Anyone stop finasteride and then start back up?

[Sweeny1982]

I've been on finasteride for 5 years and just recently stopped for personal reasons. I was off the pill for about 5 weeks. I've since started back up and have been taking it for about 3 weeks. Life has been busy and just recently noticed my hair has thinned out a TON on top! I haven't noticed excessive shedding but do know this is new. I'm unsure if this hair loss is from stopping finasteride and those 5 years catching up to me or if it could be a shed from starting finasteride. For anyone who has stopped finasteride for a short time and then started back up what did you experience? Would stopping finasteride for just over a month have such a dramatic effect so fast? If this is a shed will I eventually regrow all that I have lost?

 

[Wowjpk]

No way to really say. What has happened happened though, your best course of action is just to continue finasteride use. maybe your hair isn't actually thinner, your mind could be subliminally doing this because you stopped. Pictures would be the best way to tell!

 

[lickawrist]

So, you've been on finasteride for 5 years and stopped cold turkey for 5 weeks and then went back on it for three weeks?

Let me describe to you the hormonal changes you've made in oversimplified way:

1) You quit finasteride after taking it for years: androgen levels start to gradually rise after a couple days to a week or so
2) You discontinue finasteride for 5 weeks: androgen levels at this point start to normalize and you have about as much dht as you did before finasteride. It is at this stage that dht starts binding to the affected follicles--you may not notice any thinning because follicular miniaturization is a process that occurs over months or years.
3) You take finasteride for the first time in 5 weeks: abruptly, you inhibit 5ar type 2 activity. Consequently, dht levels take a sudden turn and drop. What you've essentially done is shocked your body and the Telogen Effluvium (or shed) is your body's natural response to this sudden change in androgens.

I believe your shed hairs will grow back, but how long it will take is a question I cannot answer.

 

[Sweeny1982]

Thank you for your detailed response. I'm hopeful this is the reason as I feel like I lost my hair over night. I'm hopeful they will grow back! Hopefully sooner than later!

 

[lickawrist]

Thank you for your detailed response. I'm hopeful this is the reason as I feel like I lost my hair over night. I'm hopeful they will grow back! Hopefully sooner than later!

Just commit to the regimen, no matter how "bad" it gets. Good luck!