Does finasteride stop working after a while?

[shawn12345]

Hi, I've been browsing around this forum for a while, and I keep seeing posts of people that have been on it for a few years and then it stops working for them. This makes me think that maybe I am starting the medication too early (I started 2 weeks ago, and I am 23). Would it be more beneficial for me to start in a few years, maybe when it gets worse? Right now it is really not too bad, but I am trying to handle the situation as soon as possible.

Does Rogaine also have the same weakened effect after a while? Also, should I be considering Xandrox? I am starting to get the itchy, flaky scalp (I think this started when I started using the Rogaine solution)... will the foam also cause as many flakes?

I appreciate all the help, thanks!

Shawn

 

[follicle84]

Our bodies develop tolerance to these drugs over time. Its the same with every drug. Drugs are simply not meant to be in the body as they alter hormones and various chemical changes within the body which the body will try fix due to these unnatural changes which shouldnt be happening. Bottom line is anything thats not meant to be in the body the body will try to fight, reject or correct. The only solution is to take stronger doses or take a break from it so your bodies not use to it again. If your on finasteride you would have to take proscar then dusteride to get the original effect. Then its hope for a sudden hairloss cure. Minoxidil has four strengths you can upgrade through should you use it, 2%, 5%, 12.5% and 15%. Xandrox is a good starting point but there are many other minoxidil brands out there woth looking at. Lastly i think you best starting these meds now. Who knows maybe a better cure will be out before these drugs lose effect. If not look at it this way its better go bald older than younger, as it is more commonly found in older people an isnt mocked upon as much in older people. You may feel you cant accept anytype of hairloss. Trust me in time you will get use to it and feel it is accustommed to your age and not feel bad about it. I have had a receded hairline since i was 18 and it really bothered me. I was norwood 1.5 now i am a norwood 2- 2.5 and it doesnt botherme as much now as i am older and feel its more normal to my age. Losing it from the crown at 24 however is a whole different ball game that shoudnt be happening at my age and i am glad i am taking propecia, as it has at the very least slowed it down. The ball is in your court.

 

[shawn12345]

Where do I get the Minoxidil 2% from right now? I've been using Rogaine. Does anyone know if the foam will cause less flakes?

From what I am reading, there is a 5 year maximum that Propecia will work. So this is making me reconsider my decision to start now. I may as well just continue the Rogaine for right now, see if this works (if not, then maybe start Propecia again), but then start Propecia again in 2 - 3 years from now.

Will Rogaine also stop working after a couple years? So everyone on these forums has to continually up their dosages every few years? That sucks very much...

 

[follicle84]

In the uk we have regaine, which is pretty the same as rogaine. I use to get 2% minoxidil from Boots a pharmacy we have here. I am sure you can get it online somewhere. You can order certain things from boots online. You can search for it on google uk. I am not sure if they deliver abroad but it might be worth checking out. Rogain foam is desgined for people who have sensitive scalps to regular rogaine. I dont think it will give you a flaky scalp as the mechanisms for which it drives minoxidil into your scalp is different. I would be wary about using it though however. Some users report it doesnt work, or it is not that effective or worse it makes them shed more without the full bennefits regular minoxidil produces. I know this because i have looked into this one. If your worried about getting a flaky scap from minoxidil then get on xandrox 5% no ppg i have used this. It wont give you a flaky scalp like regular minoxidil. Unlike normal minoxidil it doesn't use alcohol, which is the culprate for giving people a flaky scalp. Furthermore if your really worried you can use nizoral 2% to get rid of your dry scalp its good for this and is a weak dht blocker some say.

 

[shawn12345]

Thanks for all the help!

Is Nizoral 2% available only by prescription?

 

[follicle84]

No need to worry it can be purchased over the counter or online without prescription. You can find it on google uk when you type in nizoral 2%. There are a number of online pharmacies that sell it there, which you can order from. Try not to use it too much though as it can irritate the scalp. Its recommended that you use it twice a week. Good luck

 

[shawn12345]

Am I thinking the wrong way when I say that I should start Propecia a little further down the line, when the problem gets a little worse?

I don't want to waste the 5 years that it works right now.

 

[fromchicago]

Am I thinking the wrong way when I say that I should start Propecia a little further down the line, when the problem gets a little worse?

I don't want to waste the 5 years that it works right now.

I think you need to look at it differently. IMO, the earlier you catch it, the better. The finasteride will prevent the dht from causing baldness. As we age, our hair gets more sensitive to dht. so it's not that the finasteride has stopped working, it's just that the dht has caught up with it's benefits. It is still blocking 60%, so it's effectiveness is the same. There are some people that have been on it for 15 years and still going strong. Some people just have more aggressive baldness.

 

[shawn12345]

Oh really, is this true? People have been taking it for much longer than the 5 years with strong results?

This changes everything.

 

[el_duterino]

finasteride will never stop working in the real sense but yes, as your hairloss progresses it might not be effective enough and appear to "stop working".
At that point you still have the option to switch to dutasteride and keep "going" for some time.
And adding a topical anti-androgen will increase a lot the effectiveness of finasteride.

One thing is sure, the earlier you start the better it is.

In 5 years, hopefully we will have much better treatments available as well.

 

[ak_1981]

I started using finasteride 1mg combined with minoxidil 2% and later minoxidil 5% when I was 23. Now I am 33 years old. In the beginning the results were great. Now that I think about it my hairline has receded in spite of using finasteride and minoxidil religiously. The changes have been more significant in the last 3-4 years.(I can notice that when I look at my pictures over the years) So I believe there is some truth to the fact that these medications will slow down in effectiveness after the 5-6 year mark. I went through a break up last year and found myself being depressed, angry and easily irritable. I started doing research on the effects of finasteride on your moods and figured it could be one of the factors contributing to my mood swings. I stopped taking finasteride about 3 months ago. It is hard to conclude that the medication was the only reason for my depression. There were other factors in my life contributing to that as well. I use minoxidil every now and then and just found ways to style my hair to make the best of the situation. I might grow a beard later if my hair loss gets worse. It is an Norwood 2.5 right now.(I am not sweating it) Also when I look around the room I see that there are always people that have less hair than me. Like other people have commented above as you get older you become more accepting of your hair loss and value other things like family, friends, hobbies and your health.

 

[Spanishlad]

The earlier you start finasteride the better, many people have been on finasteride for 10+ years and it still works fine,