Receding at 16, is finasteride the answer for me?

[Eureka]

I would say both mate, Your more likely to get them, and they will be more severe then someone older, who's body does not need dht as much.

 

[Mew]

Also is there any oral minoxidil, or is that just a stupid question?

Minoxidil (active ingredient) was initially developed as an oral agent (Loniten), to reduce blood pressure in guys with heart problems. It acts as a vasodilator, and hair growth was noted as a side effect of its use -- hence they made it into topical minoxidil.

You definitely do NOT want to take this drug orally. Even some guys that use it topically report increased heart rates, heart palpitations, dizziness etc.

if i take finasteride before 18 then the side effects will just be more intense.

It's not necesarilly about side effects since you won't know if you get them until you take the drug -- but the side effects are a direct result of the drug's many mechanisms of action, the main one being reducing systemic DHT levels ~ 70%. Both 5AR-II AND DHT have a role to play in your body besides making you lose hair (ie, 5AR is involved in neurosteroid synthesis in the brain), and blocking them with finasteride at your age may have extra unforseen consequences since your body is still develpoping physically and hormonally.

Will the side affects be more likely or is there the same chance of gettin side affects but the affects will just be more intense

Merck claims only 2% of men get side effects (as noted in their FDA Propecia Trial), but many consider that number BS as various other studies claim much higher side effects percentages. Obviously Merck wants to downplay the potential problems with this drug since they are trying to market it in the best possible light, so it's up to you as a consumer to evaluate non-biased info before you make your decision.

All I can say is this: the drug is NOT meant for teenagers, there is no guarantee you will have side effects, and if you do, that they will go away when you quit -- for most men they resolve within 2 weeks/month after stopping, but for a smaller unknown percentage, they persist... and often, these guys have a major drop in Testosterone levels and complete loss of sex drive after quitting... and nobody knows why. The drug can really do a number on your endorcrine system -- it is essentially a feminizing drug and acts as a chemical castrator for your Prostate.

If the chance -- however slim -- of losing your sex drive (never horny), not being able to get it up, growing tits, having almost no jizz, and penile shrinkage and fibrosis (rare) and lots more bad stuff appeals to you... well, there's not much anyone can do to stop you from taking it. But if you value your health and sex life AT ALL, you will not risk it at this stage.

 

[Mew]

For the guys who quit finasteride, but still experience the sides. How does their hairloss continue to progress

Progresses as normal for most... for myself, things really started picking up about 14 months off. There are a few guys who claim not to lose much hair after Finasteride, suggesting permanent downregulation of DHT or Androgen Receptors, or loss of 5AR2 activity. But those are just theories and until tested for cannot be proven.

 

[Thickandthin]

For the guys who quit finasteride, but still experience the sides. How does their hairloss continue to progress

Progresses as normal for most... for myself, things really started picking up about 14 months off. There are a few guys who claim not to lose much hair after Finasteride, suggesting permanent downregulation of DHT or Androgen Receptors, or loss of 5AR2 activity. But those are just theories and until tested for cannot be proven.

That's interesting. I heard the same thing about Accutane (permanently altering 5AR2 activity). I took it at 16 at a low dose for a few months but at 21 am definitely receding/thinning.

 

[IBM]

I would not take finasteride not because of premature age but finasteride have a duration of 7 years. Then you would have to jump to more powerfull drug.

Consider using minoxidil once a day (to prevente skin saturation), Revivogen, healthy diet.

 

[Eureka]

That's interesting. I heard the same thing about Accutane (permanently altering 5AR2 activity). I took it at 16 at a low dose for a few months but at 21 am definitely receding/thinning.

Honestly? I'd like to read these studies, I was also on Accuatane before My hairloss started.

Progresses as normal for most... for myself, things really started picking up about 14 months off. There are a few guys who claim not to lose much hair after Finasteride, suggesting permanent downregulation of DHT or Androgen Receptors, or loss of 5AR2 activity. But those are just theories and until tested for cannot be proven.

But if your body continues to act as if it's still on finasteride. Shouldn't your hairloss mimic that? If your testosterone levels never return to normal, and testosterone affects DHT. Then why would hairloss return to normal after finasteride has been quit? I wouldn't think it would be the exact same as still being on finasteride, but it shouldn't return to the way it was before finasteride was being taken to begin with.

 

[solomonf]

I would not take finasteride not because of premature age but finasteride have a duration of 7 years. Then you would have to jump to more powerfull drug.

Is this fact or just a one off speculation. If this is true then you are advising me not to take finasteride on the basis that i need to keep my hair later on in life (20-27) rather than now (16-23). Also does this mean i have a total of 14 years that i can treat my hair providing that i start on finasteride and then proceed onto dutasteride? I have never come across this fact before so i am pretty suprised by the fact that there is a "sell by date* on how long you can treat your hair lol. Never the less thanks for your opinion and keep up the replies

 

[Mew]

Is this fact or just a one off speculation

This is speculation... there are anecdotal reports of finasteride losing effectiveness for some guys after a number of years... but for others, no loss of effect even after 10 years.

Regardless you should not be basing your decision wether to take this drug based on wether it "might no longer work down the road"... you should be basing it on scientific materials that tell you how it operates.

 

[Thickandthin]

That's interesting. I heard the same thing about Accutane (permanently altering 5AR2 activity). I took it at 16 at a low dose for a few months but at 21 am definitely receding/thinning.

Honestly? I'd like to read these studies, I was also on Accuatane before My hairloss started.

Yeah, it sounds crazy. I think it might have been on one of those Accutane horror story message boards (which are far worse than the Propecia ones). It's insane. Some people on there claim to have developed Lupus, cancer, liver failure, arthritis, etc. And say that Accutane permanently destroys part of your brain......radically alters your DNA.....renders you sterile/impotent, etc. I think it's BS. It's easy to chalk up every medical problem you develop after taking a drug like Accutane which has already been demonized on the internet. I tend to believe the Propecia nightmare stories over the Accutane ones. All Accutane gave me was dry lips, 1 nosebleed, slightly achy joints, and clear skin. All of which went away after I stopped taking it except the clear skin.