Finasteride for 2+ years and no results

[jackk]

Hi guys,

I've been on Finasteride 1mg for 2 years and 4 months. I am really starting to think it doesn't work - if anything, my hairloss has gradually got worse in that time. I'm talking about thinning of the crowd, gradually creeping forward in a diffuse-thinning style.

Crucially, I never experienced any periods of heavy shedding when on fin. So that's leading me to believe I'm unresponsive to the treatment.

I also used Rogaine foam for 1 year, but again, that gave me no results and actually lead to a couple of health problems (alopecia areata to be specific).

So I'm at a bit of a loss here. I really don't want to be taking a drug that's having no effect. What are my options here guys? I'm scared of the stronger stuff like Dut...

I dunno...Any advice much appreciated! Cheers.

[Notcoolanymore]

It's a tough call. You can stop treatments and see if your hair loss gets worse, then you will know it was working. It just sucks because what if you go through a massive shed when you stop fin and are unable to recover by getting back on fin? Just a really tough call.

[jackk]

Yeah buddy, I just don't know what to do. I've been on fin for quite a long time now, so I'm also worried about what might happen if I stop. I don't want to undo 2+ years of medication. Damn this is hard.

How common is it for guys to have no results on fin over this sort of time period?

[Randomb]

Its likely that it is slowing down hair loss, I seriously doubt it's not working at all.
You could try dut apparently it's stronger than fin

[67mph]

Same sort of timeline for me, but i'm convinced it's woked for me.

In hindsight and if i were you, i'd stay on the pill and get some Toppik in the post, it'll give you another 2 years perhaps.

Though, of course, after that then we're in the same boat, when to tone down the Toppik and how long to a better cure!?

...scary shit eh?

[jackk]

The reason I believe it isn't working for me is that I've never experienced any shedding periods. Not at the start (like most people) or any time since. It was the same with minoxidil.

You're right, the drug is probably doing something, but its effects might just be so small that they make no visible difference, if you get what I mean?

The way I see it, these are my options:

1. Switch to an alternative source of finasteride. I'm on Finpecia 1mg. I could change to Fincar or Proscar. I know some people have claimed that changing between them made a big difference, but I can't fully believe it since it the same active ingredient.

2. Switch to Dut. This scares me a bit because it's a lot stronger and apparently more dangerous. It's also really expensive!

3. I dunno. Any ideas on the third option?

I know absolutely nothing about Topik and haven't even considered it until now - is it really any good? Isn't it, like, really obvious you're wearing it, especially when the weather's bad (yeah, I live in the UK!).

Cheers fellas!

[Dan26]

id give dut a try

you have no idea how much fin is even lowering your DHT by, it varies from person to person based on genotype...you could be a poor responder

dut will do the job...your hair may not have massive positive effects, but you will be doing all that's in your power to help it

[jackk]

Thanks for your input, Dan.

I do believe I'm a 'poor responder' - no sheds whatsoever, no benefits after 2+ years... It's just getting slowly worse. MPB isn't even that bad in my family!

Sigh...