How risky is finasteride at a young age?

[Joe1191]

I'm 20 years old and considering going onto finasteride. I have been using Lipogaine for 5 months 1x daily and maintained my crown and some regrowth. I've started using it 2x daily for about 3 weeks now. I have been using Lipogaine Shampoo as it has the same active ingredient as Nizoral as far as I know. I've been taking a few anti androgen supplements for a little help (Fish oil, Evening Primrose oil, and saw palmetto) but if anything I think that would just slightly counter the increased DHT from working out 5x a week.
How risky would taking .5 mg of finasteride eod be at 20 y/o?

 

[nate30]

At 20 it's probable that you're done with puberty, but it's not TERRIBLY uncommon for men to still be developing to some extent in their early 20s. I would try and put it off a year or two if you're dead set on taking Finasteride. I first started when I was 20-21 and didn't notice any adverse effects (aside from watery semen) until about a year and a half later. Reducing the dosage and taking it EOD isn't going to reduce the efficacy of the drug, and hence it's not going to reduce the severity of side effects that may occur. I'd stay away from the saw palmetto as well. Probably doesn't do much either way, but I wouldn't risk the possibility of sexual sides for a negligible benefit to your hair. You could look into topical spironolactone (S5 cream) if you're interested in a weaker drug that supposedly has an anti-androgen like effect, that isn't known to have systemic side effects when applied topically.

 

[spring15]

I took finasteride at 21, after a month I coud barely get hard, stopped straight away, most effects have gone away but still not 100% where I originally was. It's a gamble

 

[colony]

I think it is not that risky if you stop taking it when sides don't dissappear in months.

 

[RD03]

I was prescribed finasteride when I had just turned 19. You should be good to go, considering you've developed normally and not a late boomer.