Ok, how is the long term efficacy of minoxidil when mixed with finasteride?
When you grow hair from minoxidil, it usually stays around until you stop it; however, continuing to take it, may not grow a wave of new hair.
How Long Is The MPB Process?
How long can MPB take?
My hair kind of leapt into a widow’s peak during 2003/04 and is now considerably thinner than it has ever been in my life. So this is about 5 years maximum – i thought MPB took on average 15 years or more?
What happened?
Once you know you have male pattern baldness (MPB), it remains a progressive process until the day you die, but in reality most people slow down the loss in their late 30s or 40s. There are always exceptions to the rule, but most people are destined to develop a pattern and that pattern is not always a class 6 or 7 pattern (see Norwood Chart below). They may stop at a class 3… but of course, each person is different.
2008-02-19 14:35:512008-02-18 10:56:27How Long Is The MPB Process?
How Long Does Minoxidil Stay In My Body?
Dr. Rassman,
I have been taking 2% topical minoxidil since late December 2005. I have ALWAYS taken more than the recommended doses. I would estimate at first 2-3 times the amount, later on 4-5 times the amount. By mid March I noticed my sex drive was really low and and I had a harder time getting and maintaining an erection. I read online from the Mayo Clinic that too much absorption of topical minoxidil can lower sex drive and performance. I have stopped taking it for a week and sexually I’m better, but not quite normal. I also still have some heart palpitations. Could you please tell me when my body will “clear-out” the excess minoxidil?
Some drugs are metabolized fairly quickly, while others can take a long time before they are eliminated. We quantify this with the use of the term “half-life.” The half-life of a given medication is how long it takes for the body to get rid of half of the dose. When the patient is taking a medication on a regular basis, there is an ongoing process of drug absorption in the form of each dose of the drug and, concurrently, an ongoing process of drug removal with the drug’s metabolism and clearance. Eventually, there comes a point when the amount of drug going in is the same as the amount of drug getting taken out. We call this “steady state.” It takes somewhere between 5 and 6 half-lives for a medication to reach steady state. Thus, medications with short half-lives reach steady state relatively quickly, while those with long half-lives take a long time to reach steady state. Minoxidil has a blood half-life of about 4 hours, but I can not determine how long it hangs around the kidney, heart, or other organs when it is out of the blood. Most of the good studies are on oral administration of the drug for treatment of high blood pressure and here is what I read on RxList.com: “The extent and time-course of blood pressure reduction by minoxidil do not correspond closely to its concentration in plasma. After an effective single oral dose, blood pressure usually starts to decline within one-half hour, reaches a minimum between 2 and 3 hours and recovers at an arithmetically linear rate of about 30%/day. The total duration of effect is approximately 75 hours. When minoxidil is administered chronically, once or twice a day, the time required to achieve maximum effect on blood pressure with a given daily dose is inversely related to the size of the dose. Thus, maximum effect is achieved on 10 mg/day within 7 days, on 20 mg/day within 5 days, and on 40 mg/day within 3 days.” This may be more than you asked for.
If you have heart palpitations, you should be seeing a doctor about that. This is a worrysome problem, something that is far too important than to take it to a doctor like me who advises on general questions over the internet. Minoxidil may be out of your system by now and the fact that you are getting better is good, but having a heart problem needs prompt and proper medical treatment, so get it to see a doctor ASAP.
2006-04-21 12:32:012006-04-21 08:34:04How Long Does Minoxidil Stay In My Body?
Will finasteride hold a long time?
In your long experience, have people who responded well to the drug initially maintain their growth over a long period of time, say over 10 years? Thank you
Most people often maintain the effects of the drug if they stay on it, but some lose the full effectiveness if the genetic hair loss accelerates or they stop the drug.
2020-04-08 04:00:002020-04-19 12:34:29Will finasteride hold a long time?
How Long Does The Balding Process Take?
I am a 27 year-old male from Toronto, Canada. I have a family history (faternal family and partenal family) of MPB. In the summer of 2005, my stylist informed that I was thinning at the top/front. I was in denial as I have used lots of gel or similar styling products and have been able to see my scalp. I later noticed the front thinning a little, but did not really care as it did not seem to be serious. In late December 2005, my uncle asked me if my hair was thinning (which he has always done b/c of the gel) and my aunt said that my hair was thinning from the crown….my sister said she noticed it as well. The next day I asked my barber not to use styling product and he said that would be good b/c of the thinning on the top (the first time he has mentioned it since the summer!!!). Needless to say I am no longer in denial BUT I WANT TO TAKE ACTION AS QUICK AS POSSIBLE.
I am going to speak with my family doctor about propecia/proscar. I have bought rogaine (2%) but will wait to use it, as I would like to see the doctors say and b/c of your advice to start out with one remedy so that I can know what is effective. I have also bought nizoral (2%). The rogaine seems like a pain to use. I am a very very busy young professional.
I have a few questions:
- do you have suggestions for a good doctor in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (preferably downtown core) where I can get miniaturization done?
- how long does the balding process take? I am concerned that I will lose a lot more hair before any medication kicks in. I would BE QUITE HAPPY IF I COULD MAINTAIN MY CURRENT HAIR for the next 8 – 10 years as I love my locks.
- Is avodart available in Canada?
- do you recommend any particular thickening shampoo and styling product? I want to avoid the revivogen and stuff like that.
Thank you for your help.
- Check with the ISHRS for a doctor near you by using their physician search.
- The balding process varies with each person. The reality is that very bald men are usually on their way to that diagnosis well before their 29th birthday.
- If you do have genetic hair loss, Propecia or Proscar (broken down to 4 parts of a tablet) is more appropriate than Avodart at this time. That being said, I do not know of the availability of Avodart in Canada.
- I don’t believe that styling shampoos or any topical agents will help.
It sounds like genetic balding is the diagnosis, but I couldn’t properly determine that without an examination. As you know, we tend to follow our family patterns, which also includes the rate of balding. Find out who you take after, and you will have a better idea of what may happen if you do not go on such medications as Propecia.
2006-01-09 09:36:482006-01-09 09:37:15How Long Does The Balding Process Take?
How long for finasteride results that can be seen?
Been on fin two months. Zero sides so far. Baby hair sprouting out, how long before those hair become thicker.
Hair grows out at about 1/2 inch per month and it often takes a few months for finasteride to kick in. I tell patients to wait a full year to see the value and benefits.
How Long From Healthy Hair to Miniaturization?
Hi Doctor,
I know everyone is genetically different in their balding patterns, speed, etc. but how long does it generally take for miniaturization to turn a healthy hair folicle into one that can’t grow any hair? Weeks? Months? Thanks!
You are right — everyone is different. The hair you see on top of your head reflects about 1/2 inch per month of growth. Miniaturization can take months or possibly even years to appear.
How long for finasteride side effects to go away?
The usual time is a month, but some people may take a few months. The drug stays in your tissues for up to one month
2020-08-25 03:03:092020-08-23 15:33:36How long for finasteride side effects to go away?
How Long Should I Wait to See Benefits from Propecia?
I’ve been on Propecia since April last year. However, my hair loss is continuing at a slow pace. I know that I might’ve been worse off without Propecia, but could it be possible that Propecia only really fully kicks in and loss stopping takes more than a year? Thanks.
My standard answer is to wait at least a year, but some people see benefits of hair loss reduction almost immediately and hair growth in 6 months. Everyone is different, though.
2013-06-17 09:04:052013-06-14 16:47:37How Long Should I Wait to See Benefits from Propecia?
How Long Should I Wait Before Considering Filling In My Strip Scar with FUE Grafts?
Thanks very much for the informative blog.
Say a strip patient is about 6 months out from FUT surgery and now has buyers regret (please, no reminder about thinking things through first!), and wants to fill in the scar with FUE/beard hair/etc. Is there any advantage to do it at this time or does one need to wait one year. I wonder if scar is more or less vascular when healing. Thanks.
If the donor scar has healed, you don’t need more surgery, and the scar is narrow, then follicular unit extraction (FUE) to the linear scar is possible. FUE does not fill in wide scars well, though. Scalp MicroPigmentation (SMP), on the other hand, may be a better approach. Explore it all.