Survey: Finasteride Users on this forum (one big Finasteride Thread)

[Locke]

I went on Proscar (5mg cut into 4 pieces) 2 years ago for about 6 months and stopped. I think at that point my expectation for the drug was too high. I thought I'd see regrowth or something.

I started taking Propecia 4 months ago and I'm really seeing good results. The hairs on the front of my head were miniaturized 4 months ago but now they're continuing to grow. Overall, my hair looks much thicker.

Initially I didn't feel like myself. I felt like my libido was reduced and my ejaculate volume/consistency was not normal. This was within the first month of use. I'm not sure if it was due to the drug or if it was all just in my head. I also read about the devastating side effects of finasteride online but I've also heard that after 3 months most of the side effects have passed, which was true in my case.

I've also been using Nizoral shampoo and Rogaine foam every once in a while, once per day.

I will post pictures on another thread.

[67mph]

good posting guys,
been on propecia for over 6 months now, and i think, (yes only think) that it's doing me ok, i've stopped sheddin ie. if i drag my fingers through my hair i don't have to sit there counting what's come out, the ones that do i consider to be all very natural happenings.

I'm not sure how many of you can tell if it's doing ok after such a short amount of time on it, this is why i'm giving myself 12months before i conclude some results...but of course carry on taking after the 12 months.

if anything, taking the pill each morning gives me the impression i'm doing something towards hairloss and that alone gives me confidence!

like b77 says, expensive tic tacs, haa.

...there, that was short right?

57mph

[kal-el1975]

Short story on me. Started thinning at 24. Got on Propecia 1mg daily and been on it for 11 yrs. Had great results at around the 1 1/2 year mark as all thinning went away. Stayed pretty much about the same until about year ago when thinning started back up slowly.

Sides included definite decrease in libido which eventually went away after a few months of starting. Also less firm erections in my opinion. Even as recently as a few months ago when I stopped taking it for a month they got better it seemed. So gives me hope that if I do stop taking it any potential effects should go.

Tried adding Rogaine foam for a few months once daily (I refuse to put that stuff on and go out in the morning) with little results.

Now at 35 have noticeable thinning on the top of my head and am trying to supplement with new things. Been taking Biotin and Vitamin B complex with all the suggested extra stuff (insitosol, PABA, etc.)

Thinking of stating on Maxahair supplement to help boost Propecia and also adding Revivogen for natural topical growth stimulant.

Eventually will need to decide on pulling the trigger on shave head or HT.

HT is scary though since if it doesn't go well we all know you cant go back.

[Mr. 4000]

Short story on me. Started thinning at 24. Got on Propecia 1mg daily and been on it for 11 yrs. Had great results at around the 1 1/2 year mark as all thinning went away. Stayed pretty much about the same until about year ago when thinning started back up slowly.

Sides included definite decrease in libido which eventually went away after a few months of starting. Also less firm erections in my opinion. Even as recently as a few months ago when I stopped taking it for a month they got better it seemed. So gives me hope that if I do stop taking it any potential effects should go.

Tried adding Rogaine foam for a few months once daily (I refuse to put that stuff on and go out in the morning) with little results.

Now at 35 have noticeable thinning on the top of my head and am trying to supplement with new things. Been taking Biotin and Vitamin B complex with all the suggested extra stuff (insitosol, PABA, etc.)

Thinking of stating on Maxahair supplement to help boost Propecia and also adding Revivogen for natural topical growth stimulant.

Eventually will need to decide on pulling the trigger on shave head or HT.

HT is scary though since if it doesn't go well we all know you cant go back.

If I could have a do over, I would never spend that type of money on a coin flip, only to have to reschedule a year later to fix or 5 years to maintain. I had a bad result and blame my doctor 100%. He had a horrible day and didn't pay attention to details. He wasn't even clear on my expectation which I was very clear.

Save your money, don't risk surgery when things can go wrong, I am almost a year and a half out and still have major problems

Drugs are never a solution, its all unnatural bullchit that you pollute your body with

[ultraman]

Started Propecia for almost 10 years. It worked very well for me, of course there is no way to compare with the "original looking" before hair loss......Side effects only appeared at the first few months and then disappeared...But last 6 months my hair is getting less and less and shedding is more serious. I started to take SP for a month. Result is yet to see. Of course, 1 thing is that you have to counte the factor also your age. Perhaps you are in the age group of 20-30, Propecia will more much better for you...and when you get older (I am 42 now; and I started hair loss since 20) you will naturally get less hair and sure Propecia wll work much less than before.

Compared with the side effects, I would reallt recommend to take Propecia....I cannot accept myself without hair when I was only 20...

[maripgonzles]

Started Propecia for almost 10 years. It worked very well for me, of course there is no way to compare with the "original looking" before hair loss......Side effects only appeared at the first few months and then disappeared...But last 6 months my hair is getting less and less and shedding is more serious. I started to take SP for a month. Result is yet to see. Of course, 1 thing is that you have to counte the factor also your age. Perhaps you are in the age group of 20-30, Propecia will more much better for you...and when you get older (I am 42 now; and I started hair loss since 20) you will naturally get less hair and sure Propecia wll work much less than before.

Compared with the side effects, I would reallt recommend to take Propecia....I cannot accept myself without hair when I was only 20...

I just started on propecia for two months because I don't want to lose my hair either. Hasn't had any effect thus far. I am 30 now wish I had started sooner.

[PropeciaVictim]

I took finasteride for hairloss for approximately six months upon which I developed complete impotence instantly one night. I stopped taking the drug and within about a month I began to have wild mood swings and the sensation of anxiety and confusion that lasted about four or five months. The impotence improved slightly in that my penis is able to slightly inflate where as it was completely flacid while on propecia, but I still have ED over one year after stopping.

I have seen several doctors and they cannot determine a proper treatment. It was found that my DHT were at the very bottom of the normal range for a normal male. Despite having stopped the drug for one year, my levels are equivalent to the average male who has been on the drug for a full twelve months. Hormone therapy did not improve the situation and Viagra only partially works as it can restore rigidity but does not help with the loss of sensitivity.

I'm putting this out there so potential Propecia customers can have an idea of what a worst-case-scenario can look like. In fact, things can be worse as many men have anxiety and confusion that lasts indefinitely, so I am fortunate in this regard. It is not a common occurrence, of course, but it is becomingly increasingly more apparent that a very small group of men have this adverse reaction to the drug that appears to be permanent.

[mattj]

Hi PropeciaVictim,
I'm sorry to hear about the negative effects you had with Propecia. I'm glad that you're more moderate than some others who had a bad experience with the drug, and acknowledge that your persisting problems are not the normal response. I think it's important to educate potential users but not scare them, as so many guys benefit from taking it.

My main reason for replying is to ask whether your hairloss has continued after stopping the drug. (It would be helpful to know whether it was aggressive hairloss to begin with.)

[PropeciaVictim]

Hi Matt,

Since I have quit the drug, over one year ago, my hair loss has not resumed. It briefly returned when I was on testosterone replacement therapy because my DHT levels shot through the roof but after quitting hormones the hairloss stopped or at least drastically slowed. I think this is a very strong indication that the problems were drug-related and not psychosomatic as many skeptics like to claim. My initial hairloss was not very aggressive, but was definitely noticeable to other people.

I am personally very much anti-Propecia but some people would be willing to take the risk of permanent sexual failure for the prospects of maintaining hair. As long as they are aware of the possibility consequences, it is their prerogative to do what they want. Had I been informed of the full risks, there is absolutely no chance I would have taken Propecia.

Hi PropeciaVictim,
I'm sorry to hear about the negative effects you had with Propecia. I'm glad that you're more moderate than some others who had a bad experience with the drug, and acknowledge that your persisting problems are not the normal response. I think it's important to educate potential users but not scare them, as so many guys benefit from taking it.

My main reason for replying is to ask whether your hairloss has continued after stopping the drug. (It would be helpful to know whether it was aggressive hairloss to begin with.)

[PatientlyWaiting]

I'm 28, and I have been taking finasteride for about 10 months. My response has been fantastic, to the extent that it is possibly atypical. Before I started taking propecia I had the beginnings of a NW3 situation. Everyone I knew commented on the developing bald spot. Thankfully, my barber was willing to help hide it, and with his clever cutting, and black hair dye, my hair appeared ok.

However, I knew that it was going to get worse, so I started on finasteride. Within 4 months I could see shitloads of new white hairs on both my hairline and crown. at about 6 months it was visualy obvious that my hair was a lot thicker. And at ten months, where I am at right now, I do not have any obvious signs of baldness. MY bald spot has completely filled in. It's perhaps a little less dense than the rest of my hair, but it is absolutely amazing.

One year ago, I was at a party where I asked a girl to guess my age. She said 28. Two weeks ago, a different girl thought I was 22. That demonstrates how much my hair had improved thanks to propecia. I have had no sides. It is just an awesome and safe drug.

Great story.

Wow a girl thought you were my age, 22, lol. Some people who first meet me think i'm 18 even with my receding temples/hairline, I can only imagine how old I would look with a better hairline. That is why I don't give up.

BTW, for the thread: I've been on generic 5MG finasteride for roughly 7 months, 1.25MG a day. What I initially thought that I just maintained with just a little bit thickness in the back and just a bit of baby hairs in the temples, I was wrong..last night I stumbled in to some pictures I took with a 1 haircut, in 2009 September 21. My hair looks better now than it did in 2009! I was like wow, it really impressed me and now i'm even more determined to stay on finasteride. I've also been using Kirkland's minoxidl for 6 months so that has helped.

Forgot to add: I got a hair with a 1, two days ago.

In 2010 I was on and off fin/min. This is the first time since I started losing hair[16] that I have been on fin/minoxidil for this long and this consistent. I couldn't stay this consistent before because of financial reasons.

[baldesswonder]

I found propecia 1mg was all I needed to stop all hair loss wish I had taken pictures cause i feel i might have gotten some hair regrowth. This is where I buy the generic without a prescription http://easy-to-use-pharmacy.com/ and had no problems.

[3rd time]

Started finasteride a few months before my first HT. The product itself worked very well for me. I noticed my hair was thicker, looked better and halted any further hair loss.
I noticed side effects from the third week but at the time continued to use it and give it a chance. I had read that side effects can subside as you continue with it.
At about the 6 month mark I could not maintain an erection, had no interest in sex and was suffering from anxiety. I was very upset that I had to stop taking it. Even though I was close to an NW6 I still noticed that within a year of stopping my native hair on the sides continued to recede lower. Making my first hair transplant look like an island of hair which needed to reconnect with the sides.
It took well over a month for the sexual sides to completely subside. My sperm was a lot healthier and got my libido back.
6 years have passed and recently had my third Ht. My doc suggested I give fin another try at a much lower dosage for me twice a week. Again 2 weeks into it I noticed the same side effects. Tried an even lower dosage after that and still no luck.
Im so upset that my body cannot tolerate even a small dosage. I really believe that even 1/4 twice a week can do wonders for a lot of people as it stays in your system for a long time. This was confirmed by my doc.
I do believe the product works well but for me it's not worth the the sides. I can only hope something better comes along in the future that will help those people who cannot tolerate even a small dosage.

[baldozer]

I got on proscar several months after I realised I was losing hair, which was actually further into the balding process than most guys probably are when they notice. I'll never understand how I missed it for so long. I'd say I was a NW2. Just recession at the front.

Anyway, I think my hairloss accelerated a bit after I started taking it. Up until then it had been very gradual and then I noticed some fairly rapid thinning (still only at the front) over the following months. That stopped, however, and I'd say that things have remained unchanged ever since. I would conservatively designate myself a NW2A. The younger guys in the other forums might call me a NW3.

Started December 2005, proscar 1.25 mg (roughly) per day. No other medications or products at all.

No side effects to speak of. I do notice itching and can feel small, zit-like things in my hairline if a skip a few days.

Personally I think that the anti-finasteride hysteria which lurks around some areas of the internet must be responsible for a lot of unnecessary balding in the guys who choose to listen to the loud minority over the mostly silent majority.

The thing is that hair doesn't serve any useful purpose other than cosmetics, so for some people keeping your hair while potentially destroying your hormonal balance isn't worth it.

[35YrsAfter]

The thing is that hair doesn't serve any useful purpose other than cosmetics, so for some people keeping your hair while potentially destroying your hormonal balance isn't worth it.

Here is a quote from an LA Times article:

"Skin cancer of the scalp is not as common as on other areas of the body. But it poses its own set of challenges. "The problem is that the hair can obscure a skin cancer so that the diagnosis is delayed," says Dr. Ronald Moy, president of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Although those with thick hair have less to worry about — the hair acts as a barrier to the sun and protects the scalp — those with balding or thinning hair are more susceptible to developing skin cancer. "Skin cancer is very common on the scalp in thinning individuals — males and females — since it usually stands out to get direct sun exposure," says Dr. Paul McAndrews, clinical professor at the USC School of Medicine."

I personally believe that a full head of hair can offer some protection from sunburn that can lead to Actinic Keratosis which can later become skin cancer. On the other hand, doctors who once thought Melanoma was related to sun exposure are seeing it on patients in areas that were not exposed to the sun. Doctors are divided on the issue of sun exposure. Some will tell you to avoid all sun exposure while others say limited exposure is healthy. I personally believe that limited sun exposure is healthy. Some doctors believe that ingredients in some sunscreen products cause cancer. Studies prove that a low fat diet will improve Actinic Keratosis and in some cases eliminate the red scaly patches.


35YrsAfter also posts as CITNews and works at Dr. Cole's office

https://www.forhair.com

Cole Hair Transplant
1045 Powers Place
Alpharetta, Georgia 30009
Phone 678-566-1011
email 35YrsAfter at chuck@forhair.com
Please feel free to call or email me with any questions. Ask for Chuck

[gillenator]

Glad to see many of you having effective results with low dose finasteride. Although it will never completely stop hair loss, it can however slow down the progression of MPB in many men including myself. I started it in 1996 before Propecia was approved by the FDA. So low dose finasteride can buy us time and it really is a matter of personal choice.

I do want to caution many of the men who are losing their hair to first get examined and properly diagnosed for MPB by a licensed physician experienced in treating genetic hairloss. There are qualified derms who treat MPB, medicinally speaking.

There are many internet sites where you can just go online and buy finasteride but you owe it to yourselves to first be properly diagnosed.