Switching from 1mg Propecia to 5mg Proscar......

[neis]

Here is another guy on HLH that got better results increasing his finasteride dose to 5mg daily:

I think it depends on how long you've been on finasteride. May would be 6 years I've been on Proscar. For a bit over 5 years I was on 1.25, started losing a bit of ground, bumped up to 2.5, didn't see much results and little difference in side effects so decided to bump up to the full 5 mg. The good thing is I have better results and same side effects as when I was on 1.25. I would NOT advise anyone to jump to 5 mg's until they know for sure they maxed out on 1.25 mgs.


I use BRAND name PROSCAR.

 

[neis]

Hey guys..

The switch to 5mg Proscar daily has started..
I hope all goes well...........

 

[IBM]

neis what is your norwood? do you have any picture? If your situation is not that bad you should save the big shot for later.

 

[decro435]

So what's the story with the flat-dose response with Finasteride?

Does a reduction in the dosage lead to a reduction in effectiveness and side effects? It seems like a contridiction to claim this.

I read a while a go that proscar (5mg of finasteride) only blocks 5% more dht than propecia (1mg of finasteride). However i also read that side effects where more commonly reported with proscar than propecia.

I don't understand this, it really makes no sense if they both contain the same ingredients. Unfortuenatly, I did get sides when I switched from Finpecia to Proscar, my guess is that that was just a coincidence.

 

[neis]

So... any update ?

neis what is your norwood? do you have any picture? If your situation is not that bad you should save the big shot for later.

Here is the answer:

viewtopic.php?f=42&t=52259&start=12

 

[neis]

Hey guys,

I am back to give a quick update:



Before 1,5-2 months, I switched from 1mg propecia/daily to 5mg proscar/daily and from xandrox 15% regular to xandrox 15% plus. Before two weeks I started shedding like crazy. The shedding is so incredible and hasn’t stopped - now shedding long thick/healthy hairs, not just weaker ones. The front third of the scalp is a disaster area (all things considered in the world, there are many worse things, but alas, this isn’t all that good…)

I wonder though if it will recover now, but I rarely think so - I wonder if this is male pattern baldness or just a good sign of regrowth. Is really 5mg proscar/daily weaker than 1mg propecia/daily? Being on such potent regimen, I can't believe that the balding process is continuing. I am thinking about switching back to 1mg propecia/daily or even to dutasteride(which I am religious about). God only knows.

I'm in an awkward situation, so any advice is greatly appreciated...

 

[JWM]

My guess is you are experiencing a heavy shed from the high strength minoxidil. I would stick with 5 mg of finasteride and give Xandrox 15 another few months before making further assessments.

 

[neis]

Thanks JWM for the feedback,


I don't think that this damn shed is due to the high concentration of minoxidil. I was previously using xandrox 15% regular for 4 months with no shedding. These last 2 weeks I started shedding like crazy after those two switches. I was planning to stick with my current regimen for another 5 months, but I feel like I'm fighting a losing battle and like I am losing ground.
I am thinking about using dutasteride twice a week as well as finasteride(5mg proscar) a day(like ShadowRX), while using xandrox 15% plus as well.

 

[moxsom]

By upping the dose, you could conceivably buy yourself more time. Even Dr. Proctor has recommended skipping does here and there to avoid tolerance.

That's one thing that I disagree with Dr. Proctor about. I don't think there's any such thing as "tolerance" to finasteride. Not in the way most people mean, when they use that word.

Does this not come from the assumption that since androgen receptors in the prostate can, over time, become resistant to anti-androgens and inhibitors that the same can happen with scalp ARs?

 

[Bryan]

That's one thing that I disagree with Dr. Proctor about. I don't think there's any such thing as "tolerance" to finasteride. Not in the way most people mean, when they use that word.

Does this not come from the assumption that since androgen receptors in the prostate can, over time, become resistant to anti-androgens and inhibitors that the same can happen with scalp ARs?

No, I don't think it has anything to do with a change in the response to androgens. I think what Dr. Proctor was talking about is a gradual decrease in the ability of finasteride to inhibit 5a-reductase. In other words, it gradually becomes unable to lower the production of DHT.