14 Years On Finasteride And Losing Ground. Dutasteride Switch?

[hairDespair]

Background:
49 now and losing since early mid 20s.
Finasteride for around 14 years
Minoxidil 1.5 years to try with needling
Ketoconazole every couple of days

So I've been on finasteride for a long time. I never really had any regrowth(only corners receded), but it held off getting any worse up until maybe the 10 year mark(coincidentally around the time I went to generic). Slowly it's been creeping back more in the corners and recently some in the very front. I've never had any sexual sides and libido is actually up. Would adding dutasteride be worth it? I read a post by that rassman hair Doctor(no idea how reliable his info is) that if things get aggressive and finasteride quits working that dutasteride wouldn't likely help.

 

[tojetsetter]

I'm not a Doctor and this isn't intended as medical advice, but studies show 80% of men stop losing hair after taking finasteride for a year. That number decreases to 67% after two years. So yes, to answer your question, Finasteride efficiency does decrease over time. Depending on what your Doctor says, dutasteride could be a good alternative because it inhibits two types of DHT instead of just one with Finasteride.

 

[Hairguru]

You by any chance switch brands in the medication recently?

 

[hairDespair]

You by any chance switch brands in the medication recently?

No. About the only thing was that I tried needling a bit more aggressively in the hairline. I had tried every couple of weeks for around 6 months, but quit. Tried again for a few weeks of doing every other day lightly just to see any difference

I'm not a Doctor and this isn't intended as medical advice, but studies show 80% of men stop losing hair after taking finasteride for a year. That number decreases to 67% after two years. So yes, to answer your question, Finasteride efficiency does decrease over time. Depending on what your Doctor says, dutasteride could be a good alternative because it inhibits two types of DHT instead of just one with Finasteride.

Yeah, I knew it worked on the different types of DHT. I've read somewhere that blocking too much DHT can be bad for brain activity. Plus I don't there have been long-term studies on its effects. I suppose I could try and drop if something better ever comes along

 

[WaccWaccWacc]

Well the good news is that if your already 49 at your current state you never have to worry about losing your hair. It sounds like you maybe a NW2 therefore a transplant could always be your cop out.

From experience on here, some people who switch to duta see better results, some see no difference, others see worsening.

 

[hairDespair]

Well the good news is that if your already 49 at your current state you never have to worry about losing your hair. It sounds like you maybe a NW2 therefore a transplant could always be your cop out.

From experience on here, some people who switch to duta see better results, some see no difference, others see worsening.

Oh, I'm nowhere near a 2. I've got that deep corner recession that is creeping toward the center. I "think" I might have some thinning in the front of the crown, but it might have been because my hair was short. It itches there and in the areas in the front. I think the drugs have just been putting off the inevitable. I guess I could wait it out and see. You start to get that panic mode when things get worse lol

 

[Xander94]

I would add oral minoxidil instead of topical first in addition to microneedling

 

[hairDespair]

Got a script for .5mg of dutasteride and I'm going to try 1 per week for a bit to see how it goes, then maybe bump up to 2, etc.

I would add oral minoxidil instead of topical first in addition to microneedling

Never really had a problem with the topical. Honestly, I may drop it since I never saw much of anything from the needling

 

[hairDespair]

Kind of weird that the itching I had in my receding areas pretty much stopped within a day of taking a first dose(still doing finasteride daily as well). I don't see how that would be possible, but thought it was interesting

 

[Inigo1202]

Mesotherapies may be the answer you are looking for.

They are not expensive at all (at least in Spain where Im from), and you only need 1-2 per year if you are already on Finas and have good health and nutrition.

 

[jazz1]

What about adding Topical Finasteride and anti androgen blockers to your regime and see.....

I use this Topical Lotion.

15% Minoxidil
0.1% Finasteride
5% Azelaic Acid
0.25% Progesterone
0.025% Tretinoin
0.1% Hydocortisone

See my thread:

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...oxidil-finasteride-mixture-check-here.126633/

 

[hairDespair]

What about adding Topical Finasteride and anti androgen blockers to your regime and see.....

I use this Topical Lotion.

15% Minoxidil
0.1% Finasteride
5% Azelaic Acid
0.25% Progesterone
0.025% Tretinoin
0.1% Hydocortisone

See my thread:

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/intera...oxidil-finasteride-mixture-check-here.126633/

I'd kind of rather not bother with topicals at all to be honest. I'm gonna see how this works out and go from there

Mesotherapies may be the answer you are looking for.

They are not expensive at all (at least in Spain where Im from), and you only need 1-2 per year if you are already on Finas and have good health and nutrition.

Never heard of that. Looked it up and sounds like injecting vs oral or topical

 

[Derelict]

I would just ditch the finasteride, doesn't take long for dht inhibition to reach finasteride levels at 0.5mg duta daily. You can megadose early on with 2.5mg or something to reach peak serum levels of dht inhibition quickly, i didn't bother doing that though.

 

[Inigo1202]

I'd kind of rather not bother with topicals at all to be honest. I'm gonna see how this works out and go from there


Never heard of that. Looked it up and sounds like injecting vs oral or topical

Mesotherapies are the best practical solution to Androgenetic Alopecia except, of course, a transplant.

Here you can see many results: https://www.google.com/search?q=mes...VQ6RoKHRtQASQQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1366&bih=625

It's done at hair clinics, many of them hair transplant clinics. It's also recommended after hair transplants as well.

 

[hairDespair]

I would just ditch the finasteride, doesn't take long for dht inhibition to reach finasteride levels at 0.5mg duta daily. You can megadose early on with 2.5mg or something to reach peak serum levels of dht inhibition quickly, i didn't bother doing that though.

My idea was to ease into it and see how side effects go. Even at a single dose, I noticed some dull testicular pain a few days later. It was unlike the effect I had with finasteride where it was a quick jolt. Was more a constant, light ache. Mostly has gone away now, though. This stuff must be pretty strong

Mesotherapies are the best practical solution to Androgenetic Alopecia except, of course, a transplant.

Here you can see many results: https://www.google.com/search?q=mes...VQ6RoKHRtQASQQ_AUoAXoECA0QAw&biw=1366&bih=625

It's done at hair clinics, many of them hair transplant clinics. It's also recommended after hair transplants as well.

Interesting. First I saw of that kind of treatment. Thanks!

 

[User707]

My idea was to ease into it and see how side effects go. Even at a single dose, I noticed some dull testicular pain a few days later. It was unlike the effect I had with finasteride where it was a quick jolt. Was more a constant, light ache. Mostly has gone away now, though. This stuff must be pretty strong



Interesting. First I saw of that kind of treatment. Thanks!

@hairDespair can I ask how you went with dutasteride? I've been on finasteride for 20 years and had great results with keeping my hair. Only in the last 2 months at age 50 I'm noticing some thinning at the front. Did dutasteride work for you? Thanks

 

[jazz1]

Background:
49 now and losing since early mid 20s.
Finasteride for around 14 years
Minoxidil 1.5 years to try with needling
Ketoconazole every couple of days

So I've been on finasteride for a long time. I never really had any regrowth(only corners receded), but it held off getting any worse up until maybe the 10 year mark(coincidentally around the time I went to generic). Slowly it's been creeping back more in the corners and recently some in the very front. I've never had any sexual sides and libido is actually up. Would adding dutasteride be worth it? I read a post by that rassman hair Doctor(no idea how reliable his info is) that if things get aggressive and finasteride quits working that dutasteride wouldn't likely help.

In regards to your story and I have seen and helped people over the years who lost ground as well. Never switch brands, I always recommend spend the extra money and stick to legit MERCK brand propecia. One guy I helped once switched brands to generic as his clinic starting selling generic version to save cost. When he took my advice and switched back to what worked legit brand propecia his shedding and Hairloss stopped!

 

[User707]

In regards to your story and I have seen and helped people over the years who lost ground as well. Never switch brands, I always recommend spend the extra money and stick to legit MERCK brand propecia. One guy I helped once switched brands to generic as his clinic starting selling generic version to save cost. When he took my advice and switched back to what worked legit brand propecia his shedding and Hairloss stopped!

Interesting. Been using generic brands in the UK for 20 years from Boots. It has served me well! I've been back in Australia for a year using a generic brand made by Sandoz for the last year. Only in the last 2 months I'm noticing a slight thinning towards the front. I was wondering of it was because of this..

 

[abovedagame]

In regards to your story and I have seen and helped people over the years who lost ground as well. Never switch brands, I always recommend spend the extra money and stick to legit MERCK brand propecia. One guy I helped once switched brands to generic as his clinic starting selling generic version to save cost. When he took my advice and switched back to what worked legit brand propecia his shedding and Hairloss stopped!

Couldn’t someone just measure their serum dht levels and see if the generic is working?