Doctor's orders, "quit Propecia" - a little advice

[rapidfrontal]

Dr. Lee has told me that I should stop taking Propecia. He told me this about a month ago and I didn't, but I am considering it now. Here is the situation:

I've been diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium that has caused my naturally occurring male pattern baldness to accelerate by about 10 fold. My hair is fine with the exception of my right temple that is about a Norwood 4 (left temple is Norwood 2 or less). My shedding began in Dec. 2004 and continues today but not as much. I consulted with Dr. Lee and he told me that due to the fact that so many people report shedding with the use of Propecia I should stop using it because it may be doing more harm than good in my case. His point is to get the shedding to stop and then hopefully my male pattern baldness will return to its normal rate before the Telogen Effluvium. I've been on Propecia since Feb 2, 2005 (over 4 months) and I am very reluctant to stop taking it because it may be working for me, but I really want my shedding to stop.

What do you all think? Should I stop taking Propecia or wait out the shed?
Any input would be much appreciated.

 

[Guest]

You have posed a very difficult question for us all. I would not like to say to be honest. You can go either way. Which ever direction that is, you could regret that choice. That's how close it is....

 

[md2002]

Tough question, but... I think, and have found, Dr. Lee usually knows what he is talking about.

 

[jfrank]

i'm interested in this post..since starting propecia my male pattern baldness hair accellerated 100x.. perfect hairline went to NW3+ in 3 months.. i'm still shedding.... but am hoping it is slowing down

i'm have all been diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium as well..

im going to sticvk with propecia... i'm hoping it woujld soon kick in and regrow most of the hair i had shed..

 

[DjSap]

I've been reading this board for about a month now and I still can't figure it out, what does Telogen Effluvium stand for?

 

[Guest]

Tellogen Effluviom

 

[rapidfrontal]

Thanks for all the replies, guys. I am going to take a minute to respond to some of your replies. I know this is a difficult one to respond to and I think that is why I am struggling so much. I want to stay on Propecia because my hair has improved so much on top and the crown seems to be holding pretty well, but on the other hand I need the shedding to stop because that is my only shot at getting my crazy right temple to stop. I know I am not going to get any regrowth there, or at least I don't expect to, but if it would stop I'd be happy.

 

[The Gardener]

Telogen Effluvium = Terminal Erection

 

[rapidfrontal]

i'm interested in this post..since starting propecia my male pattern baldness hair accellerated 100x.. perfect hairline went to NW3+ in 3 months.. i'm still shedding.... but am hoping it is slowing down

i'm have all been diagnosed with Telogen Effluvium as well..

im going to sticvk with propecia... i'm hoping it woujld soon kick in and regrow most of the hair i had shed..

Has your hairloss accelerated 100x because of the Propecia or the Telogen Effluvium. My acceleration is the result initially of the Telogen Effluvium, I just worry that the Propecia may be causing shedding of its own outside of the Telogen Effluvium. I was definitely going to stick with Propecia, but its getting to the point where I soon will have a very strange hairloss pattern very noticeable to everybody. Currently it is dealable, but soon it won't be. That is why I am seriously considering taking the Dr.'s advice now. I don't expect regrowth in my temples at all even after shedding stops. The top has definitely thickened up over the past couple months as my Telogen Effluvium is slowly coming under control, I think.

 

[rapidfrontal]

I've been reading this board for about a month now and I still can't figure it out, what does Telogen Effluvium stand for?

Telogen Effluvium is Telogen Effluvium or temporary hairloss caused usually by some inciting event, such as major trauma, or in my case an event that brought about debilitating stress. I don't just mean everyday stress, but the kind that many people will go their entire lives with and never experience. If you have that kind of stress you'll know it.

 

[rapidfrontal]

Well, let me ask this then to any of you who have experience with Propecia. If I stop taking the drug and then I have to start again in the future, say 6 months later, is it going to work, assuming that it is working now?

 

[jfrank]

well, my doctor told me i had a case of Telogen Effluvium, and accelerated male pattern baldness.. for my own opinion, it looks like male pattern baldness on the temples and hairline - unbeleiveably thinned out.. left more than right.. but now the same... and i suffered Telogen Effluvium on top..... i most point out that i had really really thick hair at the frontal hairline and temples three months ago... now after the Telogen Effluvium.and male pattern baldness, i dont have enough hair to cover up the bad areas.. i have to use toppik... but near my frontal hairline, it is obvious and cant hide it anymore...

my plan is to ingore looking at my hair in the mirror for the next few weeks.. i was going to get a haircut a few days ago, however, my hair thinned so quicky, that i can no longer get a haircut.

3 months of propecia.... will wait till the end of 4th month... hope to see some poistive reaction at that point.. if not... suicide... jk

 

[rapidfrontal]

well, my doctor told me i had a case of Telogen Effluvium, and accelerated male pattern baldness.. for my own opinion, it looks like male pattern baldness on the temples and hairline - unbeleiveably thinned out.. left more than right.. but now the same... and i suffered Telogen Effluvium on top..... i most point out that i had really really thick hair at the frontal hairline and temples three months ago... now after the Telogen Effluvium.and male pattern baldness, i dont have enough hair to cover up the bad areas.. i have to use toppik... but near my frontal hairline, it is obvious and cant hide it anymore...

my plan is to ingore looking at my hair in the mirror for the next few weeks.. i was going to get a haircut a few days ago, however, my hair thinned so quicky, that i can no longer get a haircut.

3 months of propecia.... will wait till the end of 4th month... hope to see some poistive reaction at that point.. if not... suicide... jk

Well, we have similar situations. I am disappointed about the fact that Propecia apparently has little or no affect on the hairline because that is where my problem is. I can deal with my hair the way it is or even if it continues to worsen for a couple of months, which I am sure it will, but after that I am really going to start having issues. I just got my haircut yesterday and the bad areas are really showing. Its just crazy how thick my hair is on top and how it looks great everywhere else. Its just that f*****g right temple that won't stop receding. I'll keep you informed. Good luck.

 

[Minox_Baby]

I'm in a similar situation. Started finasteride. just over a year ago to try and stop my hairline receeding. Was on it for four months, which was able to slow my recession down. I also experienced thickening on top of my head. I stupidly stopped for 2 weeks, upon which my hairloss started again and I lost all my progress. I also didn't experience any shedding at all during those 4 months.

Restarted at the end of November 04. Things seemed to be OK until the middle of February when I started to shed really badly. I also started getting iches all over my body. I decided to ride it out and see if things turned round for me, but when I started to lose the density around the back and side of my head I started to panic. At the same time I knew If I chucked the towel in then I would be a NW6ish within about a year.

I was in a no win situation but I knew I had to do something fast. I'd also found out what those iches were, they were new hairs forming on my body (top of arms, back of hands etc.). I'm convinced that this was due to me stopping finasteride. for two weeks last year. I've definately experienced at T.E. episode which has greatly increased my hairloss.

Anyway I decided to decrease my intake of finasteride and see what happend. I only took a dose once a week for two weeks and then slowly built up to the maximum dose and my shedding stopped. Yes it stopped. I'm currently on 1.25mg a day and have been like that for about 6 weeks. Touch wood I won't start shedding again. My hair still looks like sh*t though and its really thin. I'm just hoping that the hair I shed during the T.E. will return but at the moment its not looking good.

I'll keep you updated.

 

[jfrank]

well, what i notcied on my hair after three months of finasteride use was that

1) hairline went from perfect to NW3 and still getting worse
2) however, i am seeing dozens of 1/2" colorless hairs where my hairline used to be... in the temples are the same thing, just less dense.. if these hairs could only be the color of my hair (med brown) i would be less suicidal.... any hope of having them darken up in the new future?

 

[Minox_Baby]

Rapid frontal - I too emailed dr lee and he recommended dropping finasteride. But by then my hair was a mess and I decided that if I could get finasteride. on my side, somehow it would be better in the long run then just dropping it. If I were you I would decrease my intake of finasteride like I have done and then re-introduce it into you system and see if that stops the shedding. It has worked for me so far (touch wood).

jfrank - I don't really know the best course of action. I was in a situation last year where I thought the finasteride was hurting my hairline so I stopped and now I'm in this situation. The truth was finasteride was keeping what hairline I had. It was a bad move and I'm paying the price now. But to go from a NW1 to NW3 in three months seems strange. What was you hairloss like prior to starting finasteride? I'm no expert so you best seeking advice from some of the other people on this forum.

Regards,
Warren.

 

[rapidfrontal]

Minoxbaby, why did your hairloss begin in the first place? Was it just aggressive male pattern baldness, or something related to Telogen Effluvium? I am asking because by your description it sounds so rapid. Mine has been very rapid also, but I am convinced that this all started as a result of some sh*t I went through starting last September. Also why did you stop witht the Propecia it sounds like it was going so well for you? Were you not shedding at all in those 4 months? I can't seem to get my shedding to stop at all. Your story makes me think I can't risk going off Propecia. Good luck to both of us.

 

[jfrank]

minoxidil-baby,

i though it was stress that prolonged a case of Telogen Effluvium that causd my rapid hairloss... Dr. Lee told me before that i prob have genetically triggered accelerated MBP.. but the fact that it is still going on three months later?

three months ago, and 3 years before that i was only on rogaine.. been a diffuse4 thinner.. but since three months, i've been on minoxidil, propecia, llasercomb, folligen, biotin pills.... and just started MSM pills

 

[Minox_Baby]

Rapid frontal - All I knew was that I was receeding so fast you could see it going day by day. I woke up one morning and I was diffuse on top of my head in a norwood 6+ pattern and I was receeding. I'm sure it wasn't T.E. back then, just rapid male pattern baldness. I paniced and started procerin and realising it was a scam started finasteride.

I was a fool to stop finasteride. I was reading loads of scare stories on these forums saying "fins ruining my hairline etc. etc" and I was just pissed off in general having to take this drug everyday and I'm only 25. I thought my hairloss may have slowed down (wishful thinking) so one day I decided to stop. I shouldn't have done it, it was a rash decision, but I wasn't to know it could cause T.E. I was probably still in denial about my hairloss.

Rapidfrontal, if I were you I try and lower the finasteride in your system. Are you seeing/feeling any thickening at all after 4 months. You should be able to feel the bases of your hairs harden. I 'd lower the dose to two a week maybe for a few weeks and then see if your shedding stops.

jfrank - I'm not really sure whats going on with your hair. I'm not really sure whats going on with mine at the moment. I can't really advise you as I'm no expert. Can anyone else offer any advice?

 

[rapidfrontal]

Minoxbaby, thanks. You've given more insight that anybody so I appreciate that. I think I am going to hang in there witht he Propecia for another month and then reevaluate. I have had thickening overall and the last thing I would want to have is for that to reverse itself. I'm not sure I could take that.
Thanks again and please keep me informed of your future developments as I will you mine.