See, when using any medication remember, YMMV. This goes for OCPs, SSRIs, 5-AR inhibitors, Accutane - you name it. For example, I can't tolerate TRUVADA very well, and although not a
listed side-effect of the drug - the high acidity I experienced on it caused me to shed quite a bit.
Spironolactone most often doesn't lower hormone levels at standard doses, and in any case, that is not the primary anti-androgenic mechanism of the drug. Spironolactone attaches itself to androgen receptors, thus blocking the effects of male hormones. The fact that it is steroidal should signal to the HPA that less testosterone production is needed, but that was not how it worked for me at all, and I was on 300mg for 4 months. Mind you, I broke out on 300mg and not on 100mg. Bizarre, right?
If I were you, I would give Finasteride more time and evaluate your success - it is much slower than Bicalutamide or CPA for sure, but it can be very effective and its feminization is negligible. As evidenced on this thread - your follicles will grow back on the right medication for you, but as you are young and only recently experienced Androgenetic Alopecia you are likely to find decent regrowth as your follicles cannot miniaturize that fast. My best regrowth on Flutamide came through in Fall 2013 and I had started in Jan 2012. It only improved thereafter, although reducing the dose would precipitate massive synchronized sheds and breakouts so I stayed on until Jan 2018. Don't internalize bromides on the internet about hair loss. eg: diffuse responds better to drugs; DUPA is incurable; finasteride is a scam; younger persons with Androgenetic Alopecia are likely to go bald faster - NO. Diffuse just means your genetic pattern is different - I never had temple recession until I went off Flutamide and that's not the pattern my dad has either; DUPA, if caused by Androgenetic Alopecia, will respond to anti-androgens; finasteride works wonders for many; and your genetic sensitivity is also a continuum with ups and downs - some men recede a bit and freeze there for decades. Androgenetic Alopecia is better identified as a component of androgenization than aging.
I think the biggest mistake I made was not understanding Androgenetic Alopecia and treatment when I was 20, and experienced my first synchronized shed on my crown - after discontinuing finasteride - and accepted Flutamide therapy from my doctors without questioning them. I was so terrified that those hairs were indeed lost that I was keen to do anything to control it. If you're losing hair, remember, you can always regrow it on the right support.
My dad actually experienced a bit of regrowth on Nutrafol (wtf?!) - and here I am more than half his age having popped all kinds of heavier medications. At the end of the day, no one cares about your hair as much as you do, and in my case absolutely no one remembered that I had a bald patch at 20 when my hair regrew x 9999 at 22 on Flutamide ; )
You're on top of it and things will work out for you! Only because I would have advised myself the following at your age (and I in no way mean to be disparaging or dismissive of your awareness and understanding of your own body and needs) - be strategic and deploy the AAs in the order they are needed.
xx KSA
