Bad shed from Propecia

[steve928s]

Hi,

I am 24 years old and about a norword 2.5. (only frontal hairline loss) I started taking Propecia 4 months ago. Right now I am shedding pretty bad. I know its not my imaginiation because I took pictures when I first started taking propecia and my hair was significantly thicker than in the front. Is this normal? Is this a good sign or is that too early for a shed and too much hair to fall out during a normal shed? Its really freaking me out.

I also do not take Rogaine (thinking about starting), but do use Nizoral (just started a few weeks ago).

Thanks.

 

[Stingray]

Here's your answer. We don't know.

You could be in a finasteride induced shed, you might not. You could be in a normal shed, you could not. The finasteride might not even be having an effect. You can ask for information all you want...but without being able to actually examine you and your condition, we can't give you any accurate synopses. Your best bet is to keep on the stuff for another few months to see if it starts working. 4 months is too soon to tell. It will almost ALWAYS get worse before it gets better.

 

[zak84]

ive had no shed from propecia but i had a mega shed from rogaine, dont take rogaine if sheds bother you

 

[steve928s]

thanks for the replies...

i am wondering now how long a shedding period actually lasts if it is caused by propecia and how long usually does it take for the hair to grow back thicker and fuller? weeks or months on average?

thanks

 

[richlocks]

Steve it's most likely a regular propecia shed.

Hey stingray, how would you be able to diagnose him if you were able to "examine" him anyways? lol

4 months is about the right time, and it'll take a few months to calm down and reverse.. so just hang on.. it'll get better.

 

[steve928s]

richlocks...thanks for the reply...that makes me feel better!

 

[neonman1212]

steve Propecia is worthless crap, It won't save your hair. The only use it has, it's a psychological crutch.

 

[drinkrum]

steve Propecia is worthless crap, It won't save your hair. The only use it has, it's a psychological crutch.

And God speakth! Of course God has clinical studies to prove this ...

D.

 

[neonman1212]

steve928s
"I also do not take Rogaine (thinking about starting), but do use Nizoral (just started a few weeks ago). "

If you don't want to take Rogaine, try spit it works just as well. Steve your like me, your doomed, god hates you.

 

[Ireallyhatethis]

Stever, I am right about where you are, actually I'm closer to 5 months then 4. However I too went through the massive shed you are describing. This month I have seen a decline in shedding, which is good. I started Rogaine a week ago and have not seen a shed that bad yet, nothing like my experience on Propecia. So maybe that isn't working but I'm hoping that the massive shed in the first 4 months on Propecia was just a good sign and that the hairs will grow back stronger, but we shall see. This IS what most people describe as the process, shedding and then regrowth and then you have more hair at the 1 year mark. So everyone pray for me and Stever... :rockon:

 

[Grantspots]

steve Propecia is worthless crap, It won't save your hair. The only use it has, it's a psychological crutch.

If you don't want to take Rogaine, try spit it works just as well. Steve your like me, your doomed, god hates you.

Ok, I'll start. Nice posts Dick.

jerry grant

 

[Axon]

Hah. I tell ya, that whole double-blind study thing that showed 80% of the men on Finasteride maintained or improved hair count?

BULLSHIT

Friggin' FDA, you know? Always trying to dupe us....We know you've got the cure, Merck, and that you're just torturing us! SERIOUSLY THINK ABOUT IT IF THEY HAD THE CURE ITD SELL LIKE MAD AND BEYOND ANYTHING EVER DREAMED OF BUT IF THEY SELL A TREATMENT THEYLL MAKE LESS MONEY! Makes sense right? Less money = more money! I'm telling you. Oh, and Merck killed my cat. And is the reason why the last chick I went out with dumped me.

Now if you'll excuse me, I need to mix my Sam Adams with some Olive Oil in a blender.

 

[bombscience]

Wow, there is some serious positivitiy in this thread! I swear, I am having absolutely NO results, and almost NEGATIVE results, but every morning I wake up and tell myself, take it easy, and let the drugs work.

Look at the data, and give it a shot.

 

[Guest]

He's right, Merck killed my cat, too :cry:

 

[VoRteX]

steve,

Give it a little more time, at least another month or 2.

I dont want to freak you out, but it IS _remotely_ possible for propecia to accellerate hair loss. An extremely small number of people experience "upregulation" followed by "hyperandrogenicity" which can increase the rate of male pattern baldness. Basically, your body responds to the decreased DHT by pumping out way too much testosterone and increasing the number of DHT receptors. The end result is a supercharged male pattern baldness. If the shedding gets very severe, and doesnt improve in a couple months, I would stop just to be sure.

from Dr. Lee's site:

Unfortunately "massive shedding," usually after several months of successful finasteride therapy, is being reported to us by our patients. Apparently, the systemic reduction of DHT incites a telogen effluvium in a small percentage of patients.
The latest consensus among dermatologists is to stop using any hair regrowth drug which may be linked to rapid shedding.
It is recommended that patients continue to use minoxidil products, however, and likewise use some other inhibitor that does not cause a hormonal shift of DHT.

 

[HairlossTalk]

[quote-"zak84"]dont take rogaine if sheds bother you[/quote]
Im sure zak's intentions were good but probably the better way of phrasing this is, Rogaine works in 40-50% of people even though it can cause shedding. Take it and ride out the shedding if you want a chance at regrowing hair.

Steve it's most likely a regular propecia shed. 4 months is about the right time, and it'll take a few months to calm down and reverse.. so just hang on.. it'll get better.

Exactly.

Propecia is worthless crap, It won't save your hair. The only use it has, it's a psychological crutch.

Then it's the only psychological crutch that has been clinically proven to regrow and maintain hair, and actually increase hair counts after 2 years of use.

I dont want to freak you out, but it IS _remotely_ possible for propecia to accellerate hair loss.

There's no way this wouldn't freak someone out so be careful saying it. Its almost pointless to bring up anyways, in a sense. Why? I can't say that I agree with Dr. Lee because myself and hundreds of others continued to see cyclical shedding up to and past the one year mark on Propecia, and it always cycled back in. If anything, shedding is normal, and 99.9999999% of the time cycles back in. If it doesn't, after 3-6 months one should just assume that they're no longer responding to treatment. Saying that a shed can mean danger is counterproductive when sheds are one of the most common things to happen on these treatments. Many people may bail on the treatment before giving it time to cycle back in, and that is the true danger in my opinion.

HairLossTalk.com

 

[steve928s]

wow alot of contradiciting advice...i think i will stick it out and hopefully it will get better...i already think the shedding has slowed down a little...

on average how long do shedding periods last? and also how long after a shed period, should the regrowth start?

thanks