Should I use propecia?

[StillHere]

Hi

I'm 18 and from the UK and found out about 6/7 months ago that I have fallen victim to the genetic mutation that bonds us all on this forum - I was going bald at 17!
I first tried to deny it as we all did - that didn't go well. Then I tried using alpecin a caffeine shampoo hoping to solve the problem cheaply - it was snake oil. I did some internet surfing and found this site and you all seem like a group of very supportive and benevolent people who can help me.
I then started 5% minox 2x a day and I had the dread shed that thinned out my hair considerably in 3 weeks (I'm a diffuse thinner by the way) but then it subsided and I began to experience regrowth over the next 4 months or so with my hair now approaching its pre-balding thickness.
About 4 weeks ago I started on azelaic acid once a day as well as minox 2x a day so I don't know if its working or not yet - i'll give it a few months before I make a judgement.
But now I'm wondering whether or not to use propecia to really get some results and hopefully halt the loss (I already use nizoral as well). But seeing as I'm only 18 I'm wondering whether it is potentially more risky than normal as my secondary sexual characteristics (influenced by DHT) have not fully developed. Would it be better to wait a couple of years or should I just go for it?

Any replies would be welcome. Good luck to everyone and thanks in advance!

[chrisis]

I had bad side effects after taking it for 2 months. Stopped in April and still not back to normal. Will I ever be? I'd advise caution to anyone now. You'll get many men telling you it's fine, but my story is proof that the risks are real and you're playing a game of chance with your sexual health. Is it worth it? That's something only you can decide.

[stratofortress]

The problem is with minox is while it can stimulate growth and in some cases temporarily reverse the loss and thicken hair, in the long term without a DHT blocker it's like throwing buckets of water out of a sinking boat-you need some form of DHT blocker to take control of the loss, especially since you're so young.

It's said that Propecia is safe for men over 18, but it's still not a decision you should take lightly as you'll be on it in the long term.

[WashedOut]

It's really up to you. The risks are pretty clear and there's really no way to know if you will be one of the unlucky ones. From the two doctors I've spoken to they seem to have seen few people with side effects but it does happen as you see from some of the users on the forum.

[rdawg]

It's a slight risk but the pros outweigh the cons IMO. I'm on it and experience no side effects so far. MANY don't experience side effects(my guess is the major side effects affect around 5-10% of the people that take the drug). Side effects do occur and some on here have them but millions take this pill and don't experience it. Take it and if you experience side effects just get off of it! it could save the hair you have.

[chrisis]

rdawg, I had the same thought, re: getting off the drug if I had side effects. They don't necessarily go away that easily. You need to bear that in mind before consuming this drug.

[StillHere]

Thanks guys for the replies

I've heard that a lot of people start using propecia by starting with 0.1 mg a day and then gradually up the dose to 1 mg a day. Would this prevent sides or just tell me how much propecia I need/can handle?


Also what does everyone think of azelaic acid as a DHT blocker?

[clandestine]

Also what does everyone think of azelaic acid as a DHT blocker?

Probably useless.

Try perhaps a sitosterol based topical or maybe RU if you're not feeling fin.

[DAVE52]

... azelaic acid as a DHT blocker?

As mentioned probably useless

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azelaic_acid

Azelaic acid is used to treat mild to moderate acne,

[beatinghairloss]

Should you use Propecia....

I say. No.


I am not a doctor.

[rdawg]

rdawg, I had the same thought, re: getting off the drug if I had side effects. They don't necessarily go away that easily. You need to bear that in mind before consuming this drug.

I think you're one of the unlucky few that still have some side effects afterward. The chances of that are quite low(around 1%? from what i've read) which is far too low to not at least try the drug. It's a risk but probably not much more of a risk than any other medication would have.

[beatinghairloss]

I think you're one of the unlucky few that still have some side effects afterward. The chances of that are quite low(around 1%? from what i've read) which is far too low to not at least try the drug. It's a risk but probably not much more of a risk than any other medication would have.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247858.php

[rdawg]

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247858.php

Fair enough but that doesn't tell me it's more than 1%. How many millions of men are on this pill? 1% would mean around 1000-2000 men have more permanent dysfunction, which is more than enough to have a vocal minority.

Numerous people have had side effects and then they go away after a few weeks on the pill or after they stop taking it.

Not saying it doesn't happen, I'm sure it does. I just feel like people overblow the number when millions have zero or very minor issues when taking the drug.

[25 going on 65]

That article is old news. It's just on a few dozen case studies on men who claimed to have persistent side effects before they were ever chosen to participate.

As for whether someone should take finasteride, every guy has to decide that for himself. There's a small chance of developing noticeable sides (studies say 5% or less, though I think it could be higher), and a very small chance that some of them will persist months or years after quitting. However we don't know what % of those with persistent sides seek medical treatment, and what % of those fully disclose to their doctors. Some have successfully recovered from persistent sides with something as simple as supplementation of testosterone. (That's doesn't mean everyone will have that ability.)
I generally take a positive view of fin on this forum because almost anyone posting here is abnormally bothered by their hair loss, and this drug will maintain or regrow hair for a minimum of 8/10 users for at least a few years (on average you can stay above baseline for more than 5), and it will slow hair loss after that for an unknown length of time (at least 17 years, as we know from Spencer). So in my personal situation, the 5-10% chance of sides and the 1% (or less?) chance of persistent sides was not worth tossing the 80+% chance of stopping my hair loss. And I also knew of the 100% chance of continued hair loss without DHT therapy.

However the risk isn't going to be worth it for everyone. Besides side effect risks, a minority of users do not appreciably respond to finasteride. You have to figure out what amount of risk you're willing to take to keep your hair. For me it was an obvious choice, but I was affected terribly by starting to lose my hair.

[beatinghairloss]

I just believe that we don't need Propecia

I agree it’s a decision that only the person contemplating it can surely make. I do mean to discourage people from taking a pill that may cause long lasting unwanted sexual side effects but for good reason. Maybe I am wrong but would you say that the following deserves more thought?

The stickiness of your ejaculate is made of the seaman produced in the prostate. This fluid keeps the sperm produced in your testicles alive in the highly acidic vagina. Sperm combines with seaman as it passes through the prostate to make up the total ejaculate. Is it not strange that most taking Propecia experience the least bothersome side effect a watery ejaculate? It’s pretty clear that Propecia is causing the prostate to stop functioning whether it’s by shrinking it or by rendering it partly inactive. Well my simple point is that if you stop ejaculating then you would accomplish a smaller less active prostate the major site in your body of T to DHT conversion. So while I think any person should be able to, with proper education of the risks, make the decision of whether or not to take Propecia I also believe they should be well aware that periodic abstinence may have the same and possibly minor positive effect of Propecia.