Propecia Questions

[wotsthedeal]

Hello all, a few questions:

1. The Propecia website says that Propecia is not proven to have an effect on the temples, but only the crown and middle area of the head. Are they just saying this for a lack of scientific evidence, or would the propecia users here agree that it really is not effective in that area?

2. I've read a few reports of Propecia becoming less effective further into the treatment. Has anyone here who uses Propecia noticed it becoming less effective as your treatment progresses? It's nice to think that it would last forever...

3. I've also read that younger people have better results when stopping Propecia use, in terms of keeping the hair that they have regrown. Is this true? It doesn't make sense to me that quitting Propecia would cause someone to lose all the hair they have kept rapidly - it seems like stopping treatment would simply make male pattern baldness start over again.

 

[misterium]

I can only answer question #3:

Once you begin finasteride (Propecia) treatment, you should never stop. It is a commitment for life (until better treatment or a cure is available). You should not stop taking finasteride (unless side effects are severe, which is rare).

male pattern baldness doesn't 'start over again'. If it is there, it's there forever. Until a permanent solution becomes available, of course.

However, I think I understand what you mean about stopping Propecia, and in that case, yes if you do stop treatments, hair regrown with said treatments.. will start to fall victim to the DHT again, and fall out.

Treatments & hair transplants are currently the best weapons that we have in the fight against male pattern baldness.

Also, you are correct in that the earlier you start treatment, the better your chances will be of maintaining and/or regrowing your hair. Not everyone responds to finasteride treatment though, but the majority do.

I myself hopped onto Propecia the moment I heard "Hey Mike, it looks like you're thinning up top."

The best way to know if you are a good responder, is to continue treatment(s) for 1 full year, sometimes a little longer. If you do not see any improvement after a year, chances are you are not a good responder.

If you are interested in knowing about how long finasteride can be effective for over the years, tynanW is the man.. he has a great chart that he can show you in regards to effectiveness over an extended period of time.

Take it easy my friend,
-Michael

 

[Trent]

1. The Propecia website says that Propecia is not proven to have an effect on the temples, but only the crown and middle area of the head. Are they just saying this for a lack of scientific evidence, or would the propecia users here agree that it really is not effective in that area?

i would agree that it is probably MORE effective in these areas, but many users on this forum have experienced hairline regrowth. for proof check out Actionpack's story.

2. I've read a few reports of Propecia becoming less effective further into the treatment. Has anyone here who uses Propecia noticed it becoming less effective as your treatment progresses? It's nice to think that it would last forever...

some people do find that after about, lets say, seven years, propecia begins to lose its effectiveness. i have seen some random long time propecia users on this forum attest to this (but that doesn't mean there's 7 year users that it is still working for that just don't bother to post because the product is still working and they have no reason to) but remember, this just means you are starting to lose hairs again. my opinion on this whole matter is that if propecia begins to lose some effectiveness, from using propecia you got more hair that you started with, and i think you will probably lose hair at a much slower rate than you would have otherwise, because you are still blocking DHT. so its a slower process with a better starting point. who knows, in seven years hair multiplication may give us the greatest gift of all by then, endless reservoirs of hair.

3. I've also read that younger people have better results when stopping Propecia use, in terms of keeping the hair that they have regrown. Is this true? It doesn't make sense to me that quitting Propecia would cause someone to lose all the hair they have kept rapidly - it seems like stopping treatment would simply make male pattern baldness start over again.

i don't know where you read this, but if you stop using propecia you will lose all the hair that propecia "gave" you within a year, whether you are old or young. its the nature of the drug, unfortunately. so if you decide to use it, just consider it a lifelong committment unless hair multiplication or some other miracle comes upon us.