Category: Drugs

I’ve used propecia for about 5 years (28 now). I started really at the first signs of trouble, as there is a lot of baldness in my family- my older brother was about 21 when he started thinning very quickly. The propecia worked well (1 mg) up until about 1 year ago, when I started losing quite a lot, so I bumped up to 2mg, which stopped it for another 6 months, but now it is really coming out again- I guess the effectiveness is just wearing off. I’ve also used 5% minox 2xday as well (the whole time). My question is: what options are available for me? I see that legally you cannot recommend avodart since the FDA has not approved it, but do you know whether its mechanism is similar enough to propecia that a resistance to propecia would also imply a resistance to avodart? I’m not looking to regrow really, just to stop the shedding and keep what I have. Thanks!

Avodart is a more effective DHT blocker than finasteride (Propecia) and in the hands of those who prescribe it, it does work in situations like you describe. Find a doctor who understands this medication and consider its use.

Good day Doctor

I am a 28 year old male and have axperienced steady hair loss over the last 4 years. I have been to a GP who has advised that I go on a 12 month course of propecia. I am very concerned about eventually conceiving children whilst on the drug even to the point that I am considering visiting a sperm bank before I start the course.

Please advise me as to what is the safest course of action should I want kids whilst on the course.

Thanks for your help.

Propecia is out of your system in a few days after stopping the medication. Therefore, banking your sperm is probably not needed if you are worried about retaining the medication in your sperm. If you want to conceive children while on the drug, there is no official contraindication for that, but some doctors are suggesting that you go off of the medications for 1 week/month while your lady is in her fertile stage. Some doctors take the extreme medical legal position that you should stop the medication, get her pregnant, and then use a condom for the time until the baby is born. That absolutely guarantees that there is no medication possibly transferred. This last approach seems radical to me as there is nothing backing it up in the drug disclosures.

Hi Doc. I have been using Rogaine for maybe 5 years now and it has sort if stabilised the hair loss. But when I went to see a hair transplant specialist she told me that full-strength Rogaine only needs to be applied once a day rather than the recommended twice a day. Is this true? I have been using it once a day since then and that was 3 months ago. I’m concerned that my hair may resume falling out if I continue. Thanks

I am under the impression that the best benefit comes from a twice per day application. Once a day seems to have little effect on most people.

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I took propecia for around three months and stopped taking it around 86 days ago. I am experiencing side effects from it. I have soft morning and night errections. In order to get my penis hard, I have to touch it. And even then it does not get as hard as it used to get prior to I used Propecia. I also feel slight pain in the base of my penis and testicles. Can you please give me an idea that approximately how long will it take for me to get normal. And what are the chances that I will get normal again.
Thank you.

Propecia side effects have been covered on this site before: here, here, here, and here. It is important to note that many people who complain about decreased sexual drive with Propecia are actually having erectile dysfunction (ED). In men in their 40’s, it has been estimated than almost half have ED problems at some level. As men age, the penis blood flow and responsiveness of testosterone change as well. Most men deny changes, but deny it as they may, it happens.

Fondling the penis is an important part of stimulation for obtaining an erection. This is more important as you get older. Very young men barely have to think about sex to get an erection. I am a bit concerned that you may be obsessed about your penis function. If you are with a partner, is there a problem? Sexual stimulation between two people will produce a stronger erection than by yourself, particularly if you have ED. In the Wall Street Journal some years ago, the day after Viagra was first sold, a urologist was interviewed about the drug. He told the story of a man and his wife who thought that Viagra did not work for them. On the only time he used it, the patient took a Viagra at about 10pm and he and his wife lay on their bed watching his penis and waiting for it to become erect. They both fell asleep by 11pm and nothing happened. The urologist told them that Viagra will not work unless he became sexually involved with his wife. The next night he tried again, and with some amorous involvement, they had great sex and he had a wonderful erection for the first time in years. Maybe this story will point to a problem you are having in a different light.

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Hi Doc

I have been reading info on Provillus a DHT blocker that is said to work for as long as i take it unlike other drugs (propecia) that stops working after 5-6 years. Do you know if this is true as i dont look forward to start losing hair again and be back were i started.Could you also tell me any info on Provillus tnat you have. thanks

This sounds like a load of bull. Claims like this are not only illegal (from an FDA point of view), but unethical as well. This opinion seems to be common from reviewers of the product on the web.

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doctor,
i have been using rogaine for about 4 years. i went to the 5% a couple of years ago, not too long after that, i only have been applying it a night, because it does tend to irritate my scalp. i thought it was helping me keep the hair i have, no regrown hair at all, but now at age 40, in the last 6 months i have seen an increase in hair loss. i have a good amount of hair on the top, but it is thinning worse and my bald spot has gotten bigger. should i stop rogaine even though i only use it at night, and if i do stop it will it accelerate my hair loss because i have been using it for the last few years? i realize i should have kept up with my dermatologist. any info is appreciated.

The use of Rogaine once a day has poor value. Twice a day is the recommended dosage. If you are a male and you have not started Propecia, then I would suggest that you do so,as it is the best way to control the crown loss and possibly reverse it. That does require a doctor’s prescription and should be accompanied by an examination of your head for miniaturization. If you have any Rogaine dependence (unlikely with a once a day treatment) then withdrawing it might risk more hair loss. So if you are a male, then continue what you are doing and make only one change, taking Propecia for 8 months. If you are a female, then there is no other choice but to go on Rogaine twice a day.

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Dr,
I was wondering if a multivitamin or calcium citrate pill would interfere with the workings of a propecia pill. Would it be safe to take all three pills together in the morning? Also, because of my schedule I find it impossible to take propecia the same time every day. Am I doing myself a disservice? I’ll appreciate any comments, take care

You can take multivitamins or calcium citrate with Propecia. The time of day you take Propecia is not critical, but mornings are best because testosterone levels are highest then.