Category: Drugs

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Hair Loss InformationFinasteride Interactions? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Dr.,

I am a big fan of your site. I get to read your new posts everyday by subscribing to your RSS feeds. My question is, given that I take 1 tablet of 1mg Propecia everyday, will it interact with other supplements or even certain food?

For example, here’s a list of supplements that I take daily (i take throughout the day, separate times):
1. vitamin b complex and biotin
2. vitamin c
3. vitamin e
4. multi vitamin
5. omega complex
6. co-q10
7. methatione (gluthatione)

Or how about foods:
1. coffee
2. green tea w/ honey
3. soy milk
4. fiber (like wheat bread, fruits)

Just wondering if trying to be health by consuming these will counteract w/ Propecia or vice-versa? Hope this is a valid inquiry.

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I have been getting these sorts of questions quite frequently lately. The supplements and foods you’re consuming shouldn’t have any negative interaction with Propecia. The only interaction I can think of with food is with grapefruit, which causes problems for a variety of medications.

The following 16 drugs are listed as having a moderate interaction with finasteride (Propecia): bosentan, diltiazem, diltiazem/enalapril, efavirenz, efavirenz/emtricitabine/tenofovir, fluconazole, fluvoxamine, itraconazole, nefazodone, nelfinavir, posaconazole, rifapentine, saquinavir, sirolimus, tacrolimus, and voriconazole. And there’s 1 drug that has a mild interaction: terazosin. These are the generic names, and for a more complete list (including brand names) see Drugs.com.

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Hair Loss InformationI Feel Propecia Has Dramatically Increased My Hair Loss – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I feel that propecia has caused my hairloss to increase dramatically, I have been shedding rapidly for 3-4 months now and it is not slowing. My hair has become much thinner and is shedding in areas in which no hair loss was noticed before treatment. I am in the early stages of hair loss, with no completely bald areas. Is it possible that an increased period and volume of shedding is due to my high density?

I am becoming disenthused with the drug and am considering stopping it. In the 2nd month I missed 5 days of the drug and missed 3 days in the 5th month. Although a definite answer may not be possible, do you think I should stick with the drug as I may have begun treatment again after each period of missing the drug. If you think this is a possibility, it would help motivate me to continue, but please be honest.

Thanks

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PropeciaDrugs like Propecia are supposed to halt the progression of the hair loss, but they’re not a cure and won’t stop your genetics from eventually taking course (just how long is anyone’s guess). In your case though, you’ve been seeing shedding since about the time you started taking the pill. I’ve received emails from men inquiring about an initial shedding phase after starting Propecia, and perhaps this is what you’re seeing. I’ve previously written about this phenomenon, but I don’t have any percentage of men that see shedding upon starting Propecia, nor do I know why it may occur in some men.

I’m always honest in my replies, but I can’t tell you to continue taking the medication as I didn’t prescribe it to you and don’t know your history. If your doctor prescribed Propecia to you, I’m hoping he/she took a miniaturization mapping of your scalp so that you can go back to see the changes, and together you can decide whether to stick with it or not.

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Hair Loss InformationTaking Half a Propecia Every 12 Hours? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Considering 0.5mgs of finasteride gives 80% of the effect of 1mg and the halflife is relatively short, wouldn’t better results be achieved from taking 0.5mgs once every twelve hours?

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I doubt that 0.5mg taken twice a day would be much different than a once a day 1mg dose. I suppose it could be tried, but wouldn’t having to stick to taking half a pill every 12 hours be a little annoying?

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Hair Loss InformationShampooing with Nizoral – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Doc

This might be a fairly prudish question (more hygienic implications than medical) but I will ask it anyway. How often do you recommend washing hair (for people with copious hair loss) with Nizoral.

secondly, I have been on 1mg generic finasteride for the past 6 months (although I started experiencing hair loss 7 years back, but did not pay heed to the thinning hair until recently). Do you think there will be any effect of the drug?

Thanks

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NizoralI would think there should be usage instructions on the Nizoral bottle, and how often it is used depends on the strength of the shampoo. I’ve read that 1% can be used daily and 2% should be used twice a week, but you should double check what strength you’re using and look for instructions on the packaging just in case I’m mistaken. Nizoral contains ketoconazole, which some people believe has some hair growth abilities; I don’t believe that to be the case. I don’t recommend any particular shampoo for general hygiene, but Nizoral could work well if you’re experiencing dandruff.

I don’t know enough about your hair loss to be able to assume if you’ll have any effect from Propecia. I cannot say if it will work for you because I really do not know what you are treating. Get a good examination. Document what you are starting with and follow up with your doctor in one year to see if there was some benefit. Lets be scientific!

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Hair Loss InformationStopping Propecia After 30 Years? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Say one starts taking propecia once minor thinning is first noticed in a young male the age of 19-20. Say propecia reveres the minor thinning and maintain the hair until your 50s. Is it possible to get off of propecia at 50 since Androgen levels are at their highest in our 20s-30s? I’m a 20 year old male with my juvenile hairline but with very minor crown (literally unnoticeable only to me it is) thinning…I’m hoping that could be the case for me and others in my situation. Also…is it likely propecia will work very well in my case?

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Since the medication hasn’t been available for 30 years, it’s easy to see why there is no 30 year study available on Propecia (finasteride 1mg) to answer your question with any certainty. If I had to guess though, I would say:

  1. Propecia will not usually stop the balding process over a 10 year time frame (let alone a 30 year timeline)
  2. If it did stop the hair loss for 30 years and the genetic pattern was substantially more than you have now, then stopping the Propecia (even after 30 years) would cause accelerated hair loss

As to whether the medication will work “very well” for you, I couldn’t say for sure, but if you start taking it when the loss is early you have a great shot at seeing benefits, particularly since your loss is in the crown. Propecia tends to work best in the crown and for young men with early loss.

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Hair Loss InformationI Haven’t Consistently Used Minoxidil – Is It OK to Just Stop Completely? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I’ve been using minoxidil on and off for about 8 months now. I apply it once a day and quite often miss days or a few days. At one point I missed two weeks. I don’t think it has done much for my hair and have recently started propecia. With regards to stopping minoxidil (if you think I should), should I come off it gradually or will stopping it suddenly have no serious effects i.e. instant/prolonged shedding? If it helps, i’m 19 and in the early stages of hair loss.

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It seems like you’re asking me for permission to stop minoxidil, and that’s really a decision you’ll need to make on your own. I cannot guarantee anything, but as I have said many times here, you may potentially lose whatever you gained from minoxidil. Stopping it cold turkey or limiting use over time will ultimately result in the same thing if you saw benefits from the drug. You’ve used the medication irregularly for only 8 months, so I’m not sure that you’ve given it a fair chance. Starting Propecia is a good idea for someone with early genetic hair loss, but it unfortunately won’t retain any benefits you got from the minoxidil.

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Hair Loss InformationTaking Melatonin with Propecia – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

is it okay 2 take melatonine supplements as a sleep aid while on propecia?

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Here’s a list of Propecia drug interactions (which does not include melatonin). I am not familiar with any connection between the two, but best speak with your doctor about the use of a double dose of melatonin. I have tried melatonin once for a couple of nights to help me sleep and my immune system went nuts, activating my psoriasis into a painful breakout of body sores.

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Hair Loss InformationSwitching to a Different Brand of Generic Minoxidil? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

Hi Doc,

I have a question I am from India and have been using Dr Reddys Minox 5% but right now I am in United states is it ok if I change into any Local brands out here in the market? Would there be an effect on my hair? I know it sounds crazy but I dont want to take my chance.

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It doesn’t sound crazy! There should be no difference between the brands of minoxidil, as long as the % is the same. So if you switch to a 5% minoxidil from your local pharmacy, it should produce the same results as the Dr Reddy’s brand you were using.

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Hair Loss InformationCan You Honestly Tell Me Side Effects Are in My Head? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

I see you often dismiss permanent side effects from Propecia on here. You rationalize them away, usually blaming them on psychological conditions or naturally occurring ED. Care to rationalize my situation. Pre-fin I was a healthy 21 y/o male with a raging sex drive and no difficulty with erections. I took 1mg daily for 12 days when I began to notice sexual side effects. I’ve been off for 3 months now and can count on one hand the number of erections I’ve had in that time period and my libido is non-existent. Can you honestly tell me its all in my head? Or that the fact that it happened during and after my time on propecia is merely coincidental?

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I feel for you. I have no explanation to your complaint as I have not seen patients with this complaint. I am not minimizing your problem. I do not and never underestimate what a patient tells me and I always try to help to the best of my ability. Your anger at me seems misplaced. I would honestly try to help you if I knew what to do.

Finasteride is a prescription drug, and I hope you’ve discussed these side effect issues with your prescribing physician.

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Hair Loss InformationCan Propecia Save My Weak Hairline? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog

started propecia 1 month ago have a receding hairline. have lots of miniature hairs still there. will propecia help these hairs grow thicker?

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Each case is different, and I can’t give you a 100% guarantee that Propecia will save those hairs in your hairline. I don’t even know where your loss pattern is or how old you are. I can tell you that the younger you are, the better the chances for reversing or really saving the hairline with the medication. I’ve found that men under 25 years old in your situation do better with Propecia than men over 35.

Get your hair and scalp mapped out for miniaturization to establish the baseline measurements you need. Then you can go back 6 months later with another mapping to actually have metrics and see where the Propecia helped.