Should I Continue On finasteride? Major Shed/Telogen Effluvium

[Valencia23]

So here's what's going on with me:

I have been on finasteride (proscar broken into fourths) for almost 3 months now. About 85 days. I am a 23yo male and probably a Norwood 3 at this point.

I have had some serious shedding since the immediate beginning. And it's making my hairline and temples a lot worse. I probably have 50-60 on my hands from shampooing. Not including the ones that I do not see. Also, about 20-25 from combing after the shower and then various fall throughout the day.

It's gotten worse recently and I have an itch on head as well. I am trying nizoral as well for the past week and it makes my hair look like sh*t.

I went to see the derm to ask about this and he said that finasteride does not cause shedding at all. And then he subsequently diagnosed me with Telogen Effluvium and linked it to something else.

He didn't tell me if I should continue with finasteride or not. And I didn't think to ask. The only positive for me here is that I have not had any acne since I've been on finasteride.

What do you guys think I should do? Quit and try something new? I can't deal with my hair getting much worse. I did not take my finasteride dose yesterday. Hopefully, I am not one of the ones that it does not work for.

 

[buckthorn]

I think your dermatologist is an idiot. First, any kind of hormonal shift will induce an effluvium. Second, whatever loss you are experiencing is most likely not from the drug as it's too soon to cause any effects. These drugs take time to work, you have to commit before you know if they work. Generally an effluvium with start at 3 to 4 months after starting and will last anywhere from 3 to 6 months. This is why the general consensus is to give these drugs a year to see results.

This is good advice.

No one has been able to answer this - IF you get Telogen Effluvium from finasteride initially, do you think there is a good chance you will get it over and over again while on it (chronic Telogen Effluvium)? Some docs say yes. Others just don't even know.

On one hand, it would seem that after the initial hormonal change, your body would get used to it and it would become the "norm" and it would NOT induce Telogen Effluvium a second time around.

On another, your bodies attempt to continually rebalance your hormones and all that go along with them MIGHT make Telogen Effluvium a chronic condition while on the medication.

@ForeverLacey - it seems like you have a lot of experience and knowledge with AA's and Telogen Effluvium. I know there is a lot of uncertainty, but I really want to attempt finasteride in small doses. I am worried that it MAY have been helping during the initial year I took it, but the correlating Telogen Effluvium was why I failed to see results.

-Do you personally think Telogen Effluvium may just be a one time incidence in most cases? Perhaps this is why people have an enormous shed?

 

[Valencia23]

So, if you were me, would you continue? I am shedding all over pretty bad, not just in my male pattern baldness areas and continuous Telogen Effluvium shedding sounds like a nightmare. Thinking about adding in Rogaine.

I am not sure what to expect, it has almost been 3 months so I am assuming it should start to get better but I do know of the horror stories where it just continues to get worse. Kinda wishing I had never started taking it. Do these sheds just stop suddenly or what?

My derm claims that he worked on the original propecia studies years ago, and that shedding does not happen.

I know these forums say shedding is a good sign, but the amount of shedding I am having seems like the opposite.

 

[Singularity2045]

When you have a change in hormones, this will cause a temporary shed of hair. The same thing happens even in women who go off the pill, or after delivering a baby. It's the signal by the change in hormones which causes hair to fall, but things will get better, if you stay on it. The fact is, you must stay on it. Not doing anything is not really a good option... :/

My father has hair loss, and is pretty bald now, and lately I noticed my hair receding slightly at the front. I'm personally going with supplements at the moment, but I noticed the same thing... I created a regimen that affected my hormone levels... and it caused an initial shed which lasted about 3-4 weeks, and then stopped... Now I have lots of baby hairs, but unfortunately my hair is looking much thinner. Seems I am more diffuse thinner.

I take it also that the shed was a good sign. Something has shifted, and after a while you'll get stronger hair coming in.

 

[Spellbinder]

Well, I am in the same boat dude, shed never seems to stop, I am on finasteride since may 2016

 

[Wrong Dong]

On finasteride since April here. First month, nothing. Second, nothing. Third, the itch was a lot better. Same with fourth. Fifth, the itch is coming back. My hair is dramatically thinner than it was. In March, I have a photo of me from a shoot that was published in a local arts newspaper. It is basically the "before" picture for me. They spiked my hair and sprayed it white. It was so thick and luscious!

If I stop now, I feel like it will be even worse. I did notice that nizoral makes my hair fall out a whole lot though.

 

[Sanchez1234]

So, if you were me, would you continue? I am shedding all over pretty bad, not just in my male pattern baldness areas and continuous Telogen Effluvium shedding sounds like a nightmare. Thinking about adding in Rogaine.

I am not sure what to expect, it has almost been 3 months so I am assuming it should start to get better but I do know of the horror stories where it just continues to get worse. Kinda wishing I had never started taking it. Do these sheds just stop suddenly or what?

My derm claims that he worked on the original propecia studies years ago, and that shedding does not happen.

I know these forums say shedding is a good sign, but the amount of shedding I am having seems like the opposite.

Well, I am in the same boat dude, shed never seems to stop, I am on finasteride since may 2016

On finasteride since April here. First month, nothing. Second, nothing. Third, the itch was a lot better. Same with fourth. Fifth, the itch is coming back. My hair is dramatically thinner than it was. In March, I have a photo of me from a shoot that was published in a local arts newspaper. It is basically the "before" picture for me. They spiked my hair and sprayed it white. It was so thick and luscious!

If I stop now, I feel like it will be even worse. I did notice that nizoral makes my hair fall out a whole lot though.

How are you guys doin now?

 

[pcas]

So here's what's going on with me:

I have been on finasteride (proscar broken into fourths) for almost 3 months now. About 85 days. I am a 23yo male and probably a Norwood 3 at this point.

I have had some serious shedding since the immediate beginning. And it's making my hairline and temples a lot worse. I probably have 50-60 on my hands from shampooing. Not including the ones that I do not see. Also, about 20-25 from combing after the shower and then various fall throughout the day.

It's gotten worse recently and I have an itch on head as well. I am trying nizoral as well for the past week and it makes my hair look like sh*t.

I went to see the derm to ask about this and he said that finasteride does not cause shedding at all. And then he subsequently diagnosed me with Telogen Effluvium and linked it to something else.

He didn't tell me if I should continue with finasteride or not. And I didn't think to ask. The only positive for me here is that I have not had any acne since I've been on finasteride.

What do you guys think I should do? Quit and try something new? I can't deal with my hair getting much worse. I did not take my finasteride dose yesterday. Hopefully, I am not one of the ones that it does not work for.

Sorry to jump in on an old thread. Did anyone get to the bottom of this issue of Telogen Effluvium and finateride?

I just came off finasteride after 3 months, Major Telogen Effluvium. Two hair specialists told me to come off of it.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had Telogen Effluvium while on Finasteride. Did your hair ever come back?

 

[Obsessive]

Sorry to jump in on an old thread. Did anyone get to the bottom of this issue of Telogen Effluvium and finateride?

I just came off finasteride after 3 months, Major Telogen Effluvium. Two hair specialists told me to come off of it.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has had Telogen Effluvium while on Finasteride. Did your hair ever come back?

Was your Telogen Effluvium diagnosed with a scalp biopsy? Microscopic analysis of hair is not necessarily conclusive.