Might Quit finasteride--Appreciate your input

[hockeyman34]

Hi all,
I'm nearing 11 months on finasteride, and am strongly considering quitting the drug.
Last April when I started 1mg/day, I only had VERY minor thinning on the temps. Right after starting I noticed an itch in my scalp, and then dandruff shortly after. Now, I've never had dandruff or scalp discomfort ever before until the immediate weeks after starting finasteride.
I started shedding a week or 2 into my treatment, and I haven't stopped shedding since, 11 months in total. My scalp still itches badly on a daily basis, and I lose 5 or 6 hairs with every brush through my hair. Probably 100 noticeable hairs per day, meaning the real number is likely much more since I lose many unnoticed.
I've been off finasteride for a week, and though I'm still shedding, the itching has subdued and my scalp isn't red or sore like it has been for months.

I'm considering just staying off since my scalp feels so much healthier. I never, and I mean never, noticeably shed prior to finasteride. I have pictures that support my claims, but for the sake of this post, id like to focus on what might be happening to cause this, and then what will happen if I quit? My scalp feels just it did week 2, and my sides and back have also shed plenty. I'm frustrated, and would love for people to share their knowledge on this.
Thanks so much!

 

[PlzSaveMyHair]

idk if finasteride can make ur scalp itch like that, its not really something that goes directly to ur scapls skin? doesnt it just lower DHT all over the body? blood stream?

 

[der29]

its just like minoxidil...you shed but it will come back healthier. i shed lots on finasteride for the first few months and there was an itch but it subsided and made my hair much thicker especially on the crown where most of the loss was occurring.

 

[BigTexasSexy]

It's mainly up to you. Usually a full 12 months marks an 'assessment' period where you as user judges whether or not finasteride has made any sort of positive difference in your hair in that whether it be it helped maintain or for the lucky ones- regrowth. It sounds like you still shedding which means that finasteride probably isn't cut out for you.. sorry. There are other options, but I would first commit to your decision to quit or not.

 

[jom]

I too am struggling a bit to commit to a decision of whether to quit or continue. I've been taking 1mg every other day for the last week or so.

I was definitely shedding a bit before starting finasteride but it definitely feels like a started shedding far more rapidly since starting the drug almost 6 months. My hair has thinned all over and the texture changed drastically. I was initially only worried about the temples/front but as well as receding a lot, I am not very thin on the back and sides like OP.

If I could have a do-over I wouldn't start on finasteride but now that I'm on I'm wondering should I keep it up in the (exceptionally slim) chance that I'll recover.

 

[hockeyman34]

Hi all,
To update, I've been off of finasteride for about 3 weeks. Scalp doesn't have the redness or irritation that it did while on. Haven't changed anything besides stopping finasteride--same shampoo, same daily diet, etc. Some may say there's a small chance the finasteride isn't related to the redness, but I've started/stopped it enough to know there is a correlation. Happy to say my scalp nearly as irritated as it has been in past months.

In terms of shedding, I'm still shedding the same amount id say. Going to assess the shedding in probably 2-3 weeks, since that'll be a more accurate representation of how I'm doing off.

Happy to say that scalp does not hurt nearly as much though after quitting. Since day 1 I haven't reacted well, so I'm in a good place.

If anyone has any insight on their similar experiences, I'd love to hear them!

It's a struggle, but life goes on. There much more important things we all have in our lives to worry about, and hair only stops us if we let it. Confidence is key, and you've got to love yourself. Take care all!