Should I start Finasteride?

[alwaysdreaming]

Hi guys,

I'll just be really quick about this... I'm 28 and have been experiencing hair loss since I was 18. I've used a bunch of topicals over the years, tried many shampoos, and many supplements but I have never taken finasteride or dutasteride.

I would really like to try using finasteride but I'm horrified when I read the side effects that some people experience. If I experienced any side effects, I would stop using it immediately, but I am still worried it could have a permanent effect. What is your experience? Is it worth a try?

 

[GoldenMane]

95% chance no sides. Of the 5% that do, it's mostly minor stuff, watery semen, slightly lower libido. The worst I've heard was gynecomastia, brain fog. Gynecomastia may require surgery if it progresses too far.

 

[testingit]

I've been on it for several years now. Hard to say my own results but can say I've had no noticeable side effects. I believe they are certainly possible, but the studies I've read the potential for side effects is very low.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor

 

[alwaysdreaming]

95% chance no sides. Of the 5% that do, it's mostly minor stuff, watery semen, slightly lower libido. The worst I've heard was gynecomastia, brain fog. Gynecomastia may require surgery if it progresses too far.

Thanks GoldenMane - It just seems that all the posts I read about finasteride are negative and that I rarely see someone who is taking it successfully.

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I've been on it for several years now. Hard to say my own results but can say I've had no noticeable side effects. I believe they are certainly possible, but the studies I've read the potential for side effects is very low.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor

Thanks testingit - what dosage do you take?

 

[Agustin Araujo]

alwaysdreaming,

If you're genuinely suffering from Male Pattern Baldness, Finasteride is going to be the best current option to treat the condition. Side effects are uncommon and happen in a small percentage who use the medication. You can simply quit Finasteride if you do experience side effects and they'll subside. It will not hurt to try especially that the vast majority of men respond well to Finasteride.

I'm currently not aware of how your hair loss is, but if it's been starting to get bad, you'll need to start taking Finasteride ASAP so your hair doesn't keep getting worse. I'd recommend to go see a hair transplant surgeon and have them write you a prescription for Finasteride, the recommended dosage is to take 1-1.25 mg daily of the medication.

 

[proactive]

I would recommend it if you get sides they are almost always reversible

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I would recommend it if you get sides they are almost always reversible

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Double post so I can post my own thread

 

[abcdefg]

I saw a derm like 6 or 7 years ago that said he had tons of men taking finasteride and no one had any sides. He said it was a very safe drug and wrote me script. I never took it because it cost a ton back then, but I would not have worried about safety. The forums are representative of people with issues because they come here. Most normal people dont come here take the stuff like you do a vitamin and move on with life. If you have a major issue you will know and see a doctor pretty common sense.
I would agree though if you have a major issue it might not be fixable, but very very rare. Not really worth worrying about.

 

[Saurabhaj]

I have been prescribed Rx Finasteride 1 mg three times in a week on Wed,Friday,Sunday after taking snacks by my senior.

 

[sjbuk]

I have bad sides. When I looked into finasteride I didn't come across the horror storys and had I known then I'm not sure I would have taken it. In truth I probably would have taken it on second thoughts as I read that any adverse effects there was a 2% chance of getting. I now think 2% is BS as I would say ALL will get some side effects its just if they're noticed or not. Effects like ball pain were almost instant but because we really want to avoid hair loss we put up with some 'minor' effects but chances are they build up. A drug which alters hormonal profiles on a lifetime basis HAS to have negative effects as well as the 'positive' effects against hair loss.

I write 'positive' in quotes because the tone most often with hair loss is that its a negative thing. How something is framed has a big effect on how its perceived.

If hair 'loss' or hair minimising put another way if portrayed effects how we perceive it. If it was portrayed that head hair on men was a feminine attribute due to not having the DHT hormone to convert as in male pattern baldness others would perceive 'full heads' as girly boys!