Finasteride doesn't work for me - how can I make sure?

[Kirby]

I have reached the 16 months mark on finasteride.

I have read many times on this and other forums about people getting "thickening" at 3 to 6 months.

At 16 months I have had NO regrowth or "thickening".

I have no more of the scalp itch I had pre- treatment, less dandruff and much less shedding, but no regrowth or "thickening". Does finasteride even work for me? Is my lack of progress a sign that I'm doomed?

 

[Quantum Cat]

the best you can hope for with Finasteride is a halt to further hair loss. Any regrowth or thickening is a bonus that most people don't get

 

[Kirby]

There are many accounts of people on this and other forums of people who have taken Finasteride and gotten regrowth and "thickening". I KNOW that finasteride doesn't regrow bare patches of skin, but I thankfully don't have any of those (yet) other than where my juvenile hairline was. I was inspired to start finasteride (branded Propecia to start with) as I'd delved into the Success Stories folder here, and accounts in Tell Your Story, and seen people get results with finasteride. In these photos, a low resolution photo from last May top-down, showing the thin balding crown and midscalp, and a few weeks ago. The only difference is than now I have a "grow over" to comb sideways to strategically hide the balding. finasteride is meant to work best on the crown and top of the head, yet 16 months later there's no improvement in density. Something must be seriously amiss.

 

[The_Mentalist]

Kirby, you have normal hair as in the picture above, and quite dense and thick stranded

 

[Kirby]

I DON'T in my male pattern baldness area. As I've said, the second picture is illusionary as I have a grow over, the length is hiding thr balding patch on top but its STILL as low density and balding as a year previously.

How do I find out if finasteride does or does not work for me?

 

[Quantum Cat]

there is no way to tell definitively whether Finasteride is or isn't working for you.

the best indicator that finasteride isn't working is that after about 1-2 years on the drug your hair continues to thin/recede.

the best indicator the finasteride is working is that after about 1-2 years on the drug you haven't lost any further hair.

You can't expect finasteride to regrow all your hair - some people have reported thickening or regrowth, but not many AFAIK. And many people use finasteride in combination with other treatments like Minoxidil which is more likely to regrow hair, at least temporarily.