Important question regarding the risks of varying finasteride dosage

[B58]

Could some forum members (especially moderators) elaborate on this statement taken from the Propecia product review on this website:

...........Propecia (finasteride) should be administered at 1mg. daily in pill form, with no exceptions. Many people talk about custom dosing, skipping days, doubling up, etc. This will not only do nothing to help your hairloss, but will also do your system more harm than good. Hormones are very delicate chemicals that operate in conjunction with each other. Therefore a consistent daily dose will ensure a stable hormonal environment, and keep your biology in harmony.

I have read volumnious posts on several forums regarding the acceptance of "custom dosing". This statement appears to be from Merck from around the time of Propecia's introduction (around 1997). Nonetheless, I think it worth dissecting. Any existing factual data to debunk this?

 

[Thinneritgoes!]

I, like a lot of people, take .5 mg daily. It's a consistent dose and really can't see how that would do more harm to you than taking 1mg... :jump:

 

[B58]

Seems like you follow the consistency aspect well, but how comfortable are you with the 1mg "with no exceptions" warning?

This could very well be an early advertising attempt by Merck to maximize pill sales. Or it could be a safety precaution by a drug inventor/manufacturer based on a science they specialize in. I've seen all the graphs and read most of the studies. I would like to hear a convincing argument (based on facts and not on opinions) that would make me feel comfortable using a dose other than as prescribed.

 

[Bryan]

I think finasteride is safe and effective over a wide range. I see nothing wrong with taking anywhere from 0.2 mg/day to 20 mg/day (yes, that's a range that covers two orders of magnitude! ).

 

[B58]

Thanks Bryan - seems some consensus on consistent dose.

I would personally conclude, judging form the available study data, the flat response to the wide range of dosage leaves plenty of room for variance......yet I am neither a pharmiscist or a chemist. Just an amateur's opinion.

Regarding the skipped doses - anyone care to elaborate?