Hello everyone,
I will try to keep this as short as possible and I appreciate any advice.
I am 38 years old and have been on generic Finasteride for approx 12 years. I do not have typical male pattern baldness. I have diffuse thinning throughout my scalp (even on the sides/back).
From the limited research I've done, I figure I have Telogen Effluvium. I have had everything from biopsies to full blood work from an endocrinologist to determine why I have been losing hair in this pattern, but everything has come back normal and have been diagnosed w/ male pattern baldness.
I have never really known if finasteride actually works for my type of hair loss, but am/was afraid to stop taking it because of the benefit it might be giving me. I know I have definitively not maintained since taking the drug 12 years ago and I am certain my hair loss is worse now than it was in say 2009, and even worse than 2007, and worse than 2004 as so on. My thinning has been consistent, if not slow since I first noticed it around 18 or so. I would have never thought I'd still have hair at 38, but it has been gradual thank God.
I stopped taking Finateride (1.25mg) approximately one month ago. I did not specifically intend to stop taking it and still don't (I know it might sound strange). It was one of those things where I got busy w/ the holidays and stopped taking all my vitamins/finasteride. I didn't plan on never taking it again, I just got lazy w/ my meds and before you know it, it's now a month w/out taking it.
I never thought of adverse effects I'd have from stopping finasteride cold turkey. But the last few weeks my sleep have been affected. It is driving me crazy. I sleep now maybe 2 hours a day where I was sleeping a full 8 hours for as long as I can remember. I also have had other side effects such as dry mouth, etc. Of course I have no way of knowing if this is directly related to me stopping finasteride, but I see no other reason.
I stay away from forums such as Propecia Help, but I know there are others who have had sleep issues, etc. when stopping finasteride. I see a Dr. (PCP) on Friday regarding this and the sleep especially, but I am not expecting any answers except a RX for Ambien, etc.
My questions to you all are:
1. Anyone else have similar side effects and have any advice?
2. Should I begin to take finasteride again? Will finasteride continue to be at least somewhat effective for a diffuse thinner even after 12 years of taking it? As I mentioned I never fully intended to stop taking it anyhow, but if I just start taking it again after a month, will that be OK? And will the sides go away w/ time?
3. Any recommendation on sleep medication? I've already tried Melatonin w/ little success.
Thank you,
Michael
I will try to keep this as short as possible and I appreciate any advice.
I am 38 years old and have been on generic Finasteride for approx 12 years. I do not have typical male pattern baldness. I have diffuse thinning throughout my scalp (even on the sides/back).
From the limited research I've done, I figure I have Telogen Effluvium. I have had everything from biopsies to full blood work from an endocrinologist to determine why I have been losing hair in this pattern, but everything has come back normal and have been diagnosed w/ male pattern baldness.
I have never really known if finasteride actually works for my type of hair loss, but am/was afraid to stop taking it because of the benefit it might be giving me. I know I have definitively not maintained since taking the drug 12 years ago and I am certain my hair loss is worse now than it was in say 2009, and even worse than 2007, and worse than 2004 as so on. My thinning has been consistent, if not slow since I first noticed it around 18 or so. I would have never thought I'd still have hair at 38, but it has been gradual thank God.
I stopped taking Finateride (1.25mg) approximately one month ago. I did not specifically intend to stop taking it and still don't (I know it might sound strange). It was one of those things where I got busy w/ the holidays and stopped taking all my vitamins/finasteride. I didn't plan on never taking it again, I just got lazy w/ my meds and before you know it, it's now a month w/out taking it.
I never thought of adverse effects I'd have from stopping finasteride cold turkey. But the last few weeks my sleep have been affected. It is driving me crazy. I sleep now maybe 2 hours a day where I was sleeping a full 8 hours for as long as I can remember. I also have had other side effects such as dry mouth, etc. Of course I have no way of knowing if this is directly related to me stopping finasteride, but I see no other reason.
I stay away from forums such as Propecia Help, but I know there are others who have had sleep issues, etc. when stopping finasteride. I see a Dr. (PCP) on Friday regarding this and the sleep especially, but I am not expecting any answers except a RX for Ambien, etc.
My questions to you all are:
1. Anyone else have similar side effects and have any advice?
2. Should I begin to take finasteride again? Will finasteride continue to be at least somewhat effective for a diffuse thinner even after 12 years of taking it? As I mentioned I never fully intended to stop taking it anyhow, but if I just start taking it again after a month, will that be OK? And will the sides go away w/ time?
3. Any recommendation on sleep medication? I've already tried Melatonin w/ little success.
Thank you,
Michael