til I added in oral minoxidil. Initially had good results (still on finasteride at this point) but that all went downhill when I dropped finasteride and switched oral minoxidil brands about the same time. It's been 2 months since stopping finasteride and switching brands and I'm still shedding. So my conclusion is that it was not entirely the brand switching that has caused this shedding and probably more to do with dropping finasteride. I very recently (today) got back on finasteride and I'm hoping to recover what I lost. I'm also temporarily on oral spironolactone (only got two 100mg pills left out of fourteen.) and have indefinitely added in topical estrogen (about 1mg of estradiol per day) which I've been on for 5 days I think.
I would like to know what peoples opinions on what's going on with my situation would be. Do you think I could recover with this regimen? I'm 20 and a little bit past Norwood 2.

You might improve again or just maintain. I told you I never improved but my decline went very slow. Unfortunately, treating hair loss is a waiting game. Don't over think things too much. You have not been treating hair loss long enough yet to know how things are working.

 

[buckthorn]

OK the title is a bit confusing so I will explain. Was on finasteride for a year, didn't work lost more hair til I added in oral minoxidil. Initially had good results (still on finasteride at this point) but that all went downhill when I dropped finasteride and switched oral minoxidil brands about the same time. It's been 2 months since stopping finasteride and switching brands and I'm still shedding. So my conclusion is that it was not entirely the brand switching that has caused this shedding and probably more to do with dropping finasteride. I very recently (today) got back on finasteride and I'm hoping to recover what I lost. I'm also temporarily on oral spironolactone (only got two 100mg pills left out of fourteen.) and have indefinitely added in topical estrogen (about 1mg of estradiol per day) which I've been on for 5 days I think.
I would like to know what peoples opinions on what's going on with my situation would be. Do you think I could recover with this regimen? I'm 20 and a little bit past Norwood 2.

here's the catch-22 and the situation that happened to me - I lost hair drastically on finasteride. When I dropped finasteride, I lost hair even more so. More than I have in my entire life.

My theory is this -

1) by taking finasteride, you alter your hormones. You either induce Telogen Effluvium, cause AR upregulation, or the increase in testosterone rapes your follicles... or maybe just one of these, two or all three, perhaps even WHILE lowering your DHT and getting some regrowth which you don't notice because your scalp is getting fucked. what a cluster f***.

2) by going off finasteride, you then allow your DHT levels to raise back up, but your testosterone stays high and your AR stay upregulated. Now, you're REALLY fucked.

idk... man... I would maybe stay on finasteride and take some supplements to keep your testosterone in check. Also consder RU for your receptors.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

You might improve again or just maintain. I told you I never improved but my decline went very slow. Unfortunately, treating hair loss is a waiting game. Don't over think things too much. You have not been treating hair loss long enough yet to know how things are working.

Yea not long at all, I will hope for the best!

@buckthorn I've read your story before and that really sucks man, but didnt you say your frontal hair thickened up? What supplements could I take to keep my testosterone stable?
I got topical estrogen for my hair line, I don't know if that helps for blocking ARs but I heard that it binds to them which is just as good if not better right?
I plan on staying on finasteride indefinitely now. The few months of regrowth I did get have made me think that it's possible for me to bring it back, I just need to keep upping the ante.

 

[michel sapin]

bro never go beyond the dutasteride limit is you are a male
oral spironolactone is too dangerous !