Please Help On Finasteride Decision

[Dennis Reynolds]

Hi all,

I have been struggling coming to terms with my hair loss (probably about NW2 and 28) for the better part of 2 years now. I started minoxidil about a year ago and haven't noticed much of a change and was recently prescribed 1mg finasteride. I am so torn on whether to take this or not. I feel self conscious all the time about my hair and keep thinking how amazing it would be to not have to worry about how my hair looks every day, but I keep reading all these horror stories on this board and I am now petrified to take it.

Can anyone hear give me unbiased advice and/or experiences? I saw one comment about how finasteride blocks neuropeptides which in addition to potential sexual sides has me spooked.

Also, is there any truth that taking .25 a day can prevent the blocking of neuropeptides or other sides?

I would really appreciate any responses as I am in turmoil on what to do next.

 

[Btg]

Hi all,

I have been struggling coming to terms with my hair loss (probably about NW2 and 28) for the better part of 2 years now. I started minoxidil about a year ago and haven't noticed much of a change and was recently prescribed 1mg finasteride. I am so torn on whether to take this or not. I feel self conscious all the time about my hair and keep thinking how amazing it would be to not have to worry about how my hair looks every day, but I keep reading all these horror stories on this board and I am now petrified to take it.

Can anyone hear give me unbiased advice and/or experiences? I saw one comment about how finasteride blocks neuropeptides which in addition to potential sexual sides has me spooked.

Also, is there any truth that taking .25 a day can prevent the blocking of neuropeptides or other sides?

I would really appreciate any responses as I am in turmoil on what to do next.

ask as many people as you want , some will say they didnt get sides , some will say it ruined their lives , i dont think you re gonna get a conclusion about its safety
Yea it affects neurosteroids and this is possibly the major side effect factor, but i dont believe a smaller dose is safer since u eventually are gonna inhibit the same 5ars
My opinion is you take it and see for yourself, i know 3 ppl IRL who take finasteride without any problems so definitely theres a chance u save your hair without having issues , but you have to not freak out and quit due to placebo effect nor ignore major problems and keep taking it

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Thanks for the reply. If you are on this drug for a few years and then wean off it, would the neurosteriod activity in theory return to normal?

 

[Retinoid]

Take the lowest effective dose starting off for a few months and monitor how you respond (.25mg/day in my opinion). Increase if you see no results to .5mg. You can do scalp massage and dermaroll with minoxidil as well either with or without.

 

[hova82]

Hi, 35 year old guy here and have been on this for 5 years. My only regret is I did not start it 10 years ago when my then girlfriend told me about it. She is a nurse and brought home a piece of paper that said "propecia" and I just threw it in a drawer. Stupid me.

I take 1mg per day and it's had zero impact. I am fit, workout daily, huge (and increasing) sex drive, and it's 100% helped my hair remain. I recently had a hair transplant and will be on finasteride for the rest of my life.

My best advice is to get on this medication and keep what hair you have. As you progress into your 30's your hairless could increase and start to impact you emotionally as it did me. I looked at pictures of myself 10 years ago and it was starting then... It happens so gradual that one day you will wake up and realize "it's gone".

 

[Retinoid]

Hi, 25 year old guy here and have been on this for 5 years. My only regret is I did not start it 10 years ago when my then girlfriend told me about it. She is a nurse and brought home a piece of paper that said "propecia" and I just threw it in a drawer. Stupid me.

I take 1mg per day and it's had zero impact. I am fit, workout daily, huge (and increasing) sex drive, and it's 100% helped my hair remain. I recently had a hair transplant and will be on finasteride for the rest of my life.

My best advice is to get on this medication and keep what hair you have. As you progress into your 30's your hairless could increase and start to impact you emotionally as it did me. I looked at pictures of myself 10 years ago and it was starting then... It happens so gradual that one day you will wake up and realize "it's gone".

You said your only regret is not starting 10yrs ago when you were 15 when your nurse gf ( who was at least 7yrs older than you) gave you a sheet of paper that said Propecia...

 

[bluecyclone]

Anyone know of a reliable source for the Finasteride response DNA test? Was mentioned in a recent GQ article. Not just the ‘balding gene’ but actual odds of Finasteride response. To me this would be a good source by which to take the educated risk.

 

[hova82]

You said your only regret is not starting 10yrs ago when you were 15 when your nurse gf ( who was at least 7yrs older than you) gave you a sheet of paper that said Propecia...

Edit: I meant 35. Not sure what GF's age has anything to do with this.

 

[abcdefg]

Yeah some men might ha

Hi all,

I have been struggling coming to terms with my hair loss (probably about NW2 and 28) for the better part of 2 years now. I started minoxidil about a year ago and haven't noticed much of a change and was recently prescribed 1mg finasteride. I am so torn on whether to take this or not. I feel self conscious all the time about my hair and keep thinking how amazing it would be to not have to worry about how my hair looks every day, but I keep reading all these horror stories on this board and I am now petrified to take it.

Can anyone hear give me unbiased advice and/or experiences? I saw one comment about how finasteride blocks neuropeptides which in addition to potential sexual sides has me spooked.

Also, is there any truth that taking .25 a day can prevent the blocking of neuropeptides or other sides?

I would really appreciate any responses as I am in turmoil on what to do next.

Some things like it blocking neurosteroids might not end up doing anything significant in most men. Its been in use for 21 years now that is a very long time, and no one starting today will be on it that many more years.
Despite the claims I think its very safe although not perfect of course. Talk to a professional doctor or derm since they see many many patients everyday that have used it for years.
Real world use and results trump forum opinions. I would at least give it a try if it bothers you.

 

[Cue Bald]

well i don't know about the science but i have been on it for years.
for me it is like taking a sugar pill, i feel no different. but i have been on many psychoactive meds in the past so i know all about strong medications. honestly opiates killed my sex drive (e.g. i didn;t have any sexual thoughts say when a shapely woman walked past) finasteride has done nothing

my sex drive has increased about 10% while on it (as a NW4 however i wish it would reduce my sex drive).
i think either a lot of people on this forum are either weak-dicked, or when they want to sleep with their girlfriend, they think about "is propecia in my system", it makes them nervous and their erection goes soft. so they think "damn it's the propecia" and they go completely soft. they then post about how propecia ruined their sex life, and because even while off the drug they think and worry about it during sex; they think propecia gave them permanent sides.

 

[Funkymonk1]

@Dennis Reynolds - Basically the sides are very real, however they only affect a small minority of finasteride users. You should research it yourself, weigh up the pros and cons and then make a decision. The way I look at it is this - if you take finasteride and get sides you can't deal with you can always stop. At least you can then say you tried rather then looking at your bald head in a few years time and feeing depressed and annoyed that you were too scared to even try Finasteride. Good luck!

 

[bluecyclone]

I guess the bigger question is how to determine if you are getting sides, how long to trial, and how long any recover might take? That’s my biggest issue with an attempt at Finasteride. The stories of mild to moderate sides, ambiguous response and 12 months of guessing seems like torture.

 

[kj6723]

The stats are in your favor. However there are no guarantees in life, and no one can give you a 100% answer. You can only try for yourself. In life we take risks if we want to thrive. Most likely everything will be fine, and you will maintain your hair.

I have been on this drug for 2 years and in retrospect I couldn't be happier with my decision to take finasteride. Recovered from NW2.5 to a NW1.75-2. Only side effect is watery jizz. Erection quality still good, great muscle mass/body fat ratio, and cognitively everything seems fine

 

[Retinoid]

I guess the bigger question is how to determine if you are getting sides, how long to trial, and how long any recover might take? That’s my biggest issue with an attempt at Finasteride. The stories of mild to moderate sides, ambiguous response and 12 months of guessing seems like torture.

Agreed...that is my issue as well with taking it. Also it has to be forever. The side effects of sexual dysfunction does not bother me as much. Just wish there was something that was a PERMANENT fix...not minoxidil or finasteride which may work, may lose potency over time, may cause all these side effects and if they do it is forever. Like...will these definitely work for me? Why do I have to wait 6 months to know??? Especially since they can cause severe shedding at first.

 

[kj6723]

Agreed...that is my issue as well with taking it. Also it has to be forever. The side effects of sexual dysfunction does not bother me as much. Just wish there was something that was a PERMANENT fix...not minoxidil or finasteride which may work, may lose potency over time, may cause all these side effects and if they do it is forever. Like...will these definitely work for me? Why do I have to wait 6 months to know??? Especially since they can cause severe shedding at first.

You do the best you can, using what's available to make the best of your circumstances. Right now that's finasteride and minoxidil. We can kick and scream all we want that "we need a cure now!" But we don't have one. Be thankful we're living post 1990's in which an option for long term hair maintenance even exists.

On that note, let's take a moment of silence to recognize our norwood predecessors, with no choice but to embrace their genetic fate

 

[Funkymonk1]

I guess the bigger question is how to determine if you are getting sides, how long to trial, and how long any recover might take? That’s my biggest issue with an attempt at Finasteride. The stories of mild to moderate sides, ambiguous response and 12 months of guessing seems like torture.

Personally, I think it's more about how badly the sides are affecting you rather then "am I getting sides". I would suggest is it's "mental torture" as you say then it's time to stop.

 

[bluecyclone]

It is a miserable choice to make. I’d just like some better defined odds. I think it is clear the 2% published stats are nonesense and there is no real responsder to non-responder data.

I’d love to find even a basic DNA test that could predict response to the drug. That would fully inform an educated risk.

 

[Retinoid]

It is a miserable choice to make. I’d just like some better defined odds. I think it is clear the 2% published stats are nonesense and there is no real responsder to non-responder data.

I’d love to find even a basic DNA test that could predict response to the drug. That would fully inform an educated risk.

If you know 100% sure you have male pattern baldness then it is worth trying...right now I am not 100% sure I have it as I think my diffuse balding could have been due to a combo of diet drugs and hypothyroidism as I am regrowing in the bald spots right now. .HOWEVER if I knew for certain I would take it and have some in case I need it. I also am doing head massages, using Minoxidil and other various things. I do not think finasteride is the answer but it can help while you deal with the underlying causes (in my opinion on the research I am doing I think scalp development is what leads to the 'pattern' which is why so many babies look like they have male pattern baldness and then lose it as they grow into toddlers. For men it reverses, the scalp developed back causing tension and inflammation. Androgens probably either influence this progression or the increase in receptors due to inflammation exacerbate the hair loss).

 

[bluecyclone]

Sort of in the same camp. NW1.5 at age 41. Started diffusing at 39 only after starting Thyroid medication. I know male pattern baldness is a big part but there are other factors at play.

 

[Dennis Reynolds]

Thank you all for your responses, I feel like I have a much better handle on my decision now than before I posted here.

I just have one last follow up.. For those who are have been on finasteride for years or know those who have, have you had children while on this? I am thinking several years down the road, but just trying to cover my bases. I guess my question is, can you safely conceive while taking finasteride. If not, given the small half-life, can you ween off and safely conceive, then jump back on?

Thanks all