Are there any problems with taking finasteride with SSRI antidepressants such is citalopram? Thanks.
Nope, there should be no problem.
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If Propecia Works Best for Recent Hair Loss, What Is Considered “Recent”? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Propecia reportedly works best regrowing recent hairloss, but what is considered recent? Hair lost the last 6 months? The last year? Longer?
Propecia (finasteride 1mg) works best for men who are actively losing hair. If you are totally bald, it will not regrow hair. Propecia works best if you have many miniaturized hairs, if you are under 30 years old, and if the hair loss has occurred over less than 2 years (this does not necessarily mean that it won’t work with more chronic hair loss, though). I often write about getting a miniaturization study to document a starting point, particularly before you get on a drug to treat your loss.
Biotin and Propecia – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Hello Dr. Rassman,
Would there be a negative effect in taking Propecia and a dietary supplement called Biotin 2500, which has about 2500 mcg of biotin, at the same time?
Thanks for your time.
I do not see a problem combining Propecia (finasteride 1mg) with biotin.
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In What Case Is Avodart Better than Propecia? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
Hi Doc,
In what situation do you think that Avodart may be better than propecia. For users of propecia who have been on it for more than 5 years and its effectiveness diminishing do you think that switching to avodart is ok? Obviously if propecia was still working then there would be no need to switch but what if propecia results were fading?
I am just speculating here, as I don’t have the definitive answer to your question. Avodart (dutasteride) may be more powerful that Propecia (finasteride) in treating hair loss at higher doses than are usually used (2.5mgs/day rather than0.5mgs/day), but it almost certainly has more side effects as well including significantly reduced sperm counts. The best dosing is unknown in the use of Avodart as a hair loss treatment and until the manufacturere comes up with a recommendation that the FDA will accept with regard to effectiveness and safety, the drug must be assumed not be be safe for young men who wish to have children. It is quite possible that many doctors are overdosing the medication at this point as the known half life of the drug is 5+ weeks. If/when the FDA approves this medication, more information will be available.
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The Best Procedure for a 22 Year Old That Wants His Hairline Back? – Hair Loss Information by Dr. William Rassman
hello, i am a 22 year old male who has had hairloss for about 3/4 years now, a year ago after noticing quite bad thinning i started using regaine and procerin combined, my hair thickened slightly but not much so 3 weeks ago i swapped the procerin for finpecia (generic finasteride) i now have lots of hairs in my hairline but they seem to stay the same length, realising that these medications don’t re grow hair in the receding hairline area i have been considering some form of surgery, baffled by the procedures and sites recommending certain types only i was wondering if you could tell me what the best procedure is for a young man who just wants to fill in his hairline slightly and maybe help thicken the front as well?
regards
I do not quite know what you are asking. If you are considering a hair transplant procedure, you need to see a hair transplant doctor for a good physical examination and his/her evaluation. Generally, hair transplants in a 22 year old man is approached with great caution for two key reasons –
- You may have further balding in the future
- A surgical procedure like this may accelerate the balding process
A good Master Plan must be created to account for your hair loss worst case scenario so that whatever is done today, will continue to look good as you get older. The best hair transplant procedures use follicular unit grafts by experienced teams.
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I Was Told to Cycle Propecia — 6 Months On, 1 Month Off – Balding Blog
hi doctor,
i read in a recent post that a person who has been off propecia for 2 years may have permanenlty lost its benefit. i was told to cycle on and off of propecia elsewhere on the web (6 months on, 1 month off). does starting and stopping make my body more resistant to the effects of finasteride?
I’m 30. balding at temples and thinning on top.
No.
Propecia should be taken every day. I do not generally recommend “cycling,” since the medication is out of your blood stream after one day and what this cycling guarantees, is balding. The recommended dosage for treating hair loss is 1mg daily.
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Hair Loss InformationI’m 19 And Losing My Hair – Taking Finasteride and Minoxidil, But I Want Faster Results – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hello
I just turned 19 and am about a III on the Norwood scale. I noticed a slight receding hairline at 17 and began using Rogaine and taking saw palmetto supplements. My father was V on the Norwood scale by the time he was 28, but his balding was not as accelerated as mine at such a young age. I have been taking finasteride (5 mg dosages cut into 4 pieces) daily for about 5 months and have continued to use Rogaine foam, and my hairline continues to rapidly recede. As I am so young this is very detrimental to my self confidence and image. I was wondering if you think that I should try dutasteride, as the finasteride seems to have had no effect (my balding wasnt progressing this fast before I went on it), or maybe even consider hair transplants to fill in what I’ve lost.
It seems you are very proactive about your hair loss. As such, you need to start with seeing a good, qualified doctor for your hair loss options.
Saw palmetto is associated with improving prostate health and as such the natural supplement community now seems to link it to hair growth, because finasteride (Propecia / Propecia) is associated with prostate health. However, there is no ‘metric’ on the value of saw palmetto that would say just what does blocks DHT.
You need a miniaturization study before you start any medication so that you have a baseline measurement prior to taking any medical treatments. Photographs and general assessments may seem good enough, but you do not know what is going on at a microscopic level without a miniaturization study.
Avodart (dutasteride) is not FDA approved for treating androgenic alopecia (AGA). Just because it is said to be a stronger blocker of DHT does not mean it will be better than Propecia (finasteride). I always point out that the drug dosage is not documented, so every doctor that prescribes Avodart to treat hair loss should be wondering the correct dosage to prescribe. If/when it is finally FDA approved for treating hair loss, the decision to start this medication should not be frivolous.
Finally, hair transplantation in a 19 year old with Norwood Class 3 balding is not recommended. Give it at least a few more years to see where your hair loss pattern is evolving to before considering surgical options.
Hair Loss InformationRapid Hair Loss in 28 Year Old Man – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
Hello Dr Rassman,
Lately my hairline has changed at at very fast pace. I´m 28 years old European male from Barcelona Spain and have noticed hands full of hair after washing it. I do however swim in the open sea once a week, and never wear a hat in the sun.My hair type is wavey, drys easily and gets very light in the sun. Let me know your thougths and if it is something to be worried about? It is receding, however my father had most of his hair till his mid 40´s. Best regards
As regular readers of this site will know, I always tell my patients to have their hair mapped out for miniaturization to determine if this is genetic hair loss. You need to have a diagnosis first. If this is an accelerated genetic process going on, the mapping will show it. Treatments vary with the diagnosis, but Propecia (finasteride 1mg) is a great medication for treating the genetic hair loss diagnosis.
Hair Loss InformationRogaine Foam for Women? – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I went to the doctor yesterday to address the on-going issue with my hair loss ( i am 29 and have been experiencing this on and off of the last 12 years) and he recommended rogaine but the 5% foam. even though its not for women. I called rogaine and they pretty much said that if the doctor said i should use it then i should.
Im just concerned because i havent read of alot of women using it. I go in for blood work in two weeks to rule out anything serious ( ie iron deficiency, thyroid issues etc). But im just a bit concern as to why women can’t use the foam.
Thanks
The 5% solution of minoxidil for women or men are just the same. The women’s version has an alcohol base (easier to style), while the men’s has an oil base (harder to style). I generally recommend 5% minoxidil for all my patients (both men and women). The foam is better for effectiveness and styling. Women can use the Rogaine Foam.
Hair Loss InformationSurgery vs No Surgery – Hair Loss Information – Balding Blog
I just had a patient (a 26 year old with very early class 6 thinning) who really does not look bald at all. I wish I could show you his photos, but I respect his wishes to not have his images published at this time. Anyway, he went to another hair transplant clinic (one of the chain operations) and was told that he needed 1,500 grafts. He had minimal thinning and looked good to me. I discussed it with him and he wanted to know if it would be a bad decision if he decided to just do nothing. I told him that his miniaturization was in the 30-40% range and that with his hair color and texture and considering that it really did not bother him, that just Propecia (finasteride 1mg) alone could be adequate until such a time that his situation changed. I recommended no surgery at all. He was happy to get that advice and was a bit frightened at the urgency created for a surgical procedure at the other clinic. As my consultations are free, my only satisfaction was that I saved him from unnecessary surgery or even accelerated hair loss due to shock loss after a surgery.
The reason I wrote this brief post was to point out that as a doctor, my priority is whatever is in the patient’s best interest. I’m not trying to line my pockets. I’m not trying to sell unnecessary procedures. I don’t split grafts to charge the patient more money. Unfortunately, not every physician follows this same line of thinking.
Yes folks, honesty is absolutely the best policy. Please remember this when choosing your hair transplant doctor. If you feel pressured, take a step back and remember that you aren’t buying a car, you’re having a consultation about cosmetic surgery.