Shedding After Over 2 Years On finasteride. Is This Normal?

[Funkymonk1]

I have had a couple of big sheds on finasteride but these were within the first few months and (I think) around the 8 or 9 month mark. Generally I've had really great results (even regrowth) and honestly havn't had a shed for well over a year. That is until now. I noticed that my hair looks thinner again, maybe not quite as bad as before I started on finasteride but significantly thinner all the same.
So is it normal to get a big finasteride shed after more then 2 years (especially after so long since the last shed)? I'm hoping this is all it is but I'm a bit concerned it may be something else and it won't grow back.

 

[Funkymonk1]

C'mon guys is there nobody else who has experienced something similar to this?

 

[Yakitori]

It is possible that finasteride has lost it's effect over time. It has been reported plenty, your body has built up a resistance to it.

How high dose are you on? If it's over 1mg, try dutasteride instead.

 

[Funkymonk1]

Just 1mg. I know it sounds silly but this happened after I went through a period of over styling my hair (spending ages combing and tugging it every day). I'm worried I may have pulled it out or even damaged the hair follicles.
It may be possible finasteride has lost it's effectiveness but from what I've read (finasteride 10y study) it's unlikely. dutasteride could be my only option.

 

[Yakitori]

If you "over style" your hair, you will be pulling hair at that moment, you won't get continues hair loss because of that unless you use something radioactive to style your hair.

 

[Retinoid]

I would continue onward. The worst thing to do is get stressed out about sheds. When I had no hair loss issue I would she'd tremendously in the shower and when the months got warmer. Now I am self conscious about it. Just stay the course, if you really start to notice true thinning, then you can reevaluate.

 

[Retinoid]

Theres a tiny factor that you're reluctant to disclose.


You've never been on finasteride! So why are you telling someone to relax while on it?

I have my regimen listed and have said multiple times I am not on Finasteride on posts so why are you saying I am ''reluctant".

Are you saying because someone has not used a medicine before they are incapable of providing advice?

 

[Retinoid]

No, He has already stated that he reached 8 - 9month mark while taking finasteride; with noticeable thinning.

So why go on to say, wait till "true thinning" occurs? You've said so youself in previous post that finasteride results should be noticeable at the 6 month mark.

Its best that he either up his dosage on finasteride, or switch to Duta at a lower dose without finasteride. Or, think of introducing a topical to his regimen.

Also my point to you was, dont you think after 9months, he'd know the adverse effects finasteride has on his hair quality?

After all, He's just asking if there's normality in the sheds he's experiencing.

From his post:
Generally I've had really great results (even regrowth) and honestly havn't had a shed for well over a year. That is until now.
-----

I think most people here do not read before they answer.

 

[Retinoid]

Apologies for the misread, on my phone, still doesn't negate from you suggesting that he wait till "true thinning" occurs.

If anything, it futhers the point of him switching up his regimen.

My advice is still applicable, despite the misread on finasteride usage.

Which is fine, I think if he had success this long and is just going through a shed at a time of year most people shed, then he shouldn't start messing around with things unless he knows for sure it is no longer working. That is where I have noticed the most success in any treatment, to just get through the fear and shedding until you definitely know for certain. The people on here adding cypro, estrogen, spironolactone, dua, etc. because they are noticing shedding are not going to be successful.

 

[Cue Bald]

i've had random sheds even when on finasteride. a few months ago i was shedding hundreds of hairs a day, i'd wake up with my bed full of hairs, and they'd be falling out all day at work.
then randomly one day it stopped and now i am back to waking up with at most 5 hairs lost at night.

 

[Funkymonk1]

Thanks for the replies. When you guys talk about "shedding" you've experienced was it just hair falling out or did you notice your hair actually looking thinner as well?

 

[Beowulf]

I'm in a similar position, two years of finasteride and now my left side is starting to look like it did 2 years ago, while my right side is seemingly completely healed. I don't even have any hairs on the pillow. finasteride did give me sheds - undoubtedly, but those were more patterned. Hairs around my bald spots, and then regrowth eternally coming, going, and maturing but now it's up to my mid scalp. I thought if it lost efficacy recession would have started at the hairline, but it just seems as if my left side isn't a fan of something.

I'm going to see my dermatologist in a month, but tomorrow I'm going to make the case to my doctor for why I should start on dutasteride. The trend seems to be to start dutasteride and wait for it to take effect before ceasing finasteride, but I think I'll just try one a week to start off with, and slowly ramp and taper until I'm all the way there. To be honest I'm actually kind of excited to start dutasteride. Finasteride has been great to me, and I'm glad I'm a pretty good responder, but it seems the real long term hairline holders are on dutasteride. Some part of me seems to think that if I handled finasteride as well as I have, I'll have good results with dutasteride.

I'll try to keep you posted in any case.

 

[hopeforhappiness]

I'm in a similar position, two years of finasteride and now my left side is starting to look like it did 2 years ago, while my right side is seemingly completely healed. I don't even have any hairs on the pillow. finasteride did give me sheds - undoubtedly, but those were more patterned. Hairs around my bald spots, and then regrowth eternally coming, going, and maturing but now it's up to my mid scalp. I thought if it lost efficacy recession would have started at the hairline, but it just seems as if my left side isn't a fan of something.

I'm going to see my dermatologist in a month, but tomorrow I'm going to make the case to my doctor for why I should start on dutasteride. The trend seems to be to start dutasteride and wait for it to take effect before ceasing finasteride, but I think I'll just try one a week to start off with, and slowly ramp and taper until I'm all the way there. To be honest I'm actually kind of excited to start dutasteride. Finasteride has been great to me, and I'm glad I'm a pretty good responder, but it seems the real long term hairline holders are on dutasteride. Some part of me seems to think that if I handled finasteride as well as I have, I'll have good results with dutasteride.

I'll try to keep you posted in any case.

If you’re looking to hold the hair line on dutas you may want to look into a topical ARA to go along with it just incase your hairline happens to be test sensitive. Maybe slowly ramp up with the dutas and once you’re completely off fina you can taper off the ARA until you’re just on dutas. That way maybe your hair can get used to it ?

Idk just an idea.

 

[Beowulf]

If you’re looking to hold the hair line on dutas you may want to look into a topical ARA to go along with it just incase your hairline happens to be test sensitive. Maybe slowly ramp up with the dutas and once you’re completely off fina you can taper off the ARA until you’re just on dutas. That way maybe your hair can get used to it ?

Idk just an idea.

Great minds think alike lol. Sorry is there any difference between an ARA and an AA? Topical's a little difficult with long hair, but I'll try.

 

[hopeforhappiness]

Great minds think alike lol. Sorry is there any difference between an ARA and an AA? Topical's a little difficult with long hair, but I'll try.

I have the same problem. I don’t think there’s a difference between ARA’s and AA’s as far as I understand they both block androgens via the androgen receptor. Fina and duta are not AA’s they are 5ar inhibitors... unless AA is a catch all for anything that lowers androgens or androgen productivity. Semantics....

 

[Beowulf]

I have the same problem. I don’t think there’s a difference between ARA’s and AA’s as far as I understand they both block androgens via the androgen receptor. Fina and duta are not AA’s they are 5ar inhibitors... unless AA is a catch all for anything that lowers androgens or androgen productivity. Semantics....

Ha! I remember seeing a whole thread of two guys arguing over whether 5ar inhibitors are AA's. So what did you have in mind then? RU? I am doing Nizoral, so I suppose that's something...

 

[NotInmywatch]

I have had a couple of big sheds on finasteride but these were within the first few months and (I think) around the 8 or 9 month mark. Generally I've had really great results (even regrowth) and honestly havn't had a shed for well over a year. That is until now. I noticed that my hair looks thinner again, maybe not quite as bad as before I started on finasteride but significantly thinner all the same.
So is it normal to get a big finasteride shed after more then 2 years (especially after so long since the last shed)? I'm hoping this is all it is but I'm a bit concerned it may be something else and it won't grow back.

Hey @Funkymonk1 how are you now? The same thing is happening to me after 7 years on duta
The shedding is so massive that I can feel my scalp with my fingers