For how many years will minoxidil/finastride work?

[Rutvik]

I'm just 21 and I'm already thinning but it's not very bad. So I don't need a lot of regrowth but I just need to maintain my hair. For how long can these treatments work on an average?

 

[Ritchie]

depends on how bad the situation is and how aggressive it is. Somebody who starts receding at 25 might maintain longer on treatments than someone who starts receding at 18.

Look at these two twins. One started treatments very early and maintained for so long and is still maintaining to this day, while the other started treatments later and his hair went downhill.

Twins Hair Loss | Stop Thinning Hair

 

[Rutvik]

depends on how bad the situation is and how aggressive it is. Somebody who starts receding at 25 might maintain longer on treatments than someone who starts receding at 18.

Look at these two twins. One started treatments very early and maintained for so long and is still maintaining to this day, while the other started treatments later and his hair went downhill.

Twins Hair Loss | Stop Thinning Hair

As I said, it's not very bad for now, so can I maintain it for 10 years?

 

[Ritchie]

As I said, it's not very bad for now, so can I maintain it for 10 years?

yes probably

 

[Justheretohelp3]

I can't speak for minoxidil but finasteride is very effective. I lost 0 hair while I was on it for 10 years and Im pretty confident I wouldn't have lost anything for at least another 20 years on top of that if I didn't stop. I quit last year just cause I was tired of taking meds every day for something so superficial. It basically paused my hair loss and now I'm starting to thin at the temples again. Thinking of starting minoxidil.

 

[TurboFixer]

I can't speak for minoxidil but finasteride is very effective. I lost 0 hair while I was on it for 10 years and Im pretty confident I wouldn't have lost anything for at least another 20 years on top of that if I didn't stop. I quit last year just cause I was tired of taking meds every day for something so superficial. It basically paused my hair loss and now I'm starting to thin at the temples again. Thinking of starting minoxidil.

I don't really understand your actions

you didn't mention side effects on finasteride- yet you quit because it is superficial -that makes sense

then you are willing to go through the more tedious treatment of minoxidil?

 

[Rutvik]

I can't speak for minoxidil but finasteride is very effective. I lost 0 hair while I was on it for 10 years and Im pretty confident I wouldn't have lost anything for at least another 20 years on top of that if I didn't stop. I quit last year just cause I was tired of taking meds every day for something so superficial. It basically paused my hair loss and now I'm starting to thin at the temples again. Thinking of starting minoxidil.

Did you had any regrowth? Also did you face any side effects?

 

[Thinning Sucks]

I’m at 21 years usage on finasteride, minoxidil since ~1985, and nizoral last 10-15 years. Maintenance but slow decline. Heavy diffuse, crown basically gone now. finasteride will help maintain somewhat, but always fighting genetics which overrides(which is bad in my family).

 

[Selb]

I’m at 21 years usage on finasteride, minoxidil since ~1985, and nizoral last 10-15 years. Maintenance but slow decline. Heavy diffuse, crown basically gone now. finasteride will help maintain somewhat, but always fighting genetics which overrides(which is bad in my family).

Why haven’t you tried dutasteride or more treatments? Like RU

 

[Thinning Sucks]

Why haven’t you tried dutasteride or more treatments? Like RU

Yes - RU for 1.5 to 2 years in minoxidil 3.5g did basically nothing. Too much money for the min effect. Tried dutasteride but only 1 cap a week idea with finasteride daily did nothing - got sides lower ab pain. Trying a few capsules in minoxidil now this year, not much change. Will continue.

 

[Selb]

Yes - RU for 1.5 to 2 years in minoxidil 3.5g did basically nothing. Too much money for the min effect. Tried dutasteride but only 1 cap a week idea with finasteride daily did nothing - got sides lower ab pain. Trying a few capsules in minoxidil now this year, not much change. Will continue.

If you’re still stuck, apparently there’s a discord for finasteride resistant treatment. Not sure what it is though. Also, topical dutasteride once a week has minimal serum effect and reduces scalp dht. I would supplement that with your current regiment once a week or every two weeks. Another thing of course is microneedling to help your minoxidil absorption plus wound induced regeneration

 

[Thinning Sucks]

If you’re still stuck, apparently there’s a discord for finasteride resistant treatment. Not sure what it is though. Also, topical dutasteride once a week has minimal serum effect and reduces scalp dht. I would supplement that with your current regiment once a week or every two weeks. Another thing of course is microneedling to help your minoxidil absorption plus wound induced regeneration

Thanks - good ideas. Right now I’m doubling finasteride to 2.5mg per which according to Bernstein after 3-5 years on finasteride need to increase. I’m at 21 years so way overdue. dutasteride has a lot of issues for the min response overall with most people here....Not many on here seem to be successful and who knows the long term effects. I know it causes me issues even at 1 per week with finasteride.

Medical Treatment Answers

Hair restoration pioneer Dr. Robert M. Bernstein answers common questions about hair loss medications such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil).

www.bernsteinmedical.com

 

[neewerhed]

Thanks - good ideas. Right now I’m doubling finasteride to 2.5mg per which according to Bernstein after 3-5 years on finasteride need to increase. I’m at 21 years so way overdue. dutasteride has a lot of issues for the min response overall with most people here....Not many on here seem to be successful and who knows the long term effects. I know it causes me issues even at 1 per week with finasteride.

Medical Treatment Answers

Hair restoration pioneer Dr. Robert M. Bernstein answers common questions about hair loss medications such as Propecia (finasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil).

www.bernsteinmedical.com

Hi, any updates on taking finasteride 2.5mg? I'm considering increasing the dose since I'm losing a bit of ground lately.

 

[jazz1]

I can't speak for minoxidil but finasteride is very effective. I lost 0 hair while I was on it for 10 years and Im pretty confident I wouldn't have lost anything for at least another 20 years on top of that if I didn't stop. I quit last year just cause I was tired of taking meds every day for something so superficial. It basically paused my hair loss and now I'm starting to thin at the temples again. Thinking of starting minoxidil.

I been using it for 11 years and still working strong.

 

[Thinning Sucks]

Hi, any updates on taking finasteride 2.5mg? I'm considering increasing the dose since I'm losing a bit of ground lately.

I tried for 6 months not much difference in any regrowth so stopped to save money on finasteride.

 

[neewerhed]

I tried for 6 months not much difference in any regrowth so stopped to save money on finasteride.

I think I will still try the path of increasing before switching to dutasteride. I still have to figure out if to take the doses 12 hours apart from each (because of finasteride halflife) or all together.

 

[mrdavies]

Just checked my records, looks like I've been on finasteride+minoxidil for 10 years...blimey. So glad I started, I remember how bad things had got and i was scared off by the website (was it propecia.com???) which was a forum where every ailment under the sun was put down to finasteride. Thankfully i tried it anyway.

I did get sides though....slower hairloss and some regrowth.

I'm not one to analyse how my hairloss is going...rather not obsess about it. I hope it carrries on for another 10, looks like there are people who have been using it successfully for much longer which is good news, if it loses its effectiveness i'd have to consider the options out there.

 

[Thinning Sucks]

I think I will still try the path of increasing before switching to dutasteride. I still have to figure out if to take the doses 12 hours apart from each (because of finasteride halflife) or all together.

I just took 2.5mg half split. Good idea. Try it before dutasteride. Bernstein says it can work for long term finasteride users. I did not see a difference. I’ve tried it before. Figured try one last time and I went to adding couple 5mg tabs to my minoxidil which also did not show much for several months trial.

 

[Dakuwaqa]

Finasteride should work for many years. I've been on it for 4 years now. Best decision I could have made as hairless is not something I have to think about everyday.

 

[JaneyElizabeth]

I can't speak for minoxidil but finasteride is very effective. I lost 0 hair while I was on it for 10 years and Im pretty confident I wouldn't have lost anything for at least another 20 years on top of that if I didn't stop. I quit last year just cause I was tired of taking meds every day for something so superficial. It basically paused my hair loss and now I'm starting to thin at the temples again. Thinking of starting minoxidil.

Yikes! If you can't take a pill once a day, how are you going to use minoxidil twice daily and rub it in and all of that? How is using minoxidil less superficial? You have no sides and are going off finasteride; time to see a therapist, maybe.

Best of luck,
Janey