Started Dutasterid Today (ran Fina Before)

[LastHope123]

I finally found a doctor specialized in hair loss who were willing to prescribe me dutasterid (Avodart) 0.5mg taken once daily.
Earlier I've been on finasterid since 2015. I had a few months off during that period. I also used minoxidil and ketokonazole 2% shampoo now and then during that time.

Switched to dutasteride to see if I could get some regrowth or not. I think finasteride slowed the hair loss, but I think I was slowly loosing ground. I've been adding some other stuff to my regimen, look at my posts further in this thread.

Update 14/08/2019: Added some pictures I've taken since I started taking dutasteride. Sorry for bad image quality and camera angles. Had a really bad camera until now and it took some time getting used to taking pictures of my hairline with one hand. Some of them is really bad, but I just add them anyway. Going to take better quality pictures from now on with same angles for easier comparison.

30/03/2019 - the day I started dutasteride treatment:


25/05/2019:


12/08/2019:


16/10/2019 (6 months + a couple of weeks), new camera:


Nothing major improvements so far. Maybe some increased density at the temples?

 

[Yakitori]

If Finasteride slowed down your hair loss but you saw nothing from minoxidil, you are probably a non-responder, if however Finasteride didn't do much for you it probably wasn't strong enough to decrease your hair loss by any measurable amount and if that's the case using dutasteride might make you benefit from minoxidil.

You never know until you tried but if you knew you were a non-responder to minoxidil while on Finasteride, you won't respond while on anything else. Personally I knew I was a non-responder to topical minoxidil when I was still on finasteride so I quit it and won't bother jumping on it again, even now that dutasteride has nuked my DHT.

 

[Manochoice]

If Finasteride slowed down your hair loss but you saw nothing from minoxidil, you are probably a non-responder, if however Finasteride didn't do much for you it probably wasn't strong enough to decrease your hair loss by any measurable amount and if that's the case using dutasteride might make you benefit from minoxidil.

You never know until you tried but if you knew you were a non-responder to minoxidil while on Finasteride, you won't respond while on anything else. Personally I knew I was a non-responder to topical minoxidil when I was still on finasteride so I quit it and won't bother jumping on it again, even now that dutasteride has nuked my DHT.

Using the term "nuked" in a positive or negative way?

 

[Yakitori]

Using the term "nuked" in a positive or negative way?

In a good way. My hair loss has decreased by a significant amount from when I was using finasteride. Had no sides from finasteride, from duta I've only experienced a slightly softer morning wood on some days.

 

[shidoin]

Using the term "nuked" in a positive or negative way?

I'm pretty sure nuked meant killed the DHT which is what you want. Just jump on dutasteride and get it over with, or shave bald and move on

 

[Skrufstark]

If Finasteride slowed down your hair loss but you saw nothing from minoxidil, you are probably a non-responder, if however Finasteride didn't do much for you it probably wasn't strong enough to decrease your hair loss by any measurable amount and if that's the case using dutasteride might make you benefit from minoxidil.

You never know until you tried but if you knew you were a non-responder to minoxidil while on Finasteride, you won't respond while on anything else. Personally I knew I was a non-responder to topical minoxidil when I was still on finasteride so I quit it and won't bother jumping on it again, even now that dutasteride has nuked my DHT.

The thing is that I used minoxidil in the front and at the temples. And i know minoxidil is less effective at those areas than the crown. My question is if its worth running minoxidil with dutasterid since dutasterid is much better to at least stop hair loss in front and temples. I have read several experience of people having regrowth there on dutasterid, so im wondering if minoxidil could help thtt process.

 

[Yakitori]

The thing is that I used minoxidil in the front and at the temples. And i know minoxidil is less effective at those areas than the crown. My question is if its worth running minoxidil with dutasterid since dutasterid is much better to at least stop hair loss in front and temples. I have read several experience of people having regrowth there on dutasterid, so im wondering if minoxidil could help thtt process.

Of course, don't count out any option. Nothing hurts quite like having the realization that you've tried everything (everything reasonable and widely used at least) and it doesn't improve your situation.

It's very possible to have positive effects from minoxidil but your hair loss is still too harsh for minoxidil to give more than what your AA takes, so the benefits might not be apparent until your decrease your hair loss by a significant amount (which dutasteride should do).

 

[LastHope123]

https://imgur.com/JCS7DgF
https://imgur.com/kmVdHYy
https://imgur.com/TrVnTgd
https://imgur.com/WLgAxAb
https://imgur.com/Qet96SZ

Click on that link to my album on imgur to see pictures. This is me now. As you can see, I have next to no hair loss on top. The small round thinning on the top of the crown has just always been like that. Thick hair mostly, but my hair line in front and temples have slowly receeded.

I have always had a small V shape in front, but it has progressed a bit worse the last few years, especially at the left side.
My father is basicly bald, but my grandfather on my mothers side is 74 years old and have only receeded slightly. I have my grandfathers hair color, so it might just be maturing hairline. I want just want to be sure that I will keep what I have now until at least 35-40 years old. I'm 25 now.

I have been on Dutasterid for 6 days now. No sensitive nipples. Maybe slightly less spontanious erections, but I can easily jack off once a day or every other day if I want to. I don't have a GF currently so it does not bother me. I have vardenafil (Levitra) just in case I get girl visit or something.

Current regimen:
- Dutasterid (Avodart 0.5mg) once daily
- Minoxidil 5% morning and evening
- Ketokonazole shampoo twice weekly

I recently bought minoxidil in another country where it's 10 times cheaper than here (Norway), so I find it worth to try for a bit longer. Also because I think I saw a small increase in hair loss in the temples the 3 weeks I went off minoxidil.

I will update in a while. So feel free to subscribe to the threads if you want to see the progress.

 

[Maxihair]

cant see pics

 

[LastHope123]

cant see pics

Updated the links to some pictures in the post above. Dont know how to share the whole album publicly.
Some of the pictures where not that good, The first and the last picture is a better picture of what I'm dealing with. Basicly temple recession, and it's worser on the left side.

Current regimen:
- Applying minoxidil twice a day in temple area and frontal hairline. About 3cm behind the hairline and down to slightly under where there is no hair (in hope for regrowth). I think I use a little bit more than recommended as described on the bottle (7 pumps).

- Dutasteride 0.5mg each day

- Ketokonazole shampoo 2% twice a week. I wash my hair with regular shampoo first and then apply ketokonazole shampoo and let it absorb for about 5 minutes while I was the rest of the body. Earlier when using minoxidil liniment I got a severe dandruff, but after starting to use this shampoo regularly I have not had any problems with it.

So basicly this is like an upgraded more powerful version of "the big 3" regiment I have used before. I think this is the furthest I will allow myself to go when it comes to antiandrogens. I don't want to touch stuff like RU and such cause I fear it will interfere with my testosterone (I need to be very fit).

I take other stuff to like fish oil. I try to eat vegetables, fruits, some c-vitamin supplements, carrots, blueberries etc. Also lots of cardio and strength training, I dont know if that has any impact but maybe it can increase the blood flow.

One question: Earlier I have only used a silicone shampoo? Is this very important to use for minoxidil to work properly. I have a selection of shampoos I wanted to rotate (define "healthy scalp and hair", define "Morrocan Argan Oil" and define "Sea Mineral Texture"). The first two of these contain "Dimethicone" which I know is a silicone like substance. If these are bad then I will go back to the silicone free shampoo with wheat proteins in.


As an little update I can say that I have been on 0.5mg dutasteride now for 7 days. I have also taken 1.25mg finasterid during these days to be sure that I would keep the DHT somewhat low until the dutasteride really kicks in. From tomorrow I will only use the dutasteride
The good news is that I have had zero side effects so far. I have always lacked spontanious erections, so I can't tell anything from that (I have checked my testosterone though, it was 740ng/dl - so good amount). No problems getting a wank per day if I want to. No sensitive nipples or painful lumps in the chest area.

Another good thing I may have noticed (but it might be placebo) is that I tend to feel less of the itching in the frontal area. My hair also feels fresh and healthy.
The best thing is that now I can feel much better mentally since I know that 90-98% of the potential cause of my hairloss is gone compared to the only ~65% reduction finasterid gives.

 

[Rudi]

https://imgur.com/JCS7DgF
https://imgur.com/kmVdHYy
https://imgur.com/TrVnTgd
https://imgur.com/WLgAxAb
https://imgur.com/Qet96SZ

Click on that link to my album on imgur to see pictures. This is me now. As you can see, I have next to no hair loss on top. The small round thinning on the top of the crown has just always been like that. Thick hair mostly, but my hair line in front and temples have slowly receeded.

I have always had a small V shape in front, but it has progressed a bit worse the last few years, especially at the left side.
My father is basicly bald, but my grandfather on my mothers side is 74 years old and have only receeded slightly. I have my grandfathers hair color, so it might just be maturing hairline. I want just want to be sure that I will keep what I have now until at least 35-40 years old. I'm 25 now.

I have been on Dutasterid for 6 days now. No sensitive nipples. Maybe slightly less spontanious erections, but I can easily jack off once a day or every other day if I want to. I don't have a GF currently so it does not bother me. I have vardenafil (Levitra) just in case I get girl visit or something.

Current regimen:
- Dutasterid (Avodart 0.5mg) once daily
- Minoxidil 5% morning and evening
- Ketokonazole shampoo twice weekly

I recently bought minoxidil in another country where it's 10 times cheaper than here (Norway), so I find it worth to try for a bit longer. Also because I think I saw a small increase in hair loss in the temples the 3 weeks I went off minoxidil.

I will update in a while. So feel free to subscribe to the threads if you want to see the progress.

I believe there will be a loading effect. Half life is 5 Weeks...dont forget!
Fina just half a day or less

 

[DHTcel]

first of all, thats not a "natural v", second if oral finasteride didn't work then dutasteride might not be THAT much more effective. Try out oral spironolactone or cyproterone acetate if u want. Good luck.

 

[LastHope123]

UPDATE: I think dutasteride works in some way or another. I think the itch I noticed sometimes on finasteride has reduced noticeably. After a couple of weeks I seemed to take a hit on the temples, especially on the left side. Hard to say if that's the dutasteride since I restarted minoxidil a week before after about 3 weeks without it. The last week however my hair feels somehow healthier and I notice alot of vellus hair growing right below the hairline. And these vellus hairs seem to be darker and thicker than what I have experienced before.

THE DOWNSIDE.. I think I am experiencing some gyno symptoms appearing which started a few days ago. I have a minor gland from beginning, but some lumps in under and towards the center of the chest hurts. Lymph nodes seem to be swollen.This made me stop dutasteride until further and took the last capsule about 30 hours ago. Does anyone know how long the effects of the dutasteride last? I know the biological half life is several weeks, but I guess that is the total time including the metabolites? Or does dutasteride and its effects also last for several weeks after last capsule?

Anyway, I have 50 anaztrozole 1mg tablets on the way and will have it withing 1-3 days.

Such a shame that I went from zero sides on finasteride to several sides on dutasteride. Erections seem fine, but swollen and painful lymph nodes/or glands, hot flashes, some unstable mood and energy, sleep problems etc. are sides I cannot live with - i'd rather loose my hair then. But I think I will continue the chemical experiment and add anastrozole 0.25mg about once a week to keep the estrogen in check. I know combating sides of a drug with another drug is commonly a bad idea, but as long as I do regular blood tests to check my blood lipids and look for signs I think this can be a path im willing to take for a couple of months.

 

[LastHope123]

first of all, thats not a "natural v", second if oral finasteride didn't work then dutasteride might not be THAT much more effective. Try out oral spironolactone or cyproterone acetate if u want. Good luck.

I dont think I will ever touch spironolactone, cyproterone acetate or any AR antagonists/silent agonists. I'm too reliant on testosterone to live a happy life.

 

[LastHope123]

MAJOR UPDATE: Just one day after my last post about the lymph nodes/breast tissue pain it is now almost nonexistant. Hard to say why, my wild guess it that some breast glands are more prone to the higher estradiol/low DHT ratio and is more suspectible to this change. My gyno look more like pecs actually, so I am lucky in that regard. Now I can hardly feel anything.This is very good news for me since I may continue with this regimen without having to add any additional remedy to combat side effects (AIs such anastrozole/aromasin/raloxifene/letrozole). I have read this experience from several sources that mild gyno symptoms may appear for a few days before they go away when using Dutasteride after about week 3-4. My estimate is that the body will readjust the testosterone/estradol (even though DHT levels are low) since estradiol is an antigonadotropc hormone, so if excess estradiol is present it may ultimately reduce the hypothalamus to make the testes to reduce it's tesosterone levels back to baseline - which will in turn reduce the amount of estradiol being aromatized.

I will still get the anastrozole tablets (probably tomorrow) if things go out of hand again.

I still seem to get some further regrowth in my frontal hairline and temples. My hair on the crown is actually a bit thinner than the whole frontal hair part, maybe because that is where I apply minoxidil.

Current regiment is still Dutasteride (Avodart brand version) 0.5mg ED, Minoxidil 5% twice per day and Ketokonazole 2% twice a week. I have been off Dutasteride for almost 72 hours now until I get the anastrozole (arimidex 1mg) on hand just in case.

I will post more pictures later when possible regrowth is more noticeable. So stay tuned if you want.

 

[Manochoice]

Good luck!

 

[DHTcel]

MAJOR UPDATE: Just one day after my last post about the lymph nodes/breast tissue pain it is now almost nonexistant. Hard to say why, my wild guess it that some breast glands are more prone to the higher estradiol/low DHT ratio and is more suspectible to this change. My gyno look more like pecs actually, so I am lucky in that regard. Now I can hardly feel anything.This is very good news for me since I may continue with this regimen without having to add any additional remedy to combat side effects (AIs such anastrozole/aromasin/raloxifene/letrozole). I have read this experience from several sources that mild gyno symptoms may appear for a few days before they go away when using Dutasteride after about week 3-4. My estimate is that the body will readjust the testosterone/estradol (even though DHT levels are low) since estradiol is an antigonadotropc hormone, so if excess estradiol is present it may ultimately reduce the hypothalamus to make the testes to reduce it's tesosterone levels back to baseline - which will in turn reduce the amount of estradiol being aromatized.

I will still get the anastrozole tablets (probably tomorrow) if things go out of hand again.

I still seem to get some further regrowth in my frontal hairline and temples. My hair on the crown is actually a bit thinner than the whole frontal hair part, maybe because that is where I apply minoxidil.

Current regiment is still Dutasteride (Avodart brand version) 0.5mg ED, Minoxidil 5% twice per day and Ketokonazole 2% twice a week. I have been off Dutasteride for almost 72 hours now until I get the anastrozole (arimidex 1mg) on hand just in case.

I will post more pictures later when possible regrowth is more noticeable. So stay tuned if you want.

I found arimidex to not do much at preventing gyno personally I would instead recommend a LOW dose of letrozole.

 

[Maxihair]

+1 femara (letrozole) or arimidex can help

 

[LastHope123]

I found arimidex to not do much at preventing gyno personally I would instead recommend a LOW dose of letrozole.

+1 femara (letrozole) or arimidex can help

Is there any reason to this? I have heard that letrozole can easily wreck your estradiol too much and cause hairloss, while anastrozole have better blood lipids than aromasin and reduces it by max about 90% (my main goal is to get it down to around 20pg/ml - I currently think it was around 45pg/ml before arimidex).

The arimidex have made wonders. Gyno symptoms gone and feeling generally better. No hot flashes, morning woods back and more energy. No itch in the scalp and I see further hair regrowth in the temple area and my frontal har has become thick as hell. Time will tell and I will update you guys, stay subcribed if you want to join in on the journey.

Current regimen:

• Dutasteride 0.5mg ED
• Minoxidil 5% twice a day, morning and evening
• Ketokonazole shampoo 2% twice weekly
• Arimidex 0.25mg one to three times weekly (depends on if I see high estradiol levels)

 

[LastHope123]

A little quick update here.

Gyno symptoms has went away. I currenctly use the same regiment as before with arimidex (around 0.25mg) about twice a week. I try to keep the AI as low as possible to not get the estradiol to low as it may hurt the hairline - so I'm trying to find the good spot. Took 0.25mg today cause I felt some tingling in the right chest, might have just been my head. Anyway, I might wait taking the next arimidex to see if I can continue without it again.

A good thing is that the shed (or whatever it was, I lost a cm of my frontal hairline on the left side) seem to be growing out again. Seem like strong hairs. I have also noticed that my whole frontal hairline, about 5 cm upwards is actually alot thicker than the hair behing and around the crown (no visible bald spot there though). Maybe thats because of the minoxidil I only use on the frontal hairline?