Older Guy Needs Happy Thoughts. Started dutasteride

[stejames]

Almost 50yrs old. I have been on finasteride for 20years. It was a godsend. Last spring It started to lose its effectiveness. In fall my dermatologist started me on dutasteride

1). He said to take .05 once a week and 1mg finasteride 6 days for a month then up to .05 dutasteride twice a week and finasteride 5 times a week.

2). I had a gnarly shedding when adding .05 dutasteride once a week. It lasted 6 weeks to the day. I felt the hair falling out.

3). I stayed on the 1dut + 6fin for 4 months. The shedding spooked me and i was making sure I wasnt getting any sides. No regrowth and could be argued I was still losing. Just not at the pace of that horrid shedding.

4). I have now been on .05 dutasteride twice a week and 1mg finasteride 5 days a week for 3 months. I havent seen any growth or thickening.

My derm is one of the best in the world and says this current program should be enough.

Was I wrong assuming that the shedding was a good sign? How long should I be patient to start seeing positive results? I was told hair goes into a resting phase when starting dutasteride.

Thanks

 

[soundnvision]

Wishing you the best of luck.
Did you have sides ever with finasteride? 20 years is a long time to be on it.

 

[Ray Baz]

Almost 50yrs old. I have been on finasteride for 20years. It was a godsend. Last spring It started to lose its effectiveness. In fall my dermatologist started me on dutasteride

1). He said to take .05 once a week and 1mg finasteride 6 days for a month then up to .05 dutasteride twice a week and finasteride 5 times a week.

2). I had a gnarly shedding when adding .05 dutasteride once a week. It lasted 6 weeks to the day. I felt the hair falling out.

3). I stayed on the 1dut + 6fin for 4 months. The shedding spooked me and i was making sure I wasnt getting any sides. No regrowth and could be argued I was still losing. Just not at the pace of that horrid shedding.

4). I have now been on .05 dutasteride twice a week and 1mg finasteride 5 days a week for 3 months. I havent seen any growth or thickening.

My derm is one of the best in the world and says this current program should be enough.

Was I wrong assuming that the shedding was a good sign? How long should I be patient to start seeing positive results? I was told hair goes into a resting phase when starting dutasteride.

Thanks

Yes thats along time to be shedding after starting dutasteride. It could be something else affecting your hair loss and not so much DHT. maybe stress, or a new medication you have tried or something new youve started having that you never had before, even food.

 

[stejames]

Wishing you the best of luck.
Did you have sides ever with finasteride? 20 years is a long time to be on it.

never sides, or at least nothing i would pin on the use. Never had/or have any kind of ED. I have suffered low end depression but that has more to do with family history. finasteride didnt keep my hair exactly how it was in my 20's but it kept it on my head. I always had a "receded" look but it worked with my overall look. also i had a healthy child while on it. some wonder about that. No one i know who had kids ever had issues with having healthy children.

I am not expecting growth in new places rather thicken up where i started to thin.

 

[stejames]

Yes thats along time to be shedding after starting dutasteride. It could be something else affecting your hair loss and not so much DHT. maybe stress, or a new medication you have tried or something new youve started having that you never had before, even food.

I read where people shed later and/or longer. It started about 1.5/2weeks after starting. I dont shed anymore.

 

[soundnvision]

You could try oral minoxidil too that will thicken your hair alot.

 

[Ray Baz]

I read where people shed later and/or longer. It started about 1.5/2weeks after starting. I dont shed anymore.

thats good if you dont shed anymore.

 

[stejames]

You could try oral minoxidil too that will thicken your hair alot.

I see you are on dutasteride. How much do you take and when did you notice (if you have) some positive effects? It seems like the calendar is all over the place. Some see results 3-4 months, others not until a year.

 

[soundnvision]

I see you are on dutasteride. How much do you take and when did you notice (if you have) some positive effects? It seems like the calendar is all over the place. Some see results 3-4 months, others not until a year.

I'm not taking it anymore because is wasnt any more effective than finasteride for me, or if it was it was barely noticable.

 

[Derelict]

I'm not taking it anymore because is wasnt any more effective than finasteride for me, or if it was it was barely noticable.

Are you only using oral minoxidil just now? if you have stopped fina and duta how do you deal,with with itching/burning sensations that a lot of peope get from hair loss?

 

[soundnvision]

Are you only using oral minoxidil just now? if you have stopped fina and duta how do you deal,with with itching/burning sensations that a lot of peope get from hair loss?

Yes just oral minoxidil at the moment, i use nizoral every other day.I massage it in my head then leave for around 30 minutes then wash it out.

 

[stejames]

is oral minoxidil considered better for results than dutasteride in general. Should i switch?

 

[soundnvision]

is oral minoxidil considered better for results than dutasteride in general. Should i switch?

I'd add it and continue with dutasteride, then if your loss stabalizes in the future you could try dropping the dutasteride for abit and just using minoxidil.

 

[Derelict]

is oral minoxidil considered better for results than dutasteride in general. Should i switch?

i don't think it is wise to drop 5aris like fina and duta and relying on oral minoxidil alone imo, especially if you can tolerate any sides you might get.

 

[stejames]

i don't think it is wise to drop 5aris like fina and duta and relying on oral minoxidil alone imo, especially if you can tolerate any sides you might get.

I have been fortunate about sides. thats why i waited to up dose of dutasteride from once to twice a week. My derm thinks anything more than that (as of today) would start to tempt fate in regards to sides.

I am in the dark about when/if i should see results. Derm office says hair goes into rest phase. I am a realist, i may not see anything. but its been about 3.5 since Ive been on 2dut a week + 5 finasteride a week and 7months since I started with dutasteride in general. 1st 4 months were 1dut + 6fin.

Also can anyone answer shedding question? is there anything promising about a shed reaction to new med?

 

[Derelict]

I have been fortunate about sides. thats why i waited to up dose of dutasteride from once to twice a week. My derm thinks anything more than that (as of today) would start to tempt fate in regards to sides.

i would continue with your current regimen and ask your derm about prescribing you 5mg oral minoxidil.

 

[Manochoice]

Well Older Guy, here s a happy thought for you: you've kept your hair till your 50s. That ia something most people here only dream of. Also, since ut worked for you once there s a high probability that it will work again. Have some patience and give it a few more weeks/months.