NHS Doctor Told Me to Stop Taking Finasteride, Denied I had Hair Loss

[Kirby]

OK, I've got ongoing problems since realising that I had hair loss but this is the worst day I've had to deal with.

I saw a dermatologist privately in November. I was refused an appointment with an NHS dermatologist bymy GP, so I had to fork out. I was seen by a very professional doctor who seemed to really know what he was on about. I was diagnosed with male pattern baldness (duh) and Telogen Effluvium (due to stress). I was given a legit finasteride prescription, which I used immediately.

I approached my NHS GP today at last. I was too stressed out to approach him earlier. I took my partially-used finasteride packet and the dermatologist's diagnosis/treatment plan letter to show that the dermatologist had concluded, and that I had been prescribed finasteride and was using it.

He was incredibly angry that I'd a.) seen a private specialist without him knowing or allowing, b.) been prescribed finasteride - and was taking it.

He told me: a.) that I had no hair loss (I'm actually a very thin diffused NW2+) and my hair was "normal" b.) Hair loss is untreatable. c.) finasteride isn't legal for hair loss on the NHS and he won't continue the prescription. d.) I was taking a very very dangerous drug, talked about it almost like I was using street narcotics e.) I should not have been prescribed a hair loss drug if I wasn't really balding (basically) f.) I should stop using finasteride IMMEDIATELY (he kept my finasteride packet!) g.) I was stupid for caring about hair at all, I should be treating my anxiety problems, gave me another Lorazepam prescription. h.) I asked for a second opinion, or access to an NHS dermatologist, to back up what the private dermatologist said, but was told no very loudly.

Please note that he talked about my anxiety problems, but the anxiety is caused by my hair loss!

Note that he was unaware that finasteride was a hair loss treatment at all, and said it wasn't legal to prescribe it as such.

What do I do? I want to return to the dermatologist but cannot afford the fees for private appointment at the moment.

 

[resu]

Sounds like he doesn't know much about hair loss or he's a bald guy and is mad that others are trying to stop it while he missed the boat. You should do a blood test at least.

 

[BlackSheep]

Telogen effluvium does not occur out of the blue.

Sure, the hair loss is causing self-perpetuated anxiety and stress for you, but it all began WITH the stress.

At this point I'd strongly implore you to think carefully about the above. You need to tackle the intrinsic stress you're going through head-on (no pun intended) and that'll resolve everything you're going through.

The dermatologist you spoke to was too blunt for my liking, but his underlying point is broadly correct. Hair is an outward manifestation of one's health and can't be "spot-fixed" with the drugs discussed so freely on these boards. Things like finasteride are only an off the bat viable option for people with male-pattern balding, which you don't have, if it's caused by Telogen Effluvium.

My advice is to completely cut through your stress. Fix sleeping, eating and exercise habits. Remove or minimalise stressors in your life. Take up yoga, seek counselling if it's needed, learn an instrument, boost esteem... I don't know you as a person, only you do, and only you know which will help you best.

I strongly suspect I have a problem similar to you (complicated by mild seborrheic dermatitis) and I freely admit I have a stressed life and have stress-inducing habits. Our way out isn't through medication. It's through fixing our lives up.

As someone who's going to enter the NHS and be a part of the workforce I resent the fact you've been treated so casually and hope you manage to fix the underlying stress out.

 

[Kirby]

Sounds like he doesn't know much about hair loss or he's a bald guy and is mad that others are trying to stop it while he missed the boat. You should do a blood test at least.

He didn't seem to know much about it, no, or least from what I've learnt from places such as this... Either he knows a lot more than us, being a trained doctor and the population of all hairloss forum are mental or charlatans, or... it's just messing with my head all this doubt: It ties in with what I'm told by people I know generally, stop taking those sham tablets, nothing stops baldness, etc.

I need a blood test, yes, but I can't get it without the GP allowing me access to one. He's going to go ballistic if I come back and say, sorry, still taking finasteride (I have some left that wasn't in the packet he held onto), let's have a blood test now please?

Things like finasteride are only an off the bat viable option for people with male-pattern balding, which you don't have, if it's caused by Telogen Effluvium.

I do have male pattern baldness - the dermatologist diagnosed it, it was just that the diffuse thinning (some, or all) is explainable by Telogen Effluvium, which he put down to stress, having listened to my medical history and prescriptions, my accounts of the previous year or so, and checked my scalp (pull test, etc). He would not have prescribed finasteride if I did not have male pattern baldness.

My advice is to completely cut through your stress. Fix sleeping, eating and exercise habits. Remove or minimalise stressors in your life. Take up yoga, seek counselling if it's needed, learn an instrument, boost esteem... I don't know you as a person, only you do, and only you know which will help you best.

I strongly suspect I have a problem similar to you (complicated by mild seborrheic dermatitis) and I freely admit I have a stressed life and have stress-inducing habits. Our way out isn't through medication. It's through fixing our lives up.

I need to treat my hair loss otherwise my stress will be far higher. It will push me past the tipping point if I continue balding.

As someone who's going to enter the NHS and be a part of the workforce I resent the fact you've been treated so casually and hope you manage to fix the underlying stress out.

I've had worse, such as mis-treatment in an NHS hospital 7 years ago that has left me with daily anxiety and ruined my life. The only treatment I've gotten on the NHS for anxiety has been diazepam and lorazepam. But the anxiety got far worse when I realised I had hair loss. I am trying to treat my anxiety by treating my hair loss. That goes together.

 

[Quantum Cat]

your GP sounds absolutely clueless and very unprofessional. Outrageous behaviour

He was incredibly angry that I'd a.) seen a private specialist without him knowing or allowing, b.) been prescribed finasteride - and was taking it.

you're entitled to see any medical professional you want, particularly if you feel you haven't been properly listened to by the NHS. A doctor getting angry with his patient is very unprofessional

He told me: a.) that I had no hair loss (I'm actually a very thin diffused NW2+) and my hair was "normal" b.) Hair loss is untreatable. c.) finasteride isn't legal for hair loss on the NHS and he won't continue the prescription. d.) I was taking a very very dangerous drug, talked about it almost like I was using street narcotics e.) I should not have been prescribed a hair loss drug if I wasn't really balding (basically) f.) I should stop using finasteride IMMEDIATELY (he kept my finasteride packet!) g.) I was stupid for caring about hair at all, I should be treating my anxiety problems, gave me another Lorazepam prescription. h.) I asked for a second opinion, or access to an NHS dermatologist, to back up what the private dermatologist said, but was told no very loudly

a) you were diagnosed by a dermatologist - a specialist in the field - and a mere GP is overruling that diagnosis?

b) if he really said that - he should be fired. How did he pass his medical exams?

c) technically Finasteride 5mg isn't officially prescribed for male pattern baldness, but Propecia is and it's the same drug. He should know that, but it sounds like he doesn't know much about medicine at all! Finasteride certainly isn't 'illegal'

d) obviously the dangers are debated, but most people with actual knowledge of the drug consider it to be pretty safe, certainly not 'very very dangerous'. Maybe he had been reading too much Propeciahelp.com LOL

e) this depends on whether you have Telogen Effluvium or male pattern baldness, but if it's the latter, the derm did nothing wrong by prescribing you finasteride

f) He had no right to keep your meds - you paid for them and they are legal

g) he's right that you should be treating the anxiety, but stupid for caring about your hair? I guess we're all stupid then. (what was his hair like btw?)

h) I don't know the exact legal ins and outs, but I would have thought you have every right to a second opinion or to be referred to a specialist if you insist on it.

I would never see that doctor again. Ask to see a different doctor in future or join a different surgery. That is your right. If all you said is true, you should make a formal complaint to the NHS about his behaviour and how you've been treated. It might be interesting to also contact the private dermatologist you saw and tell him what happened.


the issue is whether you have Telogen Effluvium, male pattern baldness or both - and if the Telogen Effluvium is caused by stress. It's a vicious circle.
you need to treat the anxiety, and if that was contributing to the hairloss then it should help. If you definetely have male pattern baldness then continue taking finasteride provided you're not experiencing bad sides. If you can afford it go back to the private derm or try to contact him and explain the situation. Otherwise find a new GP and ask to be referred to an NHS derm. Be assertive.

if you need more finasteride, get it from Dr. Ashcroft or ukfinasteride.info

 

[Kirby]

a) you were diagnosed by a dermatologist - a specialist in the field - and a mere GP is overruling that diagnosis?

WEll, yes, he basically hand-waved away the diagnosis after reading the letter and pushing a few fingers into my scalp...

c) technically Finasteride 5mg isn't officially prescribed for male pattern baldness, but Propecia is and it's the same drug. He should know that, but it sounds like he doesn't know much about medicine at all! Finasteride certainly isn't 'illegal'

Not illegal itself, just not properly legal for hair loss, said the NHS will under no circumstances prescribe it, refused point blank to prescribe more for me.

d) obviously the dangers are debated, but most people with actual knowledge of the drug consider it to be pretty safe, certainly not 'very very dangerous'. Maybe he had been reading too much Propeciahelp.com LOL

I did wonder the whole time, are they are right.

e) this depends on whether you have Telogen Effluvium or male pattern baldness, but if it's the latter, the derm did nothing wrong by prescribing you finasteride

I was diagnosed with both.

g) he's right that you should be treating the anxiety, but stupid for caring about your hair? I guess we're all stupid then. (what was his hair like btw?)

Norwood 3A/4? But he's an old guy.

I would never see that doctor again. Ask to see a different doctor in future or join a different surgery. That is your right. If all you said is true, you should make a formal complaint to the NHS about his behaviour and how you've been treated. It might be interesting to also contact the private dermatologist you saw and tell him what happened.

Trouble is, I changed my GP four times before, and the GP I have has been otherwise excellent - he has showed me respect as a disabled person, which few GPs in my experience have done so. I'm genuinely shocked he acted like he did, I'm out of GP surgeries to switch to locally, and (serious problem) what do I do if I experience the same thing elsewhere? I can't keep switching GP surgeries. My main concern is I'll end up with another GP who treats me dismissively or like dirt for having a disability, and still I won't get access to the blood tests and finasteride and NHS dermatologist...

If you definetely have male pattern baldness then continue taking finasteride provided you're not experiencing bad sides. If you can afford it go back to the private derm or try to contact him and explain the situation. Otherwise find a new GP and ask to be referred to an NHS derm. Be assertive.

if you need more finasteride, get it from Dr. Ashcroft or ukfinasteride.info

I know there's web retailers that sell finasteride - I just want to take finasteride legally and have access to blood tests. I have no idea if I should flush the rest down the toilet, he said stop immediately. But the anxiety from going bald without treatments will destroy me. I am very concerned about the moment about the anxiety causing a health collapse. I almost feel like I've been diagnosed with terminal illness and can't take anything to stop it, well not quite, but realistically only finasteride and dutasteride stop the male pattern baldness process and if I can't take those, I'm bald.

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FWIW, I don't think the doctor was being what the Americans call an a**h** or anything, he did warn me of the dangers and seem concerned about that on my health, I just didn't expect that reaction. It felt like going to the headmaster's office after being found smoking weed on the school field.

 

[Quantum Cat]

my Doctor did prescribe me finasteride 5mg. I told him that I had been taking it for years and that I cut each pill into fifths. So it's not true that they all refuse to.

Before that I got it from Dr. Ashcroft. He's a genuine GP with a lot of knowledge about male pattern baldness and the treatments. Whether or not you decide to get the finasteride from him, I would advise sending him an email outlining your story and telling him your dlemmas. He may be able to advise on what to do about consulting a specialist or finding a better GP. If you want his contact details then let me know


and if you're not already doing so, get help and therapy for the anxieties. That's most important of all

 

[Kirby]

Please LMK Dr Ashcroft's contact details please mate.

I need help and therapies for anxiety, yes. Unfortunately it is very difficult to get that kind of treatment on the NHS. I need to treat my hair loss as part of anxiety control though.

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Anyone else in the UK had similar problems to me, BTW?

 

[Kirby]

Don't know how to manage this vomiting with stress all today and yesterday

 

[Quantum Cat]

if it's that bad you should call your local out-of-hours NHS emergency line

 

[DoctorHouse]

Kirby, find a hair transplant doctor who will see you for a FREE consult. All my hair transplant consults have been free. If he confirms you have male pattern baldness, ask him for a Propecia prescription.

 

[Kirby]

Kirby, find a hair transplant doctor who will see you for a FREE consult. All my hair transplant consults have been free. If he confirms you have male pattern baldness, ask him for a Propecia prescription.

That would not be on the NHS (if they can prescribe it legally, not sure) and I still wouldn't get access to the blood tests that the dermatologist recomended... I regret going to the dermatologist, if I knew what trouble I'd get myself into by going outside the NHS... The GP was really pissed off. Seemed to imply the derm. was unethical for prescribing a "very dangerous" drug.

 

[J.Harrison]

You've been diagnosed by specialist with MBP. You have a legit perscription. Get your finasteride off the internet and stop stressing over that dipsh*it doctor. Don't even mention the finasteride to him.

The situation with the Doctor really sounds like small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. You're letting him get the best of you when the right course of action is to simply give him the finger.

 

[Kirby]

You've been diagnosed by specialist with MBP. You have a legit perscription.

True on both counts. Although it is a non-NHS prescription, which has issues attached.

Get your finasteride off the internet and stop stressing over that dipsh*it doctor. Don't even mention the finasteride to him.

The situation with the Doctor really sounds like small potatoes in the grand scheme of things. You're letting him get the best of you when the right course of action is to simply give him the finger.

I realise I can just keep on taking the tablets I have left and can get more afterwards along (possibly semi-illegal) means, it's just that I really needed to get it 'above board', recognised by my GP, so I can get monitoring, and the liver function tests. The dermatologist I saw never implied or mentioned that anything would be a problem in terms of informing my GP, in fact he said I needed to as a matter of urgency!

I didn't mention this on Friday as my mind wasn't running properly, but he ordered my back in two weeks to have another appointment, and told me very strongly not to take the finasteride between now and then (well, he didn't know I had more tablets). I took one quartered generic Proscar yesterday (Saturday) morning as usual. I have missed a few days since starting finasteride., but can't bring myself to stop for a whole fortnight. So clammed up with stress I didn't get dressed or leave the house yesterday, I'm not in a fit state. It was stressing my head in, the last of progress with finasteride, but I might be back on square one, if not worse. He implied I was worrying about hair loss at all because I am mental, and if I stop being mental, I won't care about having hair like properly manly men, and live normally. Thing is I'm terrified of going bald, or my hair loss getting so bad it would be a dead loss. He didn't get when I tried to mention it that stopping my hair loss is key to fixing my anxiety. I feel just as bad as when I first noticed hair loss, but before I knew about finasteride and other treatments, just hopeless.

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Extra information: the GP said, upon me showing him the letter from the dermatologist, said (well, after having a go at me for seeing a specialist outside the NHS) something like "I'm disregarding this diagnosis and this treatment plan", which did upset me. I mean, we'd all love a doctor to say, stupid, you don't have male pattern baldness, but hand-waving it away isn't very scientific.

 

[LawOfThelema]

what is "NHS"?

is that some form of insurance?

no way in hell its illegal for you to pay it out of pocket. if so, then england has become a totalitarian state!

And tell that gestapo mother ****er to give you your medication back!

 

[anxious1]

ok so ive read this whole thread, and i have a few things to say about it.




- This is not normal, this is an abnormal reaction from ur doctor, probably created by his own experiences, i.e. maybe he has erectile dysfunction from finasteride, and is abusing his position as a doctor, to perpetuate his own agenda. In the end the choice for a cosmetic treatment lies with u, i.e. are u prepared to deal with the negatives (side effects) to get the positives(hair regrowth), im sure u know the percentages ~ 2% experienced sides from the studies.

- I think the legality of the situation, is basically, u have the right to see a private dermatologist, and he has the right to put u on finasteride, which IS legal even used off label, If the dermatologist is a reAL doctor, he CAN prescribe anything he wants. its legal to be prescribed.

but if it somehow got put onto the NHS, this is not right, because the NHS doesnt pay for cosmetic treatments under normal circumstances. But this is the dermatologists or the NHS fault not urs.

u have the right to the drug, but U have to pay for it, not the government. If ur GP has a problem he needs to take it up with NHS or the dermatologist. its not ur fault.


- And i think this is how he would justify taking it from u, because if it got put on NHS, u shouldnt have it. however, either ur doctor or the dermatologist has to give u a prescription, that u pay for urself.

either way, hes totally out of line, and in this case, u need to stand up and complain, and tell him wat u think. otherwise ur getting walked all over. And if u cant be a man, and get up him for it, then i suggest another GP, because i assure u, many doctors will prescribe it. U just had bad luck.



by the way, i find it hilarious that he will give u lorazapam, and not finasteride. In Australia benzodiazapines (the family of drugs that lorazepam, and diazepam etc belong) are extremely hard to get, i have had certain problems, and i can get physcotropic drugs, but noone will give me a benzo. however doctors are happy to give us finasteride. ur doctor sounds like a douche.

 

[resu]

what is "NHS"?

is that some form of insurance?

no way in hell its illegal for you to pay it out of pocket. if so, then england has become a totalitarian state!

And tell that gestapo mother ****er to give you your medication back!

National Health Service, which apparently is notorious bad in England.

 

[Hammer]

Just sign up at another surgery.

Alternatively, contact Dr. Ashcroft for your finasteride, his details can be found online.

 

[Kirby]

what is "NHS"?

is that some form of insurance?

no way in hell its illegal for you to pay it out of pocket. if so, then england has become a totalitarian state!

The NHS is the public healthcare system in the UK. It is not based around insurance. It's not illegal for me to pay for finasteride. out of pocket, if that's what you mean, but many many medical procedures are unavailable unless you go via the NHS and your GP authorises it. I can't just walk into a hospital and say, blood tests please, impossible. (FWIW it's different in my girlfriend's native country, there they have a national medical insurance card and take it to whatever and whichever doctor or specialist they want to see. That would be better in my case!) I went to a derm. privately because my GP denied me a NHS dermatologist appointment. It was affordable as it was a one-off. I don't like going outside the NHS as private is unregulated and you don't know what you are going to get, but the derm. was very reasonable and informative (and works for the NHS part-time, so hardly dodgy).

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but if it somehow got put onto the NHS, this is not right, because the NHS doesnt pay for cosmetic treatments under normal circumstances. But this is the dermatologists or the NHS fault not urs.

It was a non-NHS prescription, and I don't mind paying for finasteride. as it's affordable. I just wanted my GP fully informed so I can get the blood tests on the NHS that the dermatologist said were vital if I wanted to use the drug long-term. And he would need to know.

Nothing the dermatologist doctor did seemed unethical or dangerous or worrying, TBH. He explained things a lot more objectively and carefully than I could have hoped for. then my GP says I don't have hair loss, when sitting across the room from me! I know it's relatively early male pattern baldness as I'm still NW2, but the aim is to not let it get further...

by the way, i find it hilarious that he will give u lorazapam, and not finasteride.

Well, he hands it out like sweets to me, the Loraz. He thinks my anxiety is the problem, so dampen down the anxiety and I won't be so distressed by hair loss any longer, as Loraz is my 'hair loss treatment' in a way. But I hate taking it, and I won't recover mentally if my hair deteriorates and I know full well that I can treat/stablilise it somehow. My anxiety has been massively elevated by the hair loss, as it's a problem I can't physically 'escape from', I've had other problems before, but if it's on the top of your head, it's everywhere. I'd need a lobotomy to not be concerned about my hair loss any longer!

 

[DoctorHouse]

Kirby, just ask that private dermatologist if he can refer you to a NHS GP that he knows that is pro-finasteride and believes its a good treatment for hair loss. Are you not allowed to pick your own GP NHS doctors? Your health care system is so different than in the US. I notice so many posters on this forum live in the UK. I find that very interesting. I wonder if there is a higher prevalence of young men balding in the UK vs the US? I am curious how many forum members on here are from the UK vs US. I guess I am going to create a thread on that just out of curiosity?