Finasteride losing effectiveness after 9 years, what are my options?

[Snail]

Hello, I've been taking Finasteride for around 9 years now with no issues and with great success. I had great regrowth and have maintained a solid norwood 1.5/2 over these years. I'm approaching 30 now and I've noticed a great increase in hair loss. My hair is significantly thinner all over, and unfortunately it's not just a shed... people have been making comments.

So, what are my options at this point? I was thinking of dropping Finasteride in favour of Dutasteride but I'm not sure. I also have access to spironolactone which I will take if my hair continues to regress at its current rate. It's been almost 10 years since I've researched any of this, and unfortunately I've been dragged back into this hell after not worrying for so long. Please help, any advise would be appreciated.

 

[whatintheworld]

Time for a transplant Mr.Snail.

You could of course try minoxidil and derma rolling first, but I wouldn't take dutasteride, it is a nuclear option and is too strong in my opinion for most people.

 

[Snail]

To me, transplanted hair never looks quite right. Essentially I'm willing to use the most extreme methods to keep my hair, I just need to know what to take. Let me make it even more clear, I would much rather be dead than bald. I'm short, with no beard growth or body hair; I'd quite literally look like golem with no hair.

Minoxidil dries out the skin and turns my scalp red and flaky, so it's not an option.

 

[whatintheworld]

To me, transplanted hair never looks quite right. Essentially I'm willing to use the most extreme methods to keep my hair, I just need to know what to take. Let me make it even more clear, I would much rather be dead than bald. I'm short, with no beard growth or body hair; I'd quite literally look like golem with no hair.

Minoxidil dries out the skin and turns my scalp red and flaky, so it's not an option.

If you want perfect hair then there is nothing that can get you that outside of feminizing drugs, so don't waste your time.

 

[Moz5x]

To me, transplanted hair never looks quite right. Essentially I'm willing to use the most extreme methods to keep my hair, I just need to know what to take. Let me make it even more clear, I would much rather be dead than bald. I'm short, with no beard growth or body hair; I'd quite literally look like golem with no hair.

Minoxidil dries out the skin and turns my scalp red and flaky, so it's not an option.

If your risk tolerance is high then Dutasteride and oral min are your next options. Also, with enough proper research and decision making/planning with the best doctors, you can achieve some good results with surgery (if you are a good candidate). But ultimately it’s really about managing your expectations as you age. Even HRT isn’t guaranteed to restore the hair of your youth.

 

[Norwoody]

Why not try foam minoxidil? It does not contain PG like the liquid and should be tolerated well by the skin. You can also use tretinoin, which will increase the effectiveness of minoxidil, as well as improve your skin. Other than that, I would give RU58841 a shot. I would be hesitant to start oral dutasteride because of its greater side effects and because it’s a risk in that it can cause AR upregulation. However, topical is an option, though it’s not necessarily the most efficacious. But that’s why I would try minoxidil/RU first.

 

[Jpw1999]

If you have tolerated finasteride for 9 years you'll probably be fine on dutasteride.

 

[JWM2]

I'm in the same boat, but I've got you beat by 24 years! Yup--been on finasteride (and minoxidil) for 24 years. It has definitely slowed down my loss (I'm in my late 40's) but the past year my hair has just gotten worse and worse. I'm a frontal diffuse thinner by the way.

The way I see it, I can try:

-Dermarolling with my minoxidil. Would do 1.5 mm once a week, and minoxidil twice a day.
-RU58841, but I AM a little concerned when I read about heart issues with the drug.
-And then of course, there's Dutasteride. I've played around with dutasteride in the past, and sometimes I think it helped, but I worry about liver issues. I've heard dutasteride can cause them.

 

[NW9000]

dutasteride and/or loniten, plain and simple, just accept it - if you have severe genetic balding and are serious about preserving your hair as is into your fifties and beyond

 

[Mr White]

Hello, I've been taking Finasteride for around 9 years now with no issues and with great success. I had great regrowth and have maintained a solid norwood 1.5/2 over these years. I'm approaching 30 now and I've noticed a great increase in hair loss. My hair is significantly thinner all over, and unfortunately it's not just a shed... people have been making comments.

So, what are my options at this point? I was thinking of dropping Finasteride in favour of Dutasteride but I'm not sure. I also have access to spironolactone which I will take if my hair continues to regress at its current rate. It's been almost 10 years since I've researched any of this, and unfortunately I've been dragged back into this hell after not worrying for so long. Please help, any advise would be appreciated.

Try Avodart. I've been taking it for 2 years and it works, no major side effects.

Just make sure you are getting a genuine drug and consult your doctor first. Good luck.

 

[MrSnow]

Why not try foam minoxidil? It does not contain PG like the liquid and should be tolerated well by the skin. You can also use tretinoin, which will increase the effectiveness of minoxidil, as well as improve your skin. Other than that, I would give RU58841 a shot. I would be hesitant to start oral dutasteride because of its greater side effects and because it’s a risk in that it can cause AR upregulation. However, topical is an option, though it’s not necessarily the most efficacious. But that’s why I would try minoxidil/RU first.

what do you mean about dutasteride ?

 

[jazz1]

When your hair thinned did you change anything! You still using the same brand medication or switch brands?

 

[Snail]

When your hair thinned did you change anything! You still using the same brand medication or switch brands?

I did switch brands of Finasteride around the time the shedding started, I did suspect that might have been the issue but I always thought that the brand didn't matter. It was from Milpharm which does have pretty bad reviews when you research the company, so it may have been poor quality medication.

I've since changed brands again and the shedding seems to have stopped, so hopefully that was the issue. I'll keep an eye on it for now, if it continues to be a problem I'll switch to something stronger. Thanks for your input

 

[Moz5x]

I did switch brands of Finasteride around the time the shedding started, I did suspect that might have been the issue but I always thought that the brand didn't matter. It was from Milpharm which does have pretty bad reviews when you research the company, so it may have been poor quality medication.

I've since changed brands again and the shedding seems to have stopped, so hopefully that was the issue. I'll keep an eye on it for now, if it continues to be a problem I'll switch to something stronger. Thanks for your input

Glad to hear it stopped and thanks for sharing your experience. Which brand are you currently on now?

 

[hairgone1234]

Dutasteride and possibly oral minoxidil. You could use topical dutasteride if not wanting to take the pills.

 

[Snail]

Glad to hear it stopped and thanks for sharing your experience. Which brand are you currently on now?

On a brand called RelonChem at the moment which seems ok for now, but my usual brand that I've used for 9+ years is Accord. I've now specifically requested that my pharmacy only sends out Accord brand Finasteride, as usually they'll send out any generic brand they have in stock, which caused my problem initially.

 

[hairgone1234]

On a brand called RelonChem at the moment which seems ok for now, but my usual brand that I've used for 9+ years is Accord. I've now specifically requested that my pharmacy only sends out Accord brand Finasteride, as usually they'll send out any generic brand they have in stock, which caused my problem initially.

Ive used ACCORD, reliable brand.

 

[Pacho]

I'm in the same boat, but I've got you beat by 24 years! Yup--been on finasteride (and minoxidil) for 24 years. It has definitely slowed down my loss (I'm in my late 40's) but the past year my hair has just gotten worse and worse. I'm a frontal diffuse thinner by the way.

The way I see it, I can try:

-Dermarolling with my minoxidil. Would do 1.5 mm once a week, and minoxidil twice a day.
-RU58841, but I AM a little concerned when I read about heart issues with the drug.
-And then of course, there's Dutasteride. I've played around with dutasteride in the past, and sometimes I think it helped, but I worry about liver issues. I've heard dutasteride can cause them.

do you regret taking finasteride?