Dutasteride Shedding After Only One Week?

[rlf]

Hi,

I've been on Dutasteride 0,5 ED after many years on Finasteride with great success. Only since last year my hair rapidly got worse on Finasteride.

So I still take Finasteride with Dutasteride, even though it is supposed to be unnecessary but I want to be sure that Dutasteride is doing something before I drop the finasteride completely.

So I've taken 1 Avodart for 10 days now and I realise that I lose quite a lot hair. I can pull out hairs every time I run my finger through it. Also when I style it I have quite some hairs on my hands. This wasn't the case only a few weeks ago. But can Avodart cause a shed so soon? I've never shed on Finasteride, at least I never noticed it. But after only one week?

 

[Dontwannabeabetabob]

Very possible, messing with hormones can do that.

 

[rlf]

But after one week? Don't hairs have to go into telogen for weeks before they fall out?

 

[Dontwannabeabetabob]

But after one week? Don't hairs have to go into telogen for weeks before they fall out?

Well those hairs falling out were already on their way out, you're right. You should probably expect shedding in the next few months. Honestly if you can I wouldn't pay any attention to it for the next 8 months or so, you'll drive yourself crazy. Anti androgens are for the long haul.

 

[rlf]

Thing is I've on anti androgens for 16 years. Only last year finasteride suddenly didn't work anymore.

I never shed on Finasteride. So I don't expect doing it on Dutasteride.

When I started with Finasteride it just stopped my hairloss. My hair looked the same for 15 years!

Now I don't know what this sudden increase in hairloss is! Even last year when my hair really took a turn for the worse I never saw much shedding. I didn't change anything besides adding dutasteride 10 days ago. I can't be that so what is it?

 

[rlf]

So this shed has nothing to do with Dutasteride? Don't know if that's worse or better?

 

[arnoldd]

I started to shed too after 2 weeks, but the first days i was taking 1,5mg duta ed.
I used to take 1mg finas ed along dutasteride. Maybe take the 2 pills is not good

 

[shulk]

hmmmm I had the same phenomenon though when i started Minoxidil. After only 1-2 weeks i started to shed loads so i am still somewhat curious about it to be honest.

I did some more googles and found this older study but cant find the source, its is about minoxidil:

It has long been suspected that there is an increase in shedding in the first 3 months or so. Recently, some studies using a digital phototrichogram (Trichoscan, Marburg, Germany) proved that there was indeed a quantifiable increase in shedding and a corresponding loss of hair density in the first 3 months of minoxidil use. blablablabla

For the same reasons that minoxidil promotes hair growth, it can also cause shedding. Despite many years of research and use, the exact physiologic mechanisms whereby minoxidil stimulates hair growth is not known. The stimulatory effect of minoxidil on the hair follicle can cause hair that is in the telogen phase to shed before the end of the normal 100-day telogen period.

Now i wonder if finasteride can express a similar effect on the follicle and just throws out hair already in telogen, some thoughts anyone?

 

[rlf]

I had a shed a week after starting finasteride, Lacey said it had nothing to do with Finasteride which surprised me. So i did a bit of research and found that after a trigger it always takes two to four months for the hair to start falling out. Only way for hair to fall out prior to this time frame is when the follicles are actually destroyed (like chemo and serious diseases). So i would say it indeed is unrelated? Hope the dutasteride catches on for you.

So then why did you shed at that time? How long did the shed last?

I started to shed too after 2 weeks, but the first days i was taking 1,5mg duta ed.
I used to take 1mg finas ed along dutasteride. Maybe take the 2 pills is not good

Didn't you say you're starting to see progress? Do you still shed?

 

[arnoldd]

I feel my hairs more stronger and see some new dark hairs in the hairline, but temples are really destroyed after the shed. Im on 6 weeks now.

 

[shulk]

"So then why did you shed at that time? How long did the shed last?"

You tell me i have no idea, still suspicious of finasteride triggering it, so i proposed the mechanism described above. Else its just a random coincidence. The shed lasted about 21 days, three days in that period my scalp got really painful and inflamed.

 

[rlf]

Which mechanism would that be?

 

[shulk]

For minoxidil the mechanism itself is a black box but the outcome can be measured. For shedding (according to that study) it reads that hairs already in Telogen can fall out before the end of their cycle phase. The question is if this same mechanism or effect is triggered with the starting of DHT inhibitors. Unfortunately shedding is barely researched so it will probably for us end in speculation? having read anecdotal stories on this forum from people who experienced a shed prior to the 2-4 month mark i would say plausible. Maybe someone else knows more about the subject...

 

[shulk]

@ForeverLacey any insights?

 

[dralex]

Man shedding doesn't necessarily mean anything. Some people get crazy regrowth after a shed, some continue to lose hair that never grows back. Just ride it out and see what happens. Doubt the duta would cause a shed that fast though.

 

[shulk]

It does not really matter and you do have to ride it out eventually. I just think it is interesting that there are scenarios that can cause instant shedding though. When someone states multiple times to new users that it is impossible as a fact, i think you have to take responsibility for that and explain or maybe revise your view.

 

[rlf]

Shedding continues. When washing my hair easily 30 or more hairs on my hands. Usually its only a few.

The thing is since one year ago my hair got worse so quickly, yet I didn't shed. So I can't imagine how my hair soon will look now that I'm shedding.

One year ago I was just starting to see that my hair got worse. Now its horrible. I had super success with finasteride for over a decade. And the suddenly from one day to another rapid worsening. The only way I can explain it is that my hair got more sensitive to the left over DHT. So upping the suppression with dutasteride should've the logical step. But then I read all these horror stories of sheds and I lose hope.

I was a super responder to DHT blockers. dutasteride should work for me. But now I get this mysterious shed from who knows where. Its driving me crazy.

 

[rlf]

I'm still shedding loads. Every time I run my hand through my hair I can pull out loads of hair. Like 5 or more.

What am I to do? I don't know where this is coming from. I'm on dutasteride only since the 2nd of May and noticed shedding right after. So it can't be dutasteride, right? But what is it then? This is getting me anxious, to say the least.

 

[rlf]

Bump...

Don't know what to do anymore. I can pull out hairs everytime I run my hand through it.

This is insane! My hair got a lot worse since last year, but I was never shedding like that. I f this continues for much longer, I will be bald.

Should I quit dutasteride? Is this the dreaded dutasteride shed? But it is too earlier for that, no? What should I do???

 

[arnoldd]

Keep calm bro, the shedding with duta even after finas is really hard.
But after months you will impressive how it can improve the overall thickness. You must wait 4 or 6 months. Im on duta since 7 weeks and the shedding worry me too. But its a sign the med kick work.
Quit duta now is the biggest you can do