Balding Blog

My doctor started me on Propecia without examining me. I have been on it for 3 months. Should I continue to take it? My hair is farily full, but my corner areas have moved up about 1/4 inch. I am 24 years old.

If you are taking Propecia without an examination, then maybe you do not have genetic hair loss. You should see a doctor who can examine you, take measurements with the appropriate instruments, and can make the proper diagnosis. If you do not have genetic hair loss, then you should not be on Propecia.

Corner hair loss can be just a ‘maturing hairline’ and most men have a change in the frontal hairline as they move into their 20s. Most of these changes occur between 17-29 and these changes are not genetic hair loss.

I currently have used propecia for 8 years and have seen no hair loss since that point of initiation and some regrowth. I am very interested in dutasteride since it’s efficacy seems greater than finasteride. Though it isn’t currently FDA approved for male pattern baldness, do you think it safe for this use? And at what dose? Going through many blogs and websites, it seems the use of this drug for baldness is common.

Thanks

You are correct to state that the FDA has not approved Avodart (Dutasteride) for hair use. The half life of this medication is measured in weeks, not hours like Propecia, so the question is “what is the effective dose to prescribe?”. Intellectually, you can justify monthly doses, but there are no studies on safety or effectiveness which is the hallmark of the FDA. Side effects are reported more with Avodart than Propecia but then again the dose will dictate the frequency of the side effects. There is a gamble going outside the FDA approved drug route. The benefits of a theoretically more effective drug must be balanced against the safety and proven effectiveness issues.

Hi doc… do you agree a lot of people do not lose anymore hair while on Propecia??? One doctor I have been writing to says Propecia stops the hair loss in most patients.

I do not believe that Propecia can be reliably expected to stop all hair loss. Propecia studies done by Merck show that hair loss continues over time, but by taking Propecia the balding starts at a new level and possibly falls out at a slower rate. Their studies on patients go out now 7 years.

I have had 1 transplant from you guys 9 years ago. I feel a need another now(I am 45 yrs old). Can you prescribe me Propecia also when I come out there or do I have to get it from a local doctor, and how do I convince them I need it?? I live in Missouri.
thanks

Some doctors, for reasons I do not understand, have not become familiar with Propecia. These doctors don’t recognize genetic hair loss as a problem, yet for those of us who are impacted by the process, it is important. The drug Propecia is one of the wonder drugs of our time. With 50% of men eventually going bald, this drug has a place for preventing hair loss in the people like you and me.

Call my office at 1-800-NEW-HAIR and let’s talk.

I have a question for you … on merck site it says hair mass can thicken up to two yrs… but I was told it can thicken up to three yrs… is that true??? and when is the best time to take propecia am or pm??? please let me know your answer… thanks

I would not doubt what Merck says, but these are generalizations about the length of time the drug will give thickness- it can vary with each patient from one to three years. It is best to take Propecia in the morning, since that is the time of day that men have their highest testosterone levels. As Propecia has a half life of four hours, it theoretically gets less effective later in the day, when you take it in the morning. The reality is that the drug binds to the receptors and even if the blood levels go down, the drug may still maintain effectiveness through the day.