Current Condition 17 Months On Finasteride And 3 Months On Dutasteride

[brownhair]

Sorry you're going through this mate, I'm in a similar boat but I was only on it for 6 weeks and was getting sides such as an unbearable itchy scalp, a burning and tingling sensation, greasy skin, dry, brittle hair, hair colour turning black to brown, increased shedding and I could feel my hair thinning over a 3 day period. My barber also commented on the poor hair quality.
I also hit a severe depression and panic attacks on it too. It was bizarre, from one week to the other I could see my scalp under the exact same light which wasn't the case before I started finasteride, nor the first week or so.

My hair density took a massive hit during those 6 weeks, and now a year off the drug I feel as though my hair has stabilised a bit but it's still thinner than before I started and although the quality has improved slightly, I doubt it will return to it's former glory.

I still have the burning sensation but it doesn't seem to be as severe and the itching has subsided alot. My mood is in alot better place and I seem to have a better time styling my hair now compared to even 6 months ago.

I'm 32 now and my hair loss was very minimal before taking the drug. I was only on 1mg a day and I did go cold turkey, but I was only on it for 6 weeks. I would recommend stopping it, but I understand how much of a hard decision it is. I wish you all the luck mate. What we are suffering seems to be more common than people like to admit and you would have to think these sort of reactions happened during studies.

 

[MKP05]

Sorry you're going through this mate, I'm in a similar boat but I was only on it for 6 weeks and was getting sides such as an unbearable itchy scalp, a burning and tingling sensation, greasy skin, dry, brittle hair, hair colour turning black to brown, increased shedding and I could feel my hair thinning over a 3 day period. My barber also commented on the poor hair quality.
I also hit a severe depression and panic attacks on it too. It was bizarre, from one week to the other I could see my scalp under the exact same light which wasn't the case before I started finasteride, nor the first week or so.

My hair density took a massive hit during those 6 weeks, and now a year off the drug I feel as though my hair has stabilised a bit but it's still thinner than before I started and although the quality has improved slightly, I doubt it will return to it's former glory.

I still have the burning sensation but it doesn't seem to be as severe and the itching has subsided alot. My mood is in alot better place and I seem to have a better time styling my hair now compared to even 6 months ago.

I'm 32 now and my hair loss was very minimal before taking the drug. I was only on 1mg a day and I did go cold turkey, but I was only on it for 6 weeks. I would recommend stopping it, but I understand how much of a hard decision it is. I wish you all the luck mate. What we are suffering seems to be more common than people like to admit and you would have to think these sort of reactions happened during studies.

I don’t think I can stop now. I’m way too far down the road. I stayed on finasteride for 17 months and never recovered from the initial 6 months while my hairline receded the entire time. I was fooled by the fact that it never got worse on top after the “shed”. I thought it was a sign that my temples and hairline would stop too eventually. They never did.

I switched to dutasteride out of desperation to stop my hairline from going completely. Instead it has receded as much in 3 months as it did for the entire time on finasteride. I’ve now lost additional hair on top, sides and back. I’m pretty sure I’m fucked for good now. The island of hair making up the front will be gone in a matter of months. An the itch which had been gone for more than 8 months is back with a vengeance the last couple of days. My entire scalp feels inflamed and itchy. Front, top, back, and sides included. But I know if I stop I will lose it even faster than I am. And I’m not getting on experimental or tranny drugs.

I will see what my derm says next week. When I last saw her in mid December my hair had much more density so I’m curious to hear her thoughts. i wake up in a panic at 3am every night for the past two months. It’s like I’m going through the same thing as the first few months on finasteride. A total nightmare. Considering i never recovered then I’m doubtful i will now. I now routinely think about the inevitability of having to shave it all.

sorry you’re going through this too. It’s a miserable way to go through life. I hope you find a solution and I’m envious that you stopped when you did. Unfortunately there’s no way to prove that the drugs did any of this even though one of the listed causes of Telogen Effluvium is shock caused by sudden hormonal changes which is exactly what these drugs do.

 

[stejames]

I don’t think I can stop now. I’m way too far down the road. I stayed on finasteride for 17 months and never recovered from the initial 6 months while my hairline receded the entire time. I was fooled by the fact that it never got worse on top after the “shed”. I thought it was a sign that my temples and hairline would stop too eventually. They never did.

I switched to dutasteride out of desperation to stop my hairline from going completely. Instead it has receded as much in 3 months as it did for the entire time on finasteride. I’ve now lost additional hair on top, sides and back. I’m pretty sure I’m fucked for good now. The island of hair making up the front will be gone in a matter of months. An the itch which had been gone for more than 8 months is back with a vengeance the last couple of days. My entire scalp feels inflamed and itchy. Front, top, back, and sides included. But I know if I stop I will lose it even faster than I am. And I’m not getting on experimental or tranny drugs.

I will see what my derm says next week. When I last saw her in mid December my hair had much more density so I’m curious to hear her thoughts. i wake up in a panic at 3am every night for the past two months. It’s like I’m going through the same thing as the first few months on finasteride. A total nightmare. Considering i never recovered then I’m doubtful i will now. I now routinely think about the inevitability of having to shave it all.

sorry you’re going through this too. It’s a miserable way to go through life. I hope you find a solution and I’m envious that you stopped when you did. Unfortunately there’s no way to prove that the drugs did any of this even though one of the listed causes of Telogen Effluvium is shock caused by sudden hormonal changes which is exactly what these drugs do.

This is being discussed in another. How does a pill designed to stifle one of the main causes of hairloss actually cause hairloss outside of a shed?

I am dealing with this as well. Doesnt make sense.

 

[MKP05]

This is being discussed in another. How does a pill designed to stifle one of the main causes of hairloss actually cause hairloss outside of a shed?

I am dealing with this as well. Doesnt make sense.

None of it makes sense. And I’m in a unique situation where I’m going completely bald on one of the strongest medicines known to slow, halt or even regrow hair loss and my identical twin brother with the same exact genetic makeup isn’t losing any hair and is not on any medication. It’s baffling and more than just a little depressing. Im very likely the only person in this entire forum - or any hair loss forum - with this set of circumstances. Every dermatologist I’ve spoken with is equally as baffled by this which doesn’t do me much good. They just keep saying “well your brother will probably lose his hair too”. But that’s not proven to be true nor do I think it will be. He’ll likely follow our fathers path which is having a fairly decent amount of hair for someone who is 80. At the rate I’m going I’ll have gone from a thick Norwood 1 to a Norwood 5-6 diffuse in a matter of a few years. And while on medication no less. f***.

 

[MKP05]

Dutasteride is approved for hair loss in Japan, and frequently prescribed off-label for hair loss in the US.

Your hair loss isn't caused by finasteride dutasteride or min, but corticosteroids can cause both growth and loss.

It’s all just guesswork at this point. No amount of speculation is going to get my hair back. But I’m fairly sure that for me this is not just about genetics since I’m far worse than my brother or my father at this age. Since I have the autoimmune areata disease I suppose it’s possible that it’s connected. But my pattern is consistent with male pattern baldness even though the speed of loss is more like areata. I just pray that I didn’t pass on this affliction to my sons.