Going To Sound Crazy - But I Want To Attempt Finasteride Again At Low Dose.

[buckthorn]

I have been off of finasteride for about 13 months, and as you all know, ever since I have lost a lot of density and my scalp has been VERY inflamed. Way worst than when I was actually taking it.

I quit because I ALSO lost even more hair, especially in the crown and midscalp, while taking finasteride for a year.

I have 1mg tablets. They are easily crushed into powder. I want to attempt to take 1/20th of a pill every other day, or even just twice a week.

My goal is to take it, inhibit a small amount of DHT, without letting my body go crazy in response.

I KNOW we I have been back and forth with this sh*t, but since I had no SERIOUS side effects on finasteride, and since my hair looks like sickly old man pubic hair right now, I need to try. At least for a few weeks.

I will keep you updated. If anything, it may provide some info on how my body so drastically counters finasteride.

 

[g.i joey]

If you're gonna try it out again stick it out, and take a dose that actually is shown to have a cosmetic effect on hair. If you're gonna give it another try at least do it right man. Also, the user Somebody swears by perilla leave tablets, I have to say since I've been taking them I haven't gotten 1 pimple on my hairline, whereas before I'd still get about 1 a week even on finasteride. So these perilla leaves definitely do help with inflammation, at least in my case.

 

[Johnmpb]

Pics?

 

[kj6723]

I have been off of finasteride for about 13 months, and as you all know, ever since I have lost a lot of density and my scalp has been VERY inflamed. Way worst than when I was actually taking it.

I quit because I ALSO lost even more hair, especially in the crown and midscalp, while taking finasteride for a year.

I have 1mg tablets. They are easily crushed into powder. I want to attempt to take 1/20th of a pill every other day, or even just twice a week.

My goal is to take it, inhibit a small amount of DHT, without letting my body go crazy in response.

I KNOW we I have been back and forth with this sh*t, but since I had no SERIOUS side effects on finasteride, and since my hair looks like sickly old man pubic hair right now, I need to try. At least for a few weeks.

I will keep you updated. If anything, it may provide some info on how my body so drastically counters finasteride.

Would be really nice to see you have some success, finally

Even if microdosing isn't helping your hair, maybe if your scalp can tolerate very low doses, you'll be able to build up to an effective dose gradually enough that it won't cause telogen effluvium this time around

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Good luck @buckthorn.

 

[DoctorHouse]

I have been off of finasteride for about 13 months, and as you all know, ever since I have lost a lot of density and my scalp has been VERY inflamed. Way worst than when I was actually taking it.

I quit because I ALSO lost even more hair, especially in the crown and midscalp, while taking finasteride for a year.

I have 1mg tablets. They are easily crushed into powder. I want to attempt to take 1/20th of a pill every other day, or even just twice a week.

My goal is to take it, inhibit a small amount of DHT, without letting my body go crazy in response.

I KNOW we I have been back and forth with this sh*t, but since I had no SERIOUS side effects on finasteride, and since my hair looks like sickly old man pubic hair right now, I need to try. At least for a few weeks.

I will keep you updated. If anything, it may provide some info on how my body so drastically counters finasteride.

I would be doing the same if I were in your shoes.

 

[Dante92]

It's not crazy at all. Once you get desperate enough, you try everything at your disposal.

Good luck.

 

[buckthorn]

dang, thanks a lot guys for the support!! I assumed a lot of people would be laughing at me, "ol buckthorn losing his mind again!"

I am going to stick with it for sure. .05mg EOD.

 

[michel sapin]

if i were you i would stat with 0,2 mg three times a week . At least take 0,2 mg, a dose which has proven cosmetic effect . Then increase your dosage later
And for forehead pimple , something which work amazingly is topical retin a . I have long hair , and oily forehead , but since i use it, i have got a perfect skin . ( and i have used a lot of product , even did 2 round of accutane ).

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

I think 0.05 mg is appropriate given your prior violent reaction to finasteride. Start low, if it doesn't work, stop, otherwise keep going and consider increasing the dose at around the 4-week mark.

 

[rclark]

I have been off of finasteride for about 13 months, and as you all know, ever since I have lost a lot of density and my scalp has been VERY inflamed. Way worst than when I was actually taking it.

I quit because I ALSO lost even more hair, especially in the crown and midscalp, while taking finasteride for a year.

I have 1mg tablets. They are easily crushed into powder. I want to attempt to take 1/20th of a pill every other day, or even just twice a week.

My goal is to take it, inhibit a small amount of DHT, without letting my body go crazy in response.

I KNOW we I have been back and forth with this sh*t, but since I had no SERIOUS side effects on finasteride, and since my hair looks like sickly old man pubic hair right now, I need to try. At least for a few weeks.

I will keep you updated. If anything, it may provide some info on how my body so drastically counters finasteride.

You're right. It does sound crazy . At least you're attempting it.

At this point, what's the worst that could happen?

 

[rclark]

dang, thanks a lot guys for the support!! I assumed a lot of people would be laughing at me, "ol buckthorn losing his mind again!"

I am going to stick with it for sure. .05mg EOD.

It's OK. We got used to you. Why would we say again?

 

[dralex]

I have been off of finasteride for about 13 months, and as you all know, ever since I have lost a lot of density and my scalp has been VERY inflamed. Way worst than when I was actually taking it.

I quit because I ALSO lost even more hair, especially in the crown and midscalp, while taking finasteride for a year.

I have 1mg tablets. They are easily crushed into powder. I want to attempt to take 1/20th of a pill every other day, or even just twice a week.

My goal is to take it, inhibit a small amount of DHT, without letting my body go crazy in response.

I KNOW we I have been back and forth with this sh*t, but since I had no SERIOUS side effects on finasteride, and since my hair looks like sickly old man pubic hair right now, I need to try. At least for a few weeks.

I will keep you updated. If anything, it may provide some info on how my body so drastically counters finasteride.

You've probably posted many times about this, but may I ask what your reaction to finasteride was initially. Did you just continue to lose hair or did it actually accelerate the process? Also have you tried dutasteride? If not, why not?

 

[buckthorn]

You've probably posted many times about this, but may I ask what your reaction to finasteride was initially. Did you just continue to lose hair or did it actually accelerate the process? Also have you tried dutasteride? If not, why not?

unfortunately it accelerated it drastically. I went from complete coverage with probably about 75% density to see through everywhere down to about 40% density within 8-9 months. 2-300 hairs a day, easy. My derm said it looked like Telogen Effluvium, which I am certain I had, but for some reason I think I also had upregulation, or something because the drastic shedding continued for many months after quitting.

The one unusual thing about it, is I believe finasteride thickened up my hairline, while completely decimating everything within an inch or two behind it. Crown and midscalp destroyed. People have seen pics. It is very sickly looking.

Now that I've been off finasteride, my crown and midscalp have maintained, perhaps even gained a little density, but my hair line is f*****g horrendous.

That's why, I say "this will sound stupid" in the title, because it probably is.

I am hoping that somehow, a very, very low dosage, may give me the benefits without the Telogen Effluvium, or upregulation.

Honestly, I've said it before, but this time I am literally out of options... yes, I tried dutasteride for about 3 weeks last year, and my scalp went f*****g CRAZY. I couldn't stand it. Itching, burning, crawling...

 

[buckthorn]

Are you gonna use a generic brand?

yeah, it's generic.

 

[dralex]

unfortunately it accelerated it drastically. I went from complete coverage with probably about 75% density to see through everywhere down to about 40% density within 8-9 months. 2-300 hairs a day, easy. My derm said it looked like Telogen Effluvium, which I am certain I had, but for some reason I think I also had upregulation, or something because the drastic shedding continued for many months after quitting.

The one unusual thing about it, is I believe finasteride thickened up my hairline, while completely decimating everything within an inch or two behind it. Crown and midscalp destroyed. People have seen pics. It is very sickly looking.

Now that I've been off finasteride, my crown and midscalp have maintained, perhaps even gained a little density, but my hair line is f*****g horrendous.

That's why, I say "this will sound stupid" in the title, because it probably is.

I am hoping that somehow, a very, very low dosage, may give me the benefits without the Telogen Effluvium, or upregulation.

Honestly, I've said it before, but this time I am literally out of options... yes, I tried dutasteride for about 3 weeks last year, and my scalp went f*****g CRAZY. I couldn't stand it. Itching, burning, crawling...

Weird. I've had very similar results on finasteride, except I've stuck with it regardless. Been nearly 3 years on it and still losing ground. Impossible to tell whether the loss was due to finasteride or not tho. Hair loss was kicking in hydro-gear right before I jumped on finasteride. Was shedding lots of hair. Still had insane density tho, and nw2 hairline, cuz caught it super early. Within 9-12 months on finasteride I would say I lost 50% of my hair. Continued on finasteride regardless and the loss has slowed down significantly but still losing and hairline getting really bad/thin. Issue is that my hairline started receding at 18/19 and I could be much worse off now at 23. Have some friends who are at nw5/6 who started losing around 18. So impossible to tell what effect finasteride had. Technically if you had androgen upregulation you are much better off staying on finasteride then dropping it. The damage is already done, so going off finasteride just means you have the upregulation and extra DHT which is a disaster. I doubt the upregulation would ever fully reverse. If you get on finasteride I would never plan on going off it unless you experience nasty side effects.

 

[buckthorn]

I've been using a generic as well, and I've been wandering if it's less effective than Propecia..

I mean, aren't the generic companies utilized by pharmacies held to the same standards as the big wigs? I would just be worried if you're getting it online or something. Finasteride is finasteride, don't see how there would be any difference between Propecia and generic... but idk??

 

[buckthorn]

Weird. I've had very similar results on finasteride, except I've stuck with it regardless. Been nearly 3 years on it and still losing ground. Impossible to tell whether the loss was due to finasteride or not tho. Hair loss was kicking in hydro-gear right before I jumped on finasteride. Was shedding lots of hair. Still had insane density tho, and nw2 hairline, cuz caught it super early. Within 9-12 months on finasteride I would say I lost 50% of my hair. Continued on finasteride regardless and the loss has slowed down significantly but still losing and hairline getting really bad/thin. Issue is that my hairline started receding at 18/19 and I could be much worse off now at 23. Have some friends who are at nw5/6 who started losing around 18. So impossible to tell what effect finasteride had. Technically if you had androgen upregulation you are much better off staying on finasteride then dropping it. The damage is already done, so going off finasteride just means you have the upregulation and extra DHT which is a disaster. I doubt the upregulation would ever fully reverse. If you get on finasteride I would never plan on going off it unless you experience nasty side effects.

yeah, basically what I have been thinking. Hopefully the low dose will keep my DHT in check while not triggering an enormous cluster f*** response within my body. what do you think? I have no f*****g idea man. it's sad that we are having this confusing conversation in f*****g 2017. isn't it? :/

 

[dralex]

yeah, basically what I have been thinking. Hopefully the low dose will keep my DHT in check while not triggering an enormous cluster f*** response within my body. what do you think? I have no f*****g idea man. it's sad that we are having this confusing conversation in f*****g 2017. isn't it? :/

Yeah it's rough man. I may post my journey on finasteride with photos. Cuz I have like 400 pics of my hair since starting finasteride. So many people don't think it's possible to get that much worse on finasteride, but I have the actual photo evidence.

And what's your Norwood status now? I think taking 1/20 mg is kind of pointless. Might as well just try like 1/4 if your hair is already that bad.

 

[PappinAce]

honestly i'm surprised that more finasteride users don't suffer from Telogen Effluvium due to the changes it makes to your hormonal profile. how did yours manifest itself Buck? was the thinning mostly on top of the scalp? the itching and burning sensation is a very strange symptom though. are you sure that was from the dht blocker?

what have you used to maintain since then? just ru and minoxidil?