Switch to Avodart from finasteride?

[WonderLad]

I'm a 24 year old male, and the link to my story is in my profile. Basically, in october of 06 I began using Rogaine to address hair loss I had been noticing for six months. The following May I added finasteride and was initially pleased with the results. Around August of last year my hair looked very full and significant regrowth was evident along the hairline, which was the primary problem area. My hair continued to be pretty strong until January of this year when I began noticing a distinct increase in shedding along the hairline and in the middle of the head. It's continued steadily and as of right now my hair is at its all time thinnest, is receding further back every day and looks really, really crappy and straw-like all over. As a result of this significant deterioration in hair quality, I am considering making the switch to avodart since i feel like i may have somehow grown immune to the finasteride. I suppose the only consolation is that I know we're in the midst of what is sometimes considered a time of the year that provokes shedding. I don't know how much faith to put in this argument, but I know I had a pretty bad shed around April of last year as well. Anyway:

Right now my regimen is: 1/3 Fincar tablet daily, foam Rogaine 2x daily all over head with concentration on hairline, crown and front middle of the head & Nizorol every Saturday. I am thinking of switching the Fincar to Avodart in hopes of stimulating regrowth.

My questions are: Is switching now a good idea? Is there a significant chance for regrowth at the temples and thickening of the overall hair? Is there a period of shedding and, if so, how severe would it be? Since I'm already taking a substantial dose of finasteride, how much avodart would i be looking at in terms of dosage if I wanted to substantially increase my DHT inhibitors?

Keep in mind, please, that I am not at all concerned with any sexual side effects. My libido has been ridiculously low for the entirety of my life to the point that i consider myself functionally asexual. I would definitely balk at any other serious sides, but sexual ones don't factor into my considerations at all.

Any help would be hugely appreciated. I felt as though I was at least holding my own in this battle, but now I definitely feel as though I'm losing the struggle.

 

[Kiem]

If you feel that proscar is losing it effectiveness then maybe try upping the dose to 1/2 tablet and see how it goes before jumping on dutasteride.
Like you said, you may be going through a shed so don't rush into jumping on dutasteride. I was on 1/4 proscar for 8-9 years before it lost its effectiveness on me, so now I upped it to 1/2 a tab of proscar each day and noticed I got more sleep since I didn't have to constantly wake up in the middle of the night to go urinate. Just wondering, have you always been on foam or liquid for minoxidil?

 

[WonderLad]

I started on generic liquid finasteride (from Wal Mart) and used that from October 06-December/January 07. I have been using foam for the last 16 months or so, though.

Thanks a lot for the reply!

 

[otis]

I think you should ask your dermatolgist what you should expext from Nizorel, hmm i think i no what he will say

 

[WonderLad]

I don't really visit a dermatologist for my hair loss. Any chance of you explaining what you mean about the nizoral? I've been using it since May of last year and have never really noticed any sort of problem.