Shedding with Propecia?

[Algag85]

I have been taking Propecia for about 2 months now, and my hair seems to be thinning at a very fast rate. This could just be from me looking at my hair more closely since starting the pill, thus noticing more. I have used minoxidil but only for a cpl days because Rogaine leaves my hair nasty. Thx for feedback.

 

[Mingebreth]

I could have posted exactly the same message. I have been on Propecia for just over 2 months and i have never had so much hair come out of my head in my life :shock: I got on it just to maintain what is a good head of hair now im shitting my knickers thinking if i keep losing hair like this it wont be long before my hair looks like its thinning. My girlfriend noticed that the bathroom floor is always covered in my hair and im scared to touch my hair as my fingers always have my hair on them. f*** thses are testing times.Im trusting this site to guide me through and be patient but it really is worrying me.

 

[MrBen]

Yup I am in my second month of propecia and now I LOOK like I'm thinning. I better grow that hair back or I'm going to go crazy! I'm not letting it bother me too much, I have hope in propecia.

 

[mjd0482]

Damn!
That makes 4 of us!
I hit my 2-month mark with Proscar a couple days ago and think that it has just gotten worse?
I too am reluctant to even touch my hair. I have heard there is a shed that goes with finasteride, but HOW DO YOU KNOW IF IT'S WORKING?
Thanks for all feedback!!!
cheers!

 

[jbrown]

Im also on my second month and have noticed the exact same thing, but after reading through alot of forum post, its know as shedding, and is very normal. I think its like recycling your hair, out with the old and in with the new. Im not 100% positive on this, so if anyone who actually knows for a fact, plz feel free to update all of us worried people.

 

[Algag85]

"Dr Proctor answers: Shedding that occurs before about 2-4 months after starting a treatment was of hair that was already in the loss phase when you started. That is, such hair shedding is just coincidental or due to early fallout of loss-phase hair as follicles come out of dormancy under the influence of a hair-growth-stimulator. This hair was about to fall out anyway."

I found this on a site after doing a search...not exactly what I wanted to hear ;c(

 

[Guest]

Expected Timeline
What should you expect upon taking that first pill? Below is an example of a *worst case* scenario. As stated above most men never experience any of these side effects. Here's the good and the bad, in a nice convenient timeline:
• Week 1-2: Possible increased sex drive, slightly oily skin, possible light zits, increased shedding (normal!)
• Week 3-5: 4% of men may experience a slight decrease in sex drive
• Week 6-?: Side effects dissipate, possible continued shedding until month 3 or 4
This is of course assuming you experience any in the first place. It is entirely dependant upon the person.
• Month 3 or 4: Good Responders - You may see a stoppage in shedding
Slow Responders - Give it 6 months to a year.
• Month 6 or 8: Good Responders - You may see additional regrowth.
Slow Responders - may take up to a year or may not see regrowth at all, just maintenance of hair count.
NOTE: Treatment takes time. It may be up to 12 months before you see a stoppage of balding, let alone regrowth, so stick with it. If after 1 year of treatment you do not see any such results, it is unlikely to be effective for you.

 

[hairschmair]

That is a very useful summarized/sample timeline distressed!

 

[Algag85]

But is this "shedding" a permanent thing, or will it come back?

 

[ropcat]

It will come back. Hairloss, after all, isn't your hair falling out; it's the follicles failing to regenerate as strongly, so that in each successive growth cycle the hair will be shorter, thinner, and more lightly colored until it doesn't grow back any more. A non-male pattern baldness sufferer typically loses up to several hundred hairs per day; the Finasteride is merely synchronizing this loss (as I understand it), but these hairs will regrow -- and if Finasteride is effective for you, they'll grow back in better shape than they were before.

The timeline above is enormously helpful. My early days on Finasteride conformed to it exactly. However, as a word of warning, the shedding is different for many people. I shed in month two and three, then again (much more) at month six, and a little bit at month nine. I didn't think it was working. But it was. Just search this site's discussion archives and read the dozens and dozens of stories by people who are anxious about shedding. It happens. It sucks. It can be disspiriting. But if you really want to know if finasteride works for you, you'll need to perservere until about the twelve month mark. (Due to all the up-and-down of shedding, I wasn't certain it was working until quite late in the first year of treatment.)

 

[Fallout Boy]

It will come back. Hairloss, after all, isn't your hair falling out; it's the follicles failing to regenerate as strongly, so that in each successive growth cycle the hair will be shorter, thinner, and more lightly colored until it doesn't grow back any more. A non-male pattern baldness sufferer typically loses up to several hundred hairs per day; the Finasteride is merely synchronizing this loss (as I understand it), but these hairs will regrow -- and if Finasteride is effective for you, they'll grow back in better shape than they were before.

The timeline above is enormously helpful. My early days on Finasteride conformed to it exactly. However, as a word of warning, the shedding is different for many people. I shed in month two and three, then again (much more) at month six, and a little bit at month nine. I didn't think it was working. But it was. Just search this site's discussion archives and read the dozens and dozens of stories by people who are anxious about shedding. It happens. It sucks. It can be disspiriting. But if you really want to know if finasteride works for you, you'll need to perservere until about the twelve month mark. (Due to all the up-and-down of shedding, I wasn't certain it was working until quite late in the first year of treatment.)

thats actually good to hear!.. Im on month 7 and it seems as if propecia isnt working for me .. although ijust had a shed that seems to be slowing down a little bit this past week but im not sure... My hair overall just looks thinner , hairline thinner, more thin spots hope its just a result of a shed and it will grow back.. When i run my hands through my hair like 30 hairs would fall out like 2 weeks ago. hope it was a shed

 

[Algag85]

Thanks alot, for the response, that is encouraging. I will be sure to post up in a few months or so on how I am doing.

 

[mjd0482]

yeah, thanks guys -
I'll be sure and bookmark this thread and stay with it.

One quick question - For me, it doesn't seem like it's an off and on shed....it's more like a consistent/slow shed. In other words, it's been continuous since starting finasteride. Is this normal?...or should it be off and on?

Also, how important is nizoral?
What exactly will this do for me?
I've been using it like every 3 days for a couple months, but don't really know the point.

You guys are a huge help, btw....thanks.

 

[Baldie]

I'm nervous now. I've been on minoxidil only and had VERY good regrowth from only 4 months (see pics in "tell your story section")

I'm expecting my box of finasteride to arrive any day now. Is there a possibility that all the lovely hair minoxidil has regrown for me will fall out when I start on finasteride...if so I'd like to know about it upfront so that I can expect it....Don't want to loose my newgrown hair!!!

 

[ropcat]

One quick question - For me, it doesn't seem like it's an off and on shed....it's more like a consistent/slow shed. In other words, it's been continuous since starting finasteride. Is this normal?...or should it be off and on?

I've heard of that too. My main shed lasted a couple months, maybe from November through February after starting in August 2000. For others, it's shorter in duration and occurs several times. No way to predict. Just grit your teeth and perservere, I'd say.

Also, how important is nizoral? What exactly will this do for me? I've been using it like every 3 days for a couple months, but don't really know the point.

First of all, it maintains a healthy scalp environment. When DHT binds to hair follicles and causes an autoimmune response, you get inflammation. You want to combat that with a shampoo like T-Gel (used in the Propecia clinical trials) or Nizoral. Second, the active ingredient ketoconazole has been shown to have anti-androgenic properties, which is why nizoral is better than T-Gel (aside from T-Gel's mildly unpleasant odor). Go to http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/resourcelibrary/ and read the study "Ketoconazole's 2 Year Effect on Hair Loss." Now, that's a study of Nizoral 2% (prescription only), but Nizoral 1% (over the counter) is cheaper and likely to be about as effective, especially if you use more than you would with 2%. You can't count on nizoral alone to do very much for you, but if you're on Finasteride you might as well make this tiny change in your showering routine that will help the effectiveness of your other treatments.

 

[mjd0482]

ropcat, you rule...thanks buddy....
I'll keep up with the Nizoral.

I guess the worst possible situation for me is that I get so frustrated w/ just finasteride and start adding minoxidil. I REALLY REALLY don't want to use minoxidil.
How rare is it for one to regrow hair with just finasteride 1.25 + nizoral?

 

[Algag85]

I have fairly bad dandruff...I have tried Head and Shoulders with little or no result, and have just started on Vive Thickening/Anti-dandruff shampoo. As far as thickening my hair I can't say for sure, but the dandruff persists. Should I try Nizoral? I have read that Nizoral does a number on your hair, leaving it thin and weak, which makes me wary. The last thing I need is my hair looking thinner/weaker.

 

[pbz]

My hair always look thicker after using Nizoral. Even more than using ordinary thickening-shampoos. The effect usually lasts until the next day (after a night of pressing the hair against a pillow, it gets fairly flat).

 

[MrBen]

I don't want to go back on minoxidil either. I was on it and I hated putting it in everyday, especially because it just made my hair look thinner. I'll hope for the best with proscar, and it's neat all of us 2 monthers atarted at the same time... so let's keep each other updated!

 

[ropcat]

I REALLY REALLY don't want to use minoxidil.
How rare is it for one to regrow hair with just finasteride 1.25 + nizoral?

Well, you could look at the clinical study data here:
http://www.propecia.com/finasteride/pro ... _study.jsp

It's not likely that you'll grow a LOT back with Finasteride. You've got a really good shot at maintenance, and a decent shot at some small amount of thickening and regrowth. But if you're looking for some major regrowth, finasteride probably isn't going to do it alone.

Then again, I totally understand your reluctance to start minoxidil. I should be on it now, since my finasteride results are slipping a bit lately (after almost five years). But damn, I do not want to have to apply topicals every day from now on. Still weighing my options here...

Should I try Nizoral? I have read that Nizoral does a number on your hair, leaving it thin and weak, which makes me wary. The last thing I need is my hair looking thinner/weaker.

I've never noticed that. Both nizoral and T-Gel leave my hair feeling cosmetically thicker, except when I overuse one of them or when I don't use conditioner afterward -- since they can be quite drying.