Is it worth it for me to try finasteride?

[Bigbone]

Hey. I've been losing my hair since i was 20, today im 24. Like everyone else, it hit me really hard and I started to read all these forums. But, as I'm the person whos very self critical I started to hate my hair even though I only had a NW1.5. After months of worryring I decided that i would wear a hair system when the time comes, and I almost looked forward to it beacuse I wanted the "perfect" hair. Then I started to think about using finasteride, but got scared after reading all these stories (as everyone). Basically the last 4 years I've been going back and forth between wanting to use a hair system and using finasteride.

Today I'm regreting not getting on finasteride along time ago, atleast just trying it out. I'm a NW2 with diffuse thinnig. Not that I have anything against hair systems, I still think its a great solution. I dont get it when I read about people who are NW3+ and spending way to much time on forums and feeling bad about the hair and then complaining that a hair system is way to much maintenance, when in reality they spend more time feeling like **** and posting on forums then it takes to wear a system. However to the question, like I said I'm a diffuese NW2 today, and i think its pretty bad. Is it worth it to try finasteride at this stage, I've read that diffuse thinners arent responding as well. And I've had low libido a long time now, from what I think is due to depression/anxiety. Will it get worse?

I'm not expecting to get a straight answer to the question, I just want to know what you think and what you would do. Also, sorry if the text doesnt make any sense to you and sorry for the grammar. I'm in a hurry.

 

[Agustin Araujo]

Yes, it is definitely worth trying Finasteride, it's the #1 treatment that's available for treating Male Pattern Baldness. Don't fret about the 'horror' stories, they're basically nothing but anecdotal claims with no real science to back them up. Give the treatment a go and see how it goes, most do well on it.

 

[Bigbone]

Definitely yes. I went on as a diffusing NW3 and remain one four years later. Felt some trepidation before I popped my first pill, but have had no persistent sides.

If you read around these forums long enough you'll find that many of the most vocal and most depressed posters are those who decided not to take finasteride due to fear of sides and eventually ended up in NW5/6 territory. That is absolute hell for someone in their 20s and you will feel the impact in every facet of your life. You'll feel it especially strongly in the dating world, where you'll be in the mustard gas-filled trenches fighting for scraps and lucky to pull anything at all unless you're massively compensating with something. Without doubt, the small risk of having some non-permanent sides is worth it to avoid that.

Thanks for the answers guys. What I'm most conserned about is that I'm not satisfied with my current hair and always wear a cap. Even though no one can see that im balding. Do you think I'll let the cap go when I get the feel of not losing more hair? Another thing is obviously the side effects, considering that I already have a low libido. I'm worried that its going to end up working like 1+1=2. Hope I'm wrong though.

 

[keep]

Well, I did get some sides from finasteride (1.25 mg/day), slight gynecomastia basically, which reversed after a few months of not taking finasteride. Also maybe lower libido at some point, but I don't blame necessarily finasteride for this. I'm not the type of hypochondriac guy you read on the internet, and I'm almost always positive. So the sides were real. That being said, I haven't regretted a single second trying it, as I do think that sides from finasteride, and only finasteride, are not long term... and I'm almost totally sure that they cannot be permanent. I'm not a doctor... but that's my belief. Maybe in the future I will try a lower dose, only if Dr. Brotzu's lotion won't succeed, until that I'm waiting, as I don't want to get gyne in the summer.

 

[youngster]

Reading stuff like this makes me think that side-effects are a real gamble:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26763726

 

[Bigbone]

Reading stuff like this makes me think that side-effects are a real gamble:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26763726

Never seen that one before. doesnt sound good.. Not what I wanted to read atm.

 

[alexpie2]

finasteride would most likely slow/stop the hair loss you are having. Based off of anecdotal evidence, diffuse thinners do respond the best in regards to the drug's efficacy. Give finasteride a try if you value your hair more than your health. Being that this is a hairloss forum, people on here will urge you to give the drug a try because we are all here in hopes of stopping our hairloss; however, make sure you read all you can about finasteride to be able to make an informed decision. I myself am a diffuse thinner and stray away from the drug. I have had over 5 doctors tell me to do the same as well.

 

[Goldee Lox]

finasteride would most likely slow/stop the hair loss you are having. Based off of anecdotal evidence, diffuse thinners do respond the best in regards to the drug's efficacy. Give finasteride a try if you value your hair more than your health. Being that this is a hairloss forum, people on here will urge you to give the drug a try because we are all here in hopes of stopping our hairloss; however, make sure you read all you can about finasteride to be able to make an informed decision. I myself am a diffuse thinner and stray away from the drug. I have had over 5 doctors tell me to do the same as well.

What are you doing about your hairloss, Alex? You're here to learn obviously.. been a member for almost a year and still no regimen? Unless you don't put it on your profile.

 

[Bigbone]

finasteride would most likely slow/stop the hair loss you are having. Based off of anecdotal evidence, diffuse thinners do respond the best in regards to the drug's efficacy. Give finasteride a try if you value your hair more than your health. Being that this is a hairloss forum, people on here will urge you to give the drug a try because we are all here in hopes of stopping our hairloss; however, make sure you read all you can about finasteride to be able to make an informed decision. I myself am a diffuse thinner and stray away from the drug. I have had over 5 doctors tell me to do the same as well.

I think i know enough about finasteride, been reading for 4 years. Honestly If the side effects were to affect other parts of the body i would take it in a heartbeat. It's not that I'm worried that I'll get sides the first months, if I do I'll just stop. What worries me is that i have to take it for such a long time and it's happening "inside" the body and you'll never know if its in your mind or actually happening. It's wierd that there are no more studies on the drug, how it really affects you. The studies I've seen are all about these people got side effects and those didnt. I mean I've seen birth control pills and other common drugs on the news alot. But no one seems to be talking about finasteride. However It's great that we have the option to take it, and I'm not against it.

Really, 5 doctors? Mine just gave it to me lol. Though he was losing his hair aswell at a young age and said he considered taking it but didnt beacuse of the side effects.

 

[myhairbegone]

79 people recruited by a website. That is not a legitimate study. Population bias and tiny sample size. I am not pro finasteride or anti PFS but that study reeks of bull****.

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finasteride would most likely slow/stop the hair loss you are having. Based off of anecdotal evidence, diffuse thinners do respond the best in regards to the drug's efficacy. Give finasteride a try if you value your hair more than your health. Being that this is a hairloss forum, people on here will urge you to give the drug a try because we are all here in hopes of stopping our hairloss; however, make sure you read all you can about finasteride to be able to make an informed decision. I myself am a diffuse thinner and stray away from the drug. I have had over 5 doctors tell me to do the same as well.

To OP: odds are that you will not get sides, and if you do you can quit and they should go away. There is a very very small chance you could get persistent sides. If keeping your hair is worth that risk, go for it

To this dumbass comment:

"If you value your hair more than your health"

What an incredibly underhanded statement. There are millions of people that take finasteride with no detrimental effect to their overall health. Yes there is a risk of sides, just like a million other drugs. Yes anyone should educate themselves before starting a new medication. Yet you make it seem like its making a choice between hair and health. What a douchy statement for someone considerig treatment.

BTW I consulted 3 doctors before taking finasteride, they all said it has an excellent safety profile and to take it if I wanted to keep my hair.

 

[youngster]

79 people recruited by a website. That is not a legitimate study. Population bias and tiny sample size. I am not pro finasteride or anti PFS but that study reeks of bull****.

Of course there's a population bias; it's an evaluation of people experiencing PFS specifically. However, if you, like me, believe the people's reports, then it's still a scary observation. And sure, small size, only 79 people. I'm not arguing that there is a large number of people who get sides. I'm simply saying that the sides that may occur are definitely scary and that we don't really know how safe this drug is (I don't believe the 2% figure is accurate). Oh, and I'm neither pro or anti finasteride either, in fact, I am considering my options right now.

 

[TomGun]

If you want to find out if finasteride is worth it you have to look at the alternative: Baldness. Honestly, stare baldness in the face, buzz your head down sly and walk around for a month or so. If you hate it as much as I did when I was in your position and went slick to get the will power to start treatments I think you'll find your chance of sides to be much lower as your mind will be less inclined to manifest things that will keep it from its ultimate goal of seeing a familiar face in the mirror. Also as a diffuser minoxidil can be a miracle worker.

 

[youngster]

Looking forward to the OP's bitter follow-up post in a few years.

Why bitter?

 

[alexpie2]

What are you doing about your hairloss, Alex? You're here to learn obviously.. been a member for almost a year and still no regimen? Unless you don't put it on your profile.

I am using topical spironolactone along with a lazer hair band. I just added in the lazer hair band 2 weeks ago. I doubt it'll work, but does not hurt to try. I do not care about my hair as much as others, and I have a very happy outlook on life. If I lose my hair because of my lack of willingness to go on drugs such as finasteride, then I won't care. There are hardly any studies out there that show the long term effects of inhibiting 5-alpha reductases, and it is not something I want to play around with considering the systematic importance of the enzyme.

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To OP: odds are that you will not get sides, and if you do you can quit and they should go away. There is a very very small chance you could get persistent sides. If keeping your hair is worth that risk, go for it

To this dumbass comment:

"If you value your hair more than your health"

What an incredibly underhanded statement. There are millions of people that take finasteride with no detrimental effect to their overall health. Yes there is a risk of sides, just like a million other drugs. Yes anyone should educate themselves before starting a new medication. Yet you make it seem like its making a choice between hair and health. What a douchy statement for someone considerig treatment.

BTW I consulted 3 doctors before taking finasteride, they all said it has an excellent safety profile and to take it if I wanted to keep my hair.

You are saying the exact same thing as me. "If keeping your hair is worth that risk, go for it." These risks that you speak of are related to your health. You either take the drug and risk your health while preserving your hair or you do not take the risk. In other words, you are valuing your hair more than your health when taking the drug. Even if there is the a minimal chance of sides, you are still taking the drug knowing that there is an off chance of getting sides. I do think I worded my comment a bit too strongly, but the meaning is still the same as to what you stated.

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I think i know enough about finasteride, been reading for 4 years. Honestly If the side effects were to affect other parts of the body i would take it in a heartbeat. It's not that I'm worried that I'll get sides the first months, if I do I'll just stop. What worries me is that i have to take it for such a long time and it's happening "inside" the body and you'll never know if its in your mind or actually happening. It's wierd that there are no more studies on the drug, how it really affects you. The studies I've seen are all about these people got side effects and those didnt. I mean I've seen birth control pills and other common drugs on the news alot. But no one seems to be talking about finasteride. However It's great that we have the option to take it, and I'm not against it.

Really, 5 doctors? Mine just gave it to me lol. Though he was losing his hair aswell at a young age and said he considered taking it but didnt beacuse of the side effects.

This is EXACTLY why I do not take finasteride. Once you are on it, you are a prisoner to the drug. If you stop the usage of it, you will lose your hair. Because side effects are documented to be rare, please take my comment lightly. I am not advocating for you not to take the drug, rather I am stating my opinion on it. I actually encourage people to try the drug and see what effects they get from it; however, I myself stay away from finasteride because I do not want to take a drug all my life without knowing the long term effects.

 

[goinbald]

maybe you can try alternatives such as s5..

 

[alrefai]

I suggest starting minoxidil until you decide on finasteride.