Efficacy of Hair Loss Medications on the Front of the Scalp

[blakes33]

thanks 25 - very scary to risk ANY kind of permanent sexual dysfunctioning but also scary to lose hair that one has kept 14 years. Obviously, the unknown is HOW MUCH hair I might lose by staying off, and how quickly!!

[WarLord]

Minoxidil has a different effect than finasteride and won't stop your hair loss. It stimulates growth where your follicles can still grow hair, but the number of follicles capable of growing hair will continue to decrease if you have male-pattern hair loss and are not using finasteride or dutasteride.

Blah blah blah... And the old bullsh*t again! So you are surprised that some people can maintain hair on finasteride for 10+ years? But why do you yourself contribute to spreading misinformation in the internet? What a wise head told you this? Can I guess?

[Tracy C]

I have used propecia since it was released (almost 14 years) but recently became VERY worried about the new studies showing potential of permanent hormonal changes and impotence.

If you have been using this medication for 14 years and have not yet experienced any side effects, you are not likely going to experience any side effects.

Propecia and Rogaine do two different things. Propecia treats the cause of hair loss. This effect can prevent further hair loss and possibly allow hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair - but it does nothing to stimulate hair follciles to grow hair. Rogaine stimulates hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair - but it does nothing to treat the cause of hair loss.

[TheDude]

My question is, when you have been using propecia for 5 years and the effects are noticeable wearing off especially in the frontal region, what options do we have?

Increase the dose? already tried with little success or

move onto avodart, at the moment im too worried to make that jump.. yet im balding faster than ever..

[25 going on 65]

You could try an increased finasteride dose but it may take a year before you can really tell if it's working.
RE: dutasteride (Avodart). I'm considering it myself. But it's not FDA-approved to treat hair loss, which makes it a bit more challenging to get a prescription in my experience. And compared to the 5 mg finasteride tablets I've been using (cutting into quarters), Avodart is expensive.
We also don't have as much info on any long-term side effects it might have, though I've heard of people taking it at least 5-6 years straight for hair loss. Short-term, if your body handles fin well it will probably handle dut well, but there's no guarantee since dut has an additional mechanism of action that fin does not.

[PatientlyWaiting]

I have been on Fin for over a year, and only am able to hold on to what I have. I wonder why it works so well on those guys in the photos, giving them regrowth. I also use minoxidil as well. I don't get it. I guess hair losses are more aggressive than others, and it may take longer than a year for some.

I know for sure without fin/minoxidil, I would have been way worse. The rate I was losing hair was very aggressive, but never as bad as the guys before pics on the photos, that's what I don't get.

[blakes33]

If you have been using this medication for 14 years and have not yet experienced any side effects, you are not likely going to experience any side effects.

Propecia and Rogaine do two different things. Propecia treats the cause of hair loss. This effect can prevent further hair loss and possibly allow hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair - but it does nothing to stimulate hair follciles to grow hair. Rogaine stimulates hair follicles that can still grow hair to grow hair - but it does nothing to treat the cause of hair loss.

Thanks Tracy. Yeah, I tend to agree for the most part that after this long I probably won't develop any sexual side-effects if I go back on. I have been off for 12 weeks now, so I probably need to start very soon if I am going to. But the other part of me is worried because I have read that a few of the men who developed permanent problems were in fact guys who had been on the drug 10+ years..... argghh very discouraging!!

I will say that for the last year while on the drug, nothing sexually happened but i developed SEVERELY dry skin on my hands that would not heal (went to 2 dermatologists who could not help even with steroid creams). 3 weeks off propecia and my hands healed up!! strange huh... Also, I did have testicle pain for about the first 9 weeks after coming off the drug that was pretty disturbing.

[TheDude]

Thats the problem, the people that are on avodart either don't frequent hair loss forums or choose to remain silent or hairloss sufferers are to worried about this drugs effects to take it..

I actually have a box sitting in my cupboard but i almost feel like its too risky to take the stuff, like the risk is not worth any positive effects it may have and any positive effects aren't guaranteed.

I would trade my hair any day for ability to function like a normal human being and the ability to have normal children if i so choose..

Been thinking about applying it topically with the use of minoxidyl thereby limiting the percentage in my blood stream..

I really don't know.. this hair loss shit really gets me down.. but i think there is a light at the end of the tunnel.. whether its shaving it an just getting over it or whether some form of better treatment happens in the near future..

[25 going on 65]

I'm feeling pretty resolved, at this point, to go on Avodart once my finances are in better shape. I'm willing to stick it out with finasteride until the two-year mark, but I really am starting to feel like my results have hit a wall.
If I do make the switch, I'll let the forum know how it goes.

[Parasol]

There is some misinformation being passed around suggesting that hair loss medications (finasteride and minoxidil) are not effective in growing hair in the front part of the scalp. With our patients’ permission, we have posted the results of treatment with Propecia and Rogaine to show that medications do work well in many cases. It is important to note that most patients have used the medications consistently for at least a year to achieved the desired results.

Below are some examples of Bernstein Medical patients who have treated their hair loss with medication alone. Visit the Bernstein Medical website to see additional before and after photos of medical treatment.

Click for larger versions:

Attachment 13104
Patient OVQ

Attachment 13105
Patient KMJ

Attachment 13106
Patient QTC

rbernstein,

These results are incredibly impressive. Question:

Were all three patients on Minoxidil AND Finasteride? Could you breakdown their regiments?