Category: Drugs

I have used minoxidil solution 2% and finasteride tablets for nearly 2 years and it was quite ok. But due to general opinion that you should not continuously take medicines and due to some vertigo problems i thought of discontinuing the minoxidil and finasteride. Now it is almost six months I have stopped using them. Almost all the hair grown due to this medicines have been lost. Now the bald spots are more visible than before. Is this hair loss permanent, or is there any chance the hair will grow again in the same area either on its own or with other treatments

Is the loss of hair due to stopping minoxidil and finasteride irreversible even on reuse of the above said medicine?

The vertigo you have experienced is a known side effect of minoxidil (which causes a drop in blood pressure on some patients). Unfortunately, you are your own doctor and just did not know what you were doing. As you report good results from the combination, I would restart up immediately on the Propecia (finasteride). Hopefully not enough time has gone by and the process can still be reversed. I can’t tell you what your chances are of regrowing, as it is different for each person. In your case though, I might suggest holding off on the minoxidil because of the vertigo (assumes low blood pressure response to minoxidil). Best to check with your doctor and get someone who knows what he/she is doing.

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Recently I have noticed thinning at the front of my hairline. I would like to start using propecia but I have heard horror stories from my friends. I was told by one that it actually increased his balding. Apparently he started shedding more with propecia, and what started as a receding hairline also started affecting him in the crown. Is this possible? Can propecia actually speed up balding, or were those just hairs that were falling out anyways? I also heard that once off propecia, the rate of balding increases. I understand “catch up” time, but how do doctors actually know that propecia just affects hair that was destined to fall out? Thank you for your time! Hope to hear from you soon!

When a person who is not balding takes Propecia, nothing happens to the hair. That clearly shows that Propecia does not impact normal hair.

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dr rassman,
i have written you before in nov 2006, i took your advice on 1mg propecia and minoxidil; my results in 3 months are phenomenal, i am lucky and very happy. my question is regarding propecia and weightlifting. i dont know what gynoplasty looks like “bitch tits” in bodybuilding terms, but what kind of real effect does propecia have on strength gains in the gym and on the aesthetic? bodybuilding is totally visual and a nice head of hair would help, but i am psycologically affected becasue i am paranoid about losing chest development. will propecia do that?

thank you in advance for reading my request

I’m glad that you’re seeing great results from the medications in your battle against hair loss, but I am not sure what you are asking. I believe you may be referring to gynecomastia, which is a medical term for a benign enlargement of breast tissue. Gynecomastia is a rare side effect that may be associated with the use of Propecia (finasteride), but it should go away with discontinuation of its use. If you experience any side effects you should first discuss the issue with your doctor, because it may sometimes not be related to the medication.

Propecia should have no impact on bodybuilding or strength gains.

Hi, Dr Rassman.

I’m a caucasian male, 30 years old.

Can thyroid problems hasten or kick start the balding process? I’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism and have experienced early signs of MPB around the same time. No member of my immediate family has severe hair loss and certainly hadn’t lost any by age 30.

If propecia’s half life is so short, and only reduces DHT in the body modestly, for only part of the day, why then can it be so effective at treating hair loss? Are there other, hidden attributes to Propecia that we do not yet understand that is helping millions of men stave off the shiny dome?

Thanks, Doc. You have a great site, and I’m a daily reader!!

Thyroid problems can precipitate hair loss and hair texture.

You are correct in stating that Propecia’s half life is short (about 4-5 hours). That is why you need to take it everyday. There is also tissue fixation of the drug that probably reflects a longer tissue hair life (not easy to measure) that may hold the effects on the hair follicles. The testing on hair regrowth and hair counts were done with various doses from 20mgs per day down to less than 1 mg per day. The results were published showing that the 1mg dose was as good as a higher dose in treating hair loss. As many of you know, finasteride is packaged in a 5mg dose as Proscar (or generics), which is used for treating prostate disease. Seeing as how Propecia is the same medication, it may also help your prostate health.

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For the first time ever when I ejaculated I noticed it has a strange yellow discoloration. Can this be a side effect of propecia? If so, should I quit taking it or lower my dosage?

Some people report that the quantity of the ejaculate is less when taking Propecia. Maybe the reduced volume is responsible for the change in color. The reports on the quality (potency)of the sperm indicate that is just as effective at lower quantities. Taking a lower dose pf Propecia makes no sense if you want the full benefit of the drug, but unofficial reports indicate that half the dose (1/2 mg) will be 80% as effective. Since you are concerned, I’d suggest paying a visit to the prescribing doctor to find out what he/she recommends.

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Hi Doc,
I’ve been to two doctors in Dublin- Both have great reputations, but neither of them had heard of propecia and as a result, were not willing to provide me a presciption. Both charged me for their srevices however!

My hair loss is really affecting me on a personal level and I’d love to at least give Propecia a try. How do you convince a doctor to prescribe you something he has never heard of?

Propecia is a brand name for a generic drug named finasteride, which is available in most countries. Ask your doctor for this drug and if it only comes in 5mg size, then you should cut the pills into quarters when taking it. As for charging you, doctors are service providers and as such are entitled to get paid for their time.

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Do you know of anyone who has been on propecia and still proceeded to go bald?

There is an assumption in the question that Propecia will prevent balding. That is not the case. Propecia slows down the balding process over time, but it will still continue, albeit at a slower rate. If you are (for example) 22 years old and you already are fairly bald, Propecia will not do much for you other then postpone the final balding process. Likewise, if you are 30 and starting to go bald in the front and crown, Propecia will slow it down, but it is possible that you will reach your final balding pattern at 50 rather than 40 (maybe a Class 4 or Class 5 pattern), when you may have been destined to have arrived at your final balding pattern. Only about 7% of the population will develop the most extreme balding pattern (Class 7) and most of these men have most of their balding complete before their 30th birthday.

Norwood Classifications:

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