Questions for Finasteride/Dutasteride experts

[tomsmith]

I've been on Propecia for 3 1/2 years with good maintenance and in the past 2 months or so I've developed some diffuse thinning (only ever had recession), itching and my libido, after being gone for years, is now coming back.

First of all, given that my libido has risen and some thinning has started, its safe to assume that Propecia may not be enough to continue to slow it down at the level it was?

Would moving to Dutasteride help or is it pointless? Does Dutasteride do anything other than reduce higher amount of DHT? Could that higher percentage really make that much difference?

As Dutasteride has never been approved for hairloss (I know its financial) is it risky moving to it as it may not do anything at all for me? And then I'll lose everything?

What kind of results could I expect from oral spironolactone? Can it maintain for longer than Propecia?

Thanks.

 

[Britannia]

Dutasteride could definatley help you, it inhibits both kinds of enzyme which synthesis DHT from regular testosterone (finasteride inhibits only one such enzyme). As you mention, dutasteride has never been approved for use in hair loss, so it would be good idea to a bit of research and maybe check out the dutasteride forum before you decide whether its something you would like to use. I will try dutasteride in the unlikely event that finasteride doesnt give me reuslts. I would steer away from oral spironolactone.

 

[global]

Are you sure this is not just a temporary shed? If not it sounds like finasteride is not working for you anymore.

Switching to dutasteride could be a good move, after all you don't have anything to lose as if you don't do something it looks like you'll end up being bald anyway.

 

[cateyes81]

this is totally insane how on earth could it just stop working all of a sudden? arent you guys scareD? what if it happens to u? I dont think i could ever handle such a horrific thing! :freaked2: :freaked2: :freaked2: :freaked: :freaked: :freaked:

 

[tomsmith]

It is possible its a shed. The itching appeared at the same time, which is standard for me when I'm about to have a bad one.

It just strange that instead of the normal shedding at the back I get some thinning in front. Then again this could just be the way things go for me.

I'll be keeping a close eye on things, if it gets worse then I'll move to Dutasteride.

 

[cateyes81]

yes and e mail dr lee while ur at it he will give u sound advice for sure. Are u doing okay? no crying?

 

[tomsmith]

I have felt like crying, it can be tough, but its important to stay focused. Depression only makes things worse.

I doubt Propecia could just stop working, as you say that would be mad The front thinning has been going on a while perhaps a year! I first noticed it when I got back from Toronto last Christmas, so a year isn't bad going.

Also, my recession has been very slow, no increase (touches a large piece of wood) in loss there.

I've got some spironolactone 2% from Dr Lee, although I've never spoken with him. I don't really think there's much he could tell me that I don't know (in terms of treatments) to be honest.

Really when I got into this I knew that Propecia could buy me some time at best.

The sadest thing is that anyone losing hair today will probably need a hair transplant, I'm certainly going to need one someday. Makes me nervous thinking about it, but I think we are very lucky to have it as an option.

 

[cateyes81]

hey just curiosu what do you mean you have seriously been thinning while youve been on propecia? Wow that is rare because you should not be experiencing any thinning while on it for at least the firt five years! REmember 88% can MAINTAIN what they have? By maintain means we should NOT thinn our hair should stay the SAMe! :freaked: :freaked: :freaked:

 

[tomsmith]

The problem is this:

If I had not started any treatment my hair would just receed on and on. By getting on treatments the hair stays much longer than it would. This means that the hair is being maintained. However, after a couple of years that hair has been exposed to DHT for so long that it starts becoming weak. Eventually it thins out and you can pluck it from your hairline easily. Now THAT is scary! My temples don't really do this, they just tend to go a bit each year

 

[cateyes81]

yes but this is not suppose to happen while on the big threw most of us should be able to maintain a MIN of five years having our hair look the exact same. U know what i mean?


Does anyone have anything to add to this?

 

[Adrian1]

I started on finasteride as soon as Propecia came on the market in Canada. It worked wonders for almost six years. I not only maintained, but grew a ton of better, more pigmented hair. Over the past year (7th year on finasteride), my hair started thinning very quickly and my hairline has gone to sh*t. This really came out of nowhere. I had totally stopped thinking about hairloss and thought my troubles were gone forever. I am now in the process of cycling off Propecia in the hopes that my body will become sensitive to it again and I can start over. I posted a thread about this in the Propecia forum. Finasteride tolerance is real!

 

[cateyes81]

excuse me while i go drench my head in xandrox :shock:

 

[tomsmith]

Why not move to Dutasteride Adrian? I don't think the cycling theory holds water. With a more powerfull drug you should at least, in theory, be able to continue what Propecia was doing for you.

However, if you do decide to quit for a while let us know how that goes as there are very few long-term users that have tried it.

 

[global]

Yes but suppose and real life are sometimes two different things.

finasteride stopped working for me after 3 years.

 

[Adrian1]

I'd try dutasteride, but it's not available in Canada yet. Also, my derm's never even heard of it!