Some general questions, as well as seeking advice.

Derpicus

Established Member
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I'm 22 years old I have a bit of a receded hairline, and I've noticed thinning in the temple area which seems to be spreading but I've also noticed a better hairline even though its thin hair. I've been on finasteride 2.5 MG a day for 4 months and 24 days so far and I've had no side effects. I haven't missed one day and I've noticed the thinning spreading which has me worried. But I was just prescribed dutasteride 0.5 mg for every 2nd day, and my doctor made me sign a form that I wouldn't pursue legal action if dutasteride didn't do what I'm hoping for, or what he believes it will do for my hair. I feel like I've annoyed him with my hair loss and that I may of upset him as I haven't been on finasteride for the 6 to 12 months that he normally recommended as I desperately want to keep what I have at the moment. I suffer from a bad case of Body Dysmorphic Disorder as well so I obsess about my flaws and I want to try and correct them before they get to bad. This is just a bit of background information on myself.

I know dutasteride isn't FDA approved and my doctor didn't really give me much information other then the fact that its not approved for Male Pattern Baldness, he hasn't researched it much and I think he might of prescribed it to me just to ease my mind on the fact that it may help better. But after reading a lot on dutasteride I've read that people respond to it if they don't respond to finasteride but at the cost that they don't know the long term effects it may have on a person, as the one DHT it inhibits is in your brain. As well as some people stating that it makes their hair worse and that its a permanent result. I'm honestly scared to take it, I want to take it in hope that it does help my hair more then finasteride but with all the information I'm able to access with my ****ty google skills I'm scared that if I do start I may end off worse than I was on finasteride.

I can't seem to find many scientific facts or studies to help relieve how I feel about dutasteride so I was wondering if anyone on here possible had links to facts/medical documentation on dutasteride. The best information that I've found is that its undergoing a Phase 3 trial for FDA approval on male pattern baldness by GSK. Should I just stay on finasteride till at least the 6 month mark that I have prescribed to me? This thinning is it normal? I've already had my shedding phase that I've read about at the 2 month mark it was a huge shed, but my hairs got better since then with the exception of my temple area thinning a bit more. I do have photos that show its helped my hairline, as well as showing that the thinning has been spreading slowly. But I just can't bring myself to upload them. I hate how I look myself, so I can't bring myself to upload them so others can see me.

I'm really sorry for this lengthy message, but I'm really stressing about my hair loss. I just want some advice, and information. I'm just really scared based off of all the crap you can read online about dutasteride. If I could just get some peer advice/information on dutasteride. As well as if I should just stay on finasteride I'd appreciate it.

TL;DR: 22 Year Old Male on finasteride for 4 months and 24 days, just got prescribed dutasteride but scared to take it. I've had some results on my hairline with finasteride, but thinning is spreading on my temples. I'm scared to take dutasteride based off of what I've read from googling, so looking for advice/information on dutasteride, as well as if I should possibly stay on finasteride. Does dutasteride have a change of making my hair worse?
 

Notcoolanymore

Senior Member
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I don't know too much about dutasteride, only that it is stronger than finasteride. I think you should hold off on taking dutasteride and just stay on finasteride for the time being. Not sure why you are on 2.5mg of finasteride, the dose approved to treat hair loss is 1mg. Too many do not give treatments time to work. I get it is frustrating to wait a year to a year and a half to get results, but that is just the way it is. Take finasteride, deal with the ups and downs during the first year or so of treatment and see where you are at. Keep dutasteride as an option to take at a later time if finasteride doesn't work.

I am much older than you now(38), but I started losing at your age and it sucked, so I get where you are coming from. Try to calm down and give finasteride time to work. Good luck.
 

Derpicus

Established Member
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19
Thanks, I'll try to wait finasteride out. I'm not sure if I'm on 2.5MG of finasteride because its generic but it's what my doctor, and another one both suggested. They might of just put me on 2.5 MG as its much easier to split the pill 2 ways instead of 4 or 5 I'm not quite sure. Based on what I've been reading on this site as well as what you've said is that I need to be patient.
 
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