starting Propecia at 49?

[47thin]

My hair has really started to thin in front, not enough so it is really , really noticible, but enough for my niece to call my part in my hair a bald spot. My question is, is it effective to start at 49/50 years old? How many have started at an advanced age- 43-50 years old and seen resuts?

I tried rogaine, but it made my heart beat too fast, so that's out. I use Nano Shampoo, and Ginger Shampoo. Nizoral makes my hair look like crap, so that's out, and revita gave me a scary shed. Anyway, any feedback would be great from the older members.

 

[Cassin]

We don't have many 40+ who register here but I recall a handful of success story's.

Be sure you tell your doctor you are taking it when you go in for a prostate exam.

 

[Grantspots]

My hair has really started to thin in front, not enough so it is really , really noticible, but enough for my niece to call my part in my hair a bald spot. My question is, is it effective to start at 49/50 years old?

It should be, yes. The Finasteride (propecia) trials were done on men age 18 to 55, and 83% saw results. Keep in mind that Propecia is a maintenance medication. You should not have any problems with side effects at your age, but it should be viewed as a long term maintenance tool. Not something like Rogaine which can sprout hairs in a few months. Still, its the most intelligent way to tackle your situation. And it does work up front depending on the individual. Point being, if you go on it, with the consent of your physician, kick back and give it 8 to 12 months to do its job. The stuff works.

Regarding nizoral - it is advised that you use it once every 3 days. A similar shampoo was included in the propecia trials and contributed greatly to the success people had. If you have any itching or redness or inflammation at all, nizoral is indicated. It does dry your hair out but the simple solution is to rinse it and use a regular shampoo right after. Just let it sit on your scalp for the duration of the shower. The 2nd shampoo will restore your hair's condition.

I tried rogaine, but it made my heart beat too fast, so that's out.

There is a new Rogaine Foam. Old school Rogaine caused a lot of problems. Keep the new one in mind if you ever consider upping the regimen. Its an entirely new product.

revita gave me a scary shed.

All sheds are scary, but they are good news if you're on a proven product. Don't ever quit a regimen because of a shed if your regimen is founded on clinically backed treatments. Sheds are part of the restoration cycling process.

Lastly, I'd like to reiterate what Cassin said above: Make sure you inform your doctor that you're using Propecia/Finasteride for all your prostate exams. It can lower the PSA level by 1 to 2 points, which is significant, and your Doctor will want to take that into account when he reads your results.

-G-

 

[HairDont]

You should cut the dosage in half. At your age, you probably don't need the full boat to slow the loss.
Potential side effects will be lower as well.

Regarding the trials. Everything I have read said the study group went up to 41 years of age, not 55 as was posted above.
But you should still experience positive results.

I have been on the drug for many years, the first 6 were really good.

FROM A PROPECIA REFERENCE WEBSITE:

INDICATIONS AND USAGE
PROPECIA is indicated for the treatment of male pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) in MEN ONLY . Safety and efficacy were demonstrated in men between 18 to 41 years of age with mild to moderate hair loss of the vertex and anterior mid-scalp area (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Clinical Studies)

Efficacy in bitemporal recession has not been established.

PROPECIA is not indicated in women (see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Clinical Studies and CONTRAINDICATIONS).

PROPECIA is not indicated in children (see PRECAUTIONS, Pediatric Use).

 

[pratc]

Some researchers are hinting that taking Finasteride later in life may be beneficial to prevent the onset of protrate cancer and it should be given to men who don't show signs - yet. The article can be found in the link, and the last part of the article is below. I'm in the UK but often glance at the NY Times

Some leading prostate specialists, like Dr. Scardino, say they are recommending that men who worry about prostate cancer take finasteride.
He also ponders taking it himself. “I regularly think, Why don’t I take it? Why wouldn’t every man take it?†Dr. Scardino said. He hasn’t done so yet, partly because those years of concern about the drug took a toll.
“I think it’s the difficulty of adjusting to something that originally had a bad reputation,†Dr. Scardino explained.
Dr. Thompson has no such fears.
He is at no particular risk for prostate cancer, but, he reasons, taking finasteride is not that different than taking a statin for a slightly elevated cholesterol level.
“Imagine the marathoner with no family history of heart disease, who’s skinny, doesn’t smoke and has normal blood pressure,†Dr. Thompson says. “Should he take a statin? The amount of benefit he’ll get is not much, but his risk reduction still is 25 or 30 percent.â€
Dr. Thompson knows what he will do about finasteride.
“I’m 54,†he said. “The men in the study were 55 and older. So I’ll start taking it next year.â€

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/15/h...pagewanted=1&_r=1&sq=finasteride&st=cse&scp=1

 

[kento]

Why anybody on those ages will care about hairloss, lot of guys on that ages who take proscar 5mg. So when it comes safety i guess it's ok but first consult with your doctor

 

[Cassin]

Why anybody on those ages will care about hairloss, lot of guys on that ages who take proscar 5mg. So when it comes safety i guess it's ok but first consult with your doctor

At what point in like should one not care about looks?

 

[kento]

Why anybody on those ages will care about hairloss, lot of guys on that ages who take proscar 5mg. So when it comes safety i guess it's ok but first consult with your doctor

At what point in like should one not care about looks?

Got 25, started to lose my hair at 18 (slowly) but at 22-23 started to get noticeable. If i don't do something probably will be bald at 30 (now that sucks i guess). I will not worry to much on those ages or what will take, still don't have kids but no matter how safe is propecia, we still play with our hormones. It's normal on those ages people to hair thinner hair or be bald but on this ages really sucks.

 

[Cassin]

There is a huge difference between wanting to keep hair and obsessing over it. A few inquiries here and there is typically all the older posters do and move on. At no age should people stop wanting to do their best and look as good as they can, within reason.

Anyway...good luck to you 47thin. Read this story when you have time.

http://www.gourmetstylewellness.com/photogallery/pgjonr.htm

 

[B58]

47thin - I'm with ya man, dropped my first 1/4 Fincar today (I just turned 50)

Kento - damn right we care about our hair!

 

[Cassin]

If you gets could post your story here

viewforum.php?f=28

we would love it.

 

[47thin]

Why anybody on those ages will care about hairloss, lot of guys on that ages who take proscar 5mg. So when it comes safety i guess it's ok but first consult with your doctor

At what point in like should one not care about looks?

Got 25, started to lose my hair at 18 (slowly) but at 22-23 started to get noticeable. If i don't do something probably will be bald at 30 (now that sucks i guess). I will not worry to much on those ages or what will take, still don't have kids but no matter how safe is propecia, we still play with our hormones. It's normal on those ages people to hair thinner hair or be bald but on this ages really sucks.

Dude, I certainly understand how you feel, and having hair loss when you are still young and trying to get laid, etc, is a drag. However we are in a youth obsessed society, and keeping ones hair makes one look younger, and therefore more marketable. Seeing as all or most of our 401k's are being crushed, we need to work longer.

BTW, I remember saying the same thing to this guys when I was 19, that losing ones hair at the ripe old age of 48 wouldn't be such a big deal. He said- "you never want to lose it!"

 

[B58]

Was reading Dr Lee's website and he started taking quartered proscar at age 58 and it filled in his bald spot!

Keep in mind the original finasteride studies to combat prostrate enlargement were done on men over 65 and the hair regrowth was discovered as an unexpected side effect, leading to the marketing of Propecia.

Still' I think the results depend on the agressiveness on one's male pattern baldness, regardless of age.

 

[Bryan]

Keep in mind the original finasteride studies to combat prostrate enlargement were done on men over 65 and the hair regrowth was discovered as an unexpected side effect, leading to the marketing of Propecia.

BWAHAHAH!!! Look what the newbie just said!! :mrgreen:

Okay, seriously....I'm gonna go easy on you and just tell you that finasteride for hairloss was NOT an "unexpected side effect". (BTW, look at the first line in my signature file below.)

 

[B58]

I'll defer to you on that Bryan, though some sources do state exactly that :youbet:

Been up since 4, don't know what I'm typing :sleep:

 

[Bryan]

I'll defer to you on that Bryan, though some sources do state exactly that :youbet:

What "sources" have you found that said that?

 

[Cassin]

I'll defer to you on that Bryan, though some sources do state exactly that :youbet:

Been up since 4, don't know what I'm typing :sleep:

Those sources probably point to a post found on a forum by someone who has no idea what they speak.

I trust anything Bryan says. When its his opinion he clearly states so, when its a fact he has proof.

 

[B58]

Cassin, Bryan-

I read it somewhere online while gathering info on finasteride (started it 4 days ago). It wasn't in a forum, so I'll try to remember where I saw it and pass it along. Such "misinformation" does exist though.

 

[47thin]

I know this is an old thread, but one more question- is Propecia the better way to go with diffuse thinning? I can't really use rogaine, as I have said before, but I am thinking about adding Tricomin into the mix, after I go see my doctor and get the propecia prescribed. I ahve a decenetly swollen prostate- while not huge, the side benefit would be to shrink that as well. Just scared to death of all the sides I read about on here.

 

[casperz]

I started last year, mid forties, good to great results.

Don't expect to get all the sides you read about here... I've gotten none of them. But the mind is
very powerful and if you think you will get them you might.