>> Hair Loss Treatment Information Forums > General Hair Loss Discussion > finasteride users
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Harlan88
Regrowth.com Member 
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 54 |
finasteride users I have decided to go with the finasteride route, and I'm trying to save money for a laser helmet in the near future. But for the time being finasteride is my only option. How many guys have experienced an increase of shedding during the first 3 months or so on finasteride? any info on the drug is much appreciated. I think I'm going to start with 0.5 mg a day and slowly get up to 1 mg after a few months. Clearly the laser helmet is a better option but I'm paying for college with no job and this is my only option currently. Thanks for helping.
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 5/12/2009 4:17
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glaxom
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Dec 2006 Posts: 260 |
Harlan it's been so long since i first started fin it's hard to remember what exactly in the hell happened as far as the shedding goes. I'm sure you've read the thread about the fin brain fog, so that's another side to look for as well as the usual ones. Good luck.
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| 5/12/2009 8:44
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avandalay
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Sep 2008 Posts: 93 |
I don't really remember either, quite frankly. It must not have been more than what I was losing before fin (which was quite a bit). For all of fin's downsides, and they are considerable, it did reduce shedding tremendously. I probably lose 5-10 hairs in the shower, that's all. No increase in shedding from LLLT
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| 5/12/2009 11:12
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LaserMeUp
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 60 |
I can't remember shedding badly, however after 2 months I couldn't use my knob anymore. Seriously fella, I have always relied on my looks to get me through life, so losing my hair has hit me hard. HOWEVER, using fin was possibly the worst thing I could have taken. EVEN if you aren't rendered impotent, your willy will never be 'FULL' of joy anymore. After 9 months off fin I have finally got my sex drive and ability back. That was a VERY embarassing time. Think carely mate. Regards
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| 5/13/2009 12:53
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NorwegianKid
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 66 |
Personally my shedding lasted for about four months I will say. When it comes to sides I have noticed some dull weak pain in my downer abdominal region, prostate-pain perhaps, that lasted for some seconds a couple of times a week, nothing that has made me worried though, I guess. About impotency, nothing there, breast tenderness, nothing. Brain fog.. honestly.. maybe. I am not quite sure really, but some lack of energy and having a hard time focusing on my studying sometimes. Some mild depression a couple of months in.. Now gone though. Hmm, what else.. yeah, muscle growth.. they grow like never before, make sense considering the higher amounts of testosterone. And yeah, some testicle "tingeling" or weak pain sometimes, a couple of seconds now and then.
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| 5/13/2009 1:12
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laserkid
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 85 |
I agree. I've always been an advocate of fin, but you really need to think about what you are getting yourself into. Do your research, go onto propeciahelp.com. OK, I know it's the extreme end of the population and most people don't get the severe sides listed on that site but you need to be aware of them so you can make a decision about whether or not you wish to come off the drug should they arise. If I was you I'd start low, 0.25mg for the first month or so, see how you get on, no sides? then increase the dose. I wouldn't really bother going above 0.5mg, because even at that dose 90% of DHT is inhibited and it may prevent you form getting sides. I'm not even sure why Merck give out 1mg doses when studies show 0.5mg to be almost as effective. I was on 1mg dose, now dropped to 0.5 and feeling better for it. At the end of the day it is up to you, either way good luck
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| 5/13/2009 2:02
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laserkid
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 85 |
I should mention that from my experience it is very good at keeping hair tho!
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| 5/13/2009 2:04
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NorwegianKid
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 66 |
I should mention too that I build my way up from 0.25(proscar dissolved in alcohol) to 1.25(proscar divided in three). I gave it about three months before I started 1.25, maybe this helped my body adjust etc etc etc I dont know, lol  But if it is a fact what LASERKID states above that you will reduce 90 % with o.5 only, there is no question about it, I'll lower the dosage. Perhaps more safe and def less harsh on my money.
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| 5/13/2009 4:47
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laserkid
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 85 |
Ok, Here's the link that I'm talking about. Would've put it up last night but was in a bit of a rush. http://www.physics.upenn.edu/facultyinfo/frankel/papers/propeciafda2/index.html This is basically a report by a guy called Sherman Frankel who has repeatedly told the FDA that the license on propecia should be investigated. The report is actually pretty good and uses data from Merck's own studies. If you look at Fig 4, this gives the mean DHT percentage change in the scalp in response to various doses. You can see that at doses 0.05mg and above there is a flat dose response curve, basically meaning that any increase in dose does NOT cause any further reduction in scalp DHT percentage. The confidence intervals (the lines) overlap, therefore statistically there is no difference between 0.05mg dose and the 5mg dose. Fig 5 shows a similar trend, although serum DHT only plateaus at the 0.2mg dose and above. So what does this mean? Basically that 5mg fin and 0.2mg fin have the same effects on percentage DHT change in the scalp which is what is implicated in mbp. When I said that 0.5mg decreases DHT by 90%, I meant by 90% compared to 1mg dose, which is what I read somewhere. But, done a bit of research and it seems that actually there is no difference. Fin is actually a bloody good drug, it is v potent, meaning you only need low doses to get an effect. There's a few questions that are left unanswered by Merck 1) Why they used those doses? They didn't use doses which would've determined the full dose response curve and thus given them an idea of dosage. 2)They decided to go to market with a product that actually contains a LOT more fin than is required, potentially 4x more, maybe more, but without the full dose response curve we will never know at which dose that curve plateaus. So, I'm gonna go on record now and say that 1mg fin is much too much and actually everyone should be on 0.25mg or lower. I'm on 0.5mg, but gonna be dropping it down pretty soon to the lower 0.25mg. After all, lower doses = less side effects. Please comment if you think I've interpreted the data wrong but that's how I read it.
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| 5/14/2009 11:22
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Harlan88
Regrowth.com Member
Registered: Apr 2009 Posts: 54 |
thanks Laserkid thats exactly what I'm looking for, I'm on day 3 at 1mg and so far no sides.
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| 5/14/2009 12:50
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