Finasteride: My Doctor's strange recommendations

[razzmatazz91]

Just visited my doctor last evening. After having read about others' views on finasteride, I decided to have a go, and ask my doctor. I must say right now... that I am already VERY scared of finasteride because of the talk of side effects.

So this is my situaton: Been thinning (hairline receding and diffuse all over head) for two 30 months now. Been noticable since 24 months.
I used minoxidil starting 12 months ago. It kept my hairline where it was... but diffuse thinning still present, and the hair on my temples after a year on minoxidil 5% seems like it's peach fuzz and some thin hair. It doesn't do much to improve my appearance.
So I went to the doctor and asked him if finasteride suits me.

He said I should first try minoxidil 10% for two months, before starting what he calls a "risky treatment" I did have a semen test, and it seems normal.

Here's where it got odd:

1. He told me that finasteride will give me same results, whether I start now or six months later. From what I've read, this seems wrong.
2. He said if 5% minoxidil wasn't helping, 10% might do it for me. Is that possible??
3. He said EVERY DRUG has a side effect, whether noticeable or not, and that I would have long term side effects from finasteride even if I tolerated it in short term. True?

And I have some more questions:

1. What are the LONG TERM sides from finasteride in those patients who don't show immidiate (within 1 year) side effects?
2. Can finasteride cause problems with other medicines in combination?
3. Can the 10% minoxidil really still help me?

I would love to hear your opinions and expert advice on the matter.

 

[jimmypage]

I would said that the points 1 and 2 are wrong, I'm not sure. On which I completely agree is on 3. Every drug has Side effects, most of them not noticiable. It is true that most of the drugs are not taken longer than 1 month. Issue with finasteride is that it is taken for life, not for only 1 month, and eventually, for somes after a year for others after 10, the "cumulative" sides will appear. Also, after years pass, your body naturally produces less testosterone, and if you add there finasteride, the amount of DHT will be even less. So you will be prone to sides to show, probably not Gino, but maybe simply low libido and ED. For me finasteride is a drug that I'll take till my 35-40 (if it starts working, because by now it has done nothing to me, 5 months), and then, even if nothing better comes out, I'll stop taking it. As a guy raised in a family of doctors, I'm very aware of the problems of finasteride and any other drug taken long term.

 

[razzmatazz91]

That is scary too!!
So the claims about long term liver damage and heart issues have merit?

I'm really scared about it now...

By the way jimmy, how old are you now? How many years do you plan to have it? I'm 24

 

[jimmypage]

That is scary too!!
So the claims about long term liver damage and heart issues have merit?

I'm really scared about it now...

By the way jimmy, how old are you now? How many years do you plan to have it? I'm 24

Well, I wouldnt go as far as that... Ive discussing this with my dad and a friend of the family (both doctors) and such a thing as Heart and Liver issues is really weird, not somethng that is even considered as side effect. I'm 21, taking it for 5 months with no improvement, just worsening of my hair condition. If I dont see any stabilization within the 1st year ill stop taking it, but if I see any improvement or stabilization I will be taking it until my 35's maybe (Also, if I get any sides i wll stop the treatment).

 

[Hairloss23]

If there is still not anything better than oral AAs 20 years from now then I expect people will be ****ing rioting, the last generation (who are currently the guys researching and funding new treatments for all health problems) can try and hide their vanity and how shallow they are by continually failing to invest in aesthetic **** like hair loss, but by the time the majority of the current generation start balding, there will start to be questions asked as to why their is still nothing better after nearly half a century of the FinMin combo.

 

[razzmatazz91]

I might be asking for a bit too much here..... and I'm sure most here will know how emotional this time can be for us young men.
But I really would like to hear from more of you veterans.
I'm worried about lots of things regarding finasteride.... even stupid things like "Am I too vain for wanting to keep my hair, despite the risks?" I think I'm even developing depression over it.
The thing is, I can't sit on the fence any longer, I have to jump on one side and get on with life... even if I won' ever be happy

 

[razzmatazz91]

Do you guys think finasteride can grow the peach fuzz and some thinner hair I have regrown with minoxidil over a year?