Finasteride timeframe

[townie]

Hey guys,

What exactly is the time frame of finasteride? How long does the shedding phase last? Which month do you normally notice a significant improvement in hair growth? I have been taking finasteride for 4 months now and I still have hair loss, should I be worried that it is not working for me?

[Dan26]

Varries from person to person

If your hairloss still has not stabalized after 12-18 months then you can start worrying but until then just be patient

[win200]

There's a big range. Some people start noticing efficacy at a couple months. I started in September '12 and it basically took a year to really, meaningfully reduce shedding. I have very little visible loss now--only about ten hairs when I shampoo vigorously and a couple stray ones when I rub in minoxidil. My advice: if you are six months in and not seeing the results you want, DO NOT STOP THE MEDICATION. If you have side effects, of course, that's another conversation entirely (and for a different thread).

[Artista]

I started taking Finasteride at 1 mg per day for approx 3 months & 10 days now.
I have not experienced any side-effects.
Im approx at a NW5a currently and
I DO SEE a positive reaction to my hair overall.
I have not experienced any shedding which is neither good nor bad.
As Dan26 and Win200 had suggested it really varies from person to person

[mpb47]

Hey guys,

What exactly is the time frame of finasteride? How long does the shedding phase last? Which month do you normally notice a significant improvement in hair growth? I have been taking finasteride for 4 months now and I still have hair loss, should I be worried that it is not working for me?

I asked this very same question awhile back when I was shedding like crazy and one poster said his went on for a solid 4 months and not until 5-6 months did things turn around. So I would not worry one bit about this though I know that is easier said than done.

[redy]

are you losing THICK hairs?

or are the hairs that fall out thinner or part of the strand is thinning?

Thick hairs mean your MPB hasn't been halted completely, thinning hairs mean you're possibly continuing your MPB or possibly your scalp is shedding the thin hairs because the meds kicked your follicle in the ass and it will grow back in a few months stronger and thicker.

[townie]

are you losing THICK hairs?

or are the hairs that fall out thinner or part of the strand is thinning?

Thick hairs mean your MPB hasn't been halted completely, thinning hairs mean you're possibly continuing your MPB or possibly your scalp is shedding the thin hairs because the meds kicked your follicle in the ass and it will grow back in a few months stronger and thicker.

Oh okay that makes sense! the majority of the hair falling out seems to be lighter than normal. Is that what normally happens so?

[redy]

Oh okay that makes sense! the majority of the hair falling out seems to be lighter than normal. Is that what normally happens so?

Listen man, I'm not a doctor or a specialist or a seasoned veteran - I'm in your boat. A kid losing hair and desperate for a solution. I'm trying to be very optimistic - I can see my old hairline coming back and even hair I don't remember ever really having is showing up under the light.

What I have read and seen is that the shed from meds will have your scalp basically kick damaged follicles the hell off your head, for the follicles that have responded to treatment. However, this can be mistaken with just a continuation of shedding from MPB. For me, my shedding stopped at a very low dosage when I first started, then I upped it and I started shedding again and it seems to have evened out now (3.5 months).

Now, I was extremely freaked out about this, so I started reading again. Then I realized one day I was combing my hair pretty harshly in the non-effected area and a hair with a black bulb came out. And this hair was thick as hell man! I thought to myself, this might be significant? Apparently, black bulbs signify a growing/changing follicle (the actual root). Then I realized never have I seen a hair fall out without a white bulb, and then I started to realize that these hairs were no where close to as thick and dark as the one I ripped out basically. I stuck that hair in my medicine cabinet. Since then I have stuck similar length hairs that have been pulled or fallen next to it to put my mind at ease. Now, also keep in mind this thick hair might have been a hair shifting into a thinner state in the reverse fashion that we want to be happening. But nonetheless, it proved to me that my hair shouldn't be as thin as the falling hairs were.

I don't know for sure, but it helps me sleep at night knowing that the hairs that fall out are thin and dying - not thick and healthy. You can also even look at the hair strand, a lot of mine seem to have sections at the end of the strand that are thinner than the rest. On the rogaine site, it says that follicles will often shed after being given a strong signal to grow from the foam - such that these half thin hairs were like "shit, I need a bigger room around here"

Anyway, that's my theory. If my hair gets better I'll know for sure. Good luck man.