3 months on Propecia

[Dreamatek]

When I got back on Rogaine, I stuck to it, I believe about 3 and half months straight. I started shedding weeks after using it, and the shedding just kept increasing over the months. Rogaine says thats an adverse reaction.
Maybe yours was different, did your hair start shedding right away from it? Oh yes, it gave me a lot of head-achs. The head-achs went away when I stopped using the stuff.

 

[bombscience]

When I got back on Rogaine, I stuck to it, I believe about 3 and half months straight. I started shedding weeks after using it, and the shedding just kept increasing over the months. Rogaine says thats an adverse reaction.
Maybe yours was different, did your hair start shedding right away from it? Oh yes, it gave me a lot of head-achs. The head-achs went away when I stopped using the stuff.

No headaches, shedding began about 1-2 weeks after starting to use the product.

 

[Dreamatek]

Quiting Propecia

Well, 4 weeks of extremely bad shedding, it just got worse and worse. I took a good look at my hairline today, I lost 2/3 of my hairline! And a 1/3 in back. My hairline looks like bamboo shoots, my god! Lost all my thick healthy hairs in front, all is left is the brital and shrinking hairs back to an inch! What the hell happened. I woke up this morning and lost like 80 hairs. Everyday the count increases, but my hair isn't. These healthy hairs diameters are quickly shrinking from about half an inch to the root. My hair is barely growing, how can this be? Propecia was my last choice to go to. All I want now is to stop this horrendous fallout and fix what ever Propecia has done to me. Is my body having some sort of rejection to the Propecia?
I'm seeing my dermatologist Tuesday, but I already know he's not going to know what to do. There's no hair specialists in Oregon.
Please someone give me some advice. And do not tell me to get on Rogaine, I've already told that horror story. Are there any vitamens or herbs that can help to stop what Propecia has done? Will I get my healthy hairs back that Propecia has fallen out?


I've been on Propecia for 3 and a half months now.

 

[Bono]

I don't think your supposed to shed on propecia.... minoxidil definitely though...

Maybe propecia just isn't kicking in yet... give it another 4-5 mo, if it doesn't start regrowing or maintaining, then stop.

Peace

 

[Stabber]

Re: Quiting Propecia

I'm seeing my dermatologist Tuesday, but I already know he's not going to know what to do. There's no hair specialists in Oregon.
Please someone give me some advice. And do not tell me to get on Rogaine, I've already told that horror story. Are there any vitamens or herbs that can help to stop what Propecia has done? Will I get my healthy hairs back that Propecia has fallen out?


I've been on Propecia for 3 and a half months now.

Well, there is Saw Palmetto. Which is not *proven* to stop hairloss. But I've spoken to a few people that swear by it. And it's there only form of treatment. There's a specific kind of saw palmetto you need to buy, not sure of the kind. Ask the guys on here.

As far as getting your heatlthy hair back..... I'm not sure anyone here will know the answer to that question. You said you never regrew the hair from your minoxidil shed right? I know what you have is probably male pattern baldness, but did you get testing done at your regular Dr. to confirm this? Thyroid testing, hormone testing, insulin. Just to be 100% sure.
Good luck man.

 

[HairlossTalk]

I don't think your supposed to shed on propecia....

Shedding on Propecia is common.

To the original poster, you've only been on the treatment 3 months. To all our users, you guys should know by now that it takes a minimum of 6 months and typically 6 to 12 months before shedding can stop and regrowth or maintenance will occur. Suggesting that this user drop his proven treatments at this point is ... not wise.

Shedding is almost always a sign that the treatment is working. The last thing you want to do is drop the two most proven treatments (that by the way do not CAUSE hair loss) and opt for herbal remedies after only being on Propecia/Rogaine for 3 months.

There are oodles of posts of guys (including myself) who had to ride out what we like to call "The Shedding Shits" for at least 4 months and who came back here to post that everything grew back and then some. The whole thing is a crap shoot, and its all based upon the percentages... but the odds are in your favor. Your only duty is to stick with it or bail.. and its your choice.

Saw palmetto has no clinical data backing it as a hair loss treatment, and even some on Placebo in the FDA trials "swore by propecia" until they found out they weren't even part of the group using it ... they were just part of the Placebo group who was still maintaining hair. Personal conjecture is pretty much useless when it comes to hair loss treatments. Clinical data is what counts.

HairLossTalk.com

 

[Dreamatek]

quiting Propecia

From all the different experiences from other people, it seems that Propecia users that it did work for them didn't go through an insaine shed, especially more than 3 weeks. It seems that the turnaround percentage is much much smaller for those that go through a massive shed and more than 4 weeks. Correct me if I'm wrong but most Propecia users going through the massive shed were using Minoxidil as well which was probably the main reason.
I would stick with Propecia for another month, but my god, my hairline is gone in just 3 months from this stuff. The longer I stay on it, the much bigger gamble I'm playing. I'm trying to use common since.

 

[HairlossTalk]

Re: quiting Propecia

From all the different experiences from other people, it seems that Propecia users that it did work for them didn't go through an insaine shed

Incorrect. As mentioned above, I and many others went through insane sheds.

especially more than 3 weeks.

Incorrect. Sheds commonly last from month 1 to month 4, varying in intensity throughout. Mine lasted a full 4 months.

It seems that the turnaround percentage is much much smaller for those that go through a massive shed and more than 4 weeks.

I don't know what statistics you're basing this on. This is your opinion. Having run this site for 4 years and listened to people post here daily, I've found this to be incorrect.

Correct me if I'm wrong but most Propecia users going through the massive shed were using Minoxidil as well which was probably the main reason.

Incorrect. I and many Propecia users experienced significant sheds. I have never used Rogaine.

I would stick with Propecia for another month, but my god, my hairline is gone in just 3 months from this stuff. The longer I stay on it, the much bigger gamble I'm playing.

You should take a picture of your hairline so we can see what 70% depletion really looks like.

Listen... You're going through a shed. Every single one of us including myself claimed they lost "90% of their density" when in reality its nowhere near that much. Things seem extreme during a shed. Shedding is common on both Propecia and Rogaine and it is a sign that the treatment is working.

Its your decision as to whether to stick with or not, but be aware that there are NO OTHER TREATMENTS out there with as much efficacy as these two, so you're basically eliminating the only two effective products on the market. That's your decision to make.

I'm trying to use common since.

Which makes more sense? Sticking with the only two clinically proven products with the highest possible rate of effectiveness *AND* which are well known to cause sheds the first 4 months .... or .... drop them because you're shedding... and have nothing left to try?

Other people have given this advice to you in this thread already and you've disregarded their input, so at this point our suggestion is to either say you disagree and make your own decision, or listen to the clinical data based suggestions you're getting.

Either way, please be more careful with your statements, and make it very obvious that you are guessing, assuming, etc. Newbies and lurkers will get very confused by some of the things you're saying.

HairLossTalk.com

 

[Axon]

Listen... You're going through a shed. Every single one of us including myself claimed they lost "90% of their density" when in reality its nowhere near that much. Things seem extreme during a shed.

Damn...HairLossTalk.com speaks the absolute and utter truth. Sometimes, the hyperbole here makes me laugh or just want to put my face in my hands.

I think I had a shed during month 9. I'm not positive, as I never noted any increased hair fallout. I do know that my hair thinned slighty on the crown and then came right back, better than ever. Took about 4 or 5 weeks for the entire process.

 

[Dreamatek]

My incorrect opinion

Wow, thanks HairLossTalk.com. I was giving my opinion from the research through the forums I've gone through, so I didn't dig deep enough. I thank you for correcting me. I am glad you replied and told me the way it is.
Is that really correct that you lost most of your density in however many months?
Even though some of us get on here and complain, most everyone replying, it does make us feel (like myself) a hell of a lot better and want to stick through it. I'm contimplating whether staying on Propecia over the weekend.
Again thanks.

 

[bombscience]

Re: My incorrect opinion

Wow, thanks HairLossTalk.com. I was giving my opinion from the research through the forums I've gone through, so I didn't dig deep enough. I thank you for correcting me. I am glad you replied and told me the way it is.
Is that really correct that you lost most of your density in however many months?
Even though some of us get on here and complain, most everyone replying, it does make us feel (like myself) a hell of a lot better and want to stick through it. I'm contimplating whether staying on Propecia over the weekend.
Again thanks.

Simple answer... STAY ON IT.

Propecia will not permamently encourage hairloss. If you experience unrealated hairloss symptoms (gyno) then consider quitting, but otherwise there is no reason for getting off of it.

 

[Dreamatek]

Staying on or off

Thanks all, I'll give an update a month from now.

 

[drinkrum]

By the way, I have been on Propecia for 3 years now, and experienced very, very heavy sheds during the first month or two. I'm talking filling up the sink completely with hair.

And even still, I experience yearly or semi-annual sheds, which I notice more when my hair is cut short. The hair seems to come back though. Just my two cents.

D.

---
1 mg Finasteride
5/7 T-gel
2/7 Nizoral 1%

 

[bombscience]

By the way, I have been on Propecia for 3 years now, and experienced very, very heavy sheds during the first month or two. I'm talking filling up the sink completely with hair.

And even still, I experience yearly or semi-annual sheds, which I notice more when my hair is cut short. The hair seems to come back though. Just my two cents.

D.

Do you notice that you shed at any particular part of the year? November is supposively the time of the year that many people experience shedding.

 

[drinkrum]

The summer is when I shed. Particularly, the month of June.

D.

 

[Dreamatek]

Hypoandrogenicity and hair specialist

Does anyone know if this is accurate?

Hypoandrogenicity
This is a still relatively unknown phenomena but a small percentage of men seem to react negatively to the effects of the Propecia. In some men this can lead to an oily skin and an increase in hair loss. This is not normal and if you have experienced these effects from the beginning and they do not resolve themselves after a few weeks you should see a physician. Some men play it safe and start with a lower dosage like a half a tablet a day until their body adjusts to the Propecia. This approach should be discussed with the physician who prescribed the Propecia.
Shedding
Shedding is a term given to an excessive amount of hair being lost at once. While this is a very unpleasant experience, it is actually a very good sign and indication that the Propecia is working. Shedding occurs when many follicles are put back into the growth cycle at the same time. When a hair enters the anagen or growth phase the first thing that happens is the old hair is pushed out by the new hair that is starting to grow. Shedding usually occurs after about 12 weeks of treatment and lasts for around 4-6 weeks. After this initial shedding phase has occurred most men experience fewer and fewer of these and most often they go largely unnoticed. If you are going though a shed phase do not panic as it will most likely slow down and stop after a few weeks. If you experienced an increased amount of hair loss almost immediately after taking Propecia it is likely that you are experiencing a hypoandrogenic effect and not a shed. If this is that case then you should see a physician about possibly discontinuing the drug.

I had an increase in shedding after the first few weeks, and still increasing, it's 3 and a half months like I've posted. Anyway, I saw my dermatologist today, he never heard Propecia causes shedding. He wanted to learn more, so I gave him links about it. Like this one where the above info came from. http://www.hairlosshelp.com/html/propecia.cfm
I'm seeing a hair specialist finally in Portland, the dermatologist's name is Janet Roberts, MD.

I'm not asking for advice to stay on, but just wanted to know if anyone has heard of Hypoandrogenicity? And maybe can explain more about it. Thanks.
[/b][/quote]

 

[Dreamatek]

Hair Loss Specialist

I got a phone call back from a hair loss specialist in Portland, she's pretty much the only one in Oregon. They never heard of Propecia causing anyone to shed! What is up, that's now 3 dermatologists now a hair specialist doesn't know about it! It's really sad. These MDs need to know about this, this is very wrong Propecia doesn't tell them about it, doesn't matter how low the percentages are.
You know the more research I do on Propecia the more I am glad I just got off it. Long term use of it especially. It's cool it works for some people, but why use a drug that has more than disappointed so many people.
Hey, I chanced it, had a bad feelin to take it. Maybe it'll work if I stay on it for another 6 months. But you know what, I am so much more freaken determined now to slow my shedding down. I will figure it out. And with out a drug that is going to change my hormones.

My brother is 7 years older than me and had a full head of hair. It wasn't till I saw my hair barely thinning in back I got paraniod about it and started on a certain product. Since then I believe I've been going about it all wrong cause I've only been excelerating the loss. I think that everyone should make it clear that if you're just barely losing hair not to go straight on the big brands like Rogaine and Propecia. But start out taking vitamens like Zinc and MSM, maybe using Nizoral.
It would be nice if this would be clear to newbies that are lightly thinning or slowly to try a more nutritional approach first. It's not cool for some of those out there to tell people that don't really need it to go on the big products if it's not necessary and especially if it's not working for them. Maybe someone can make start a topic on a non drug approach first.

I'm totally saying how I feel right now. Never give up on it, everyone's different. Maybe I'll be the next person to resolve this.