Switching from Finasteride to Dutasteride

[townie]

Hey guys,

Okay I have been taking Finasteride 1/4 tablet daily, along with rogaine every night and nizoral shampoo twice a week. I have been doing this routine for nearly 2 years now, and its safe to say that my results are negative. I have not regrown any hair. Also, I never went through that 'shed' that everyone talks about. So, where to next? I am thinking of switching to Dutasteride. Does anyone know if Dutasteride will work for me if Finasteride didnt? Any opinion guys on Dutasteride? I feel like its my last hope.

[Buster]

First of all, Finasteride isn't supposed to grow hair, its prime purpose is to maintain. And secondly, you say that you only take 1/4 tablet, do you mean 1/4 of a 5mg tablet or 1/4 of a 1mg tablet?

[townie]

First of all, Finasteride isn't supposed to grow hair, its prime purpose is to maintain. And secondly, you say that you only take 1/4 tablet, do you mean 1/4 of a 5mg tablet or 1/4 of a 1mg tablet?

I take 1/4 tablet of a 5mg tablet.

[macster]

You're doing all you can do and two years is about enough time to get a sense of how the drugs are working for you. It sounds like you are maintaining hair and have halted hair loss, which is good, but you are not regrowing any. Be happy you are not losing any additional hair. That is a good outcome. Now may be the time for you to start research good HT docs, SMP, and perhaps camouflaging agents to give you the look of a fuller head of hair if that is your objective.

[Odam]

Whether to start Dutasteride is a tricky one. You'll hear some people say it's perfectly fine, and others say it's potentially far more risky than Fin. Dutasteride inhibits the activities of two types of 5-alpha-reductase enzymes, Type I and Type II, so naturally more powerful. Don’t know about benefits, but side effects would be certainly greater. Propecia (Finasteride) and Minoxidil are the only ones approved by FDA and proven to work in most men so far. At your dose, you still have potential to increase a dose of finasteride marginally, before moving ahead. Anyway, the best thing you can do is seeking your doctor’s advice.