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I’m a Medical Student Taking Propecia — Can I Just Prescribe It to Myself?

Dr. Rassman-
This question can be answered by you or any other M.D. working on the site, I do not mind. I am a 25 year old 4th year medical student who has been on propecia for 4 years and have had great results with no side effects. Stopped my hair loss completely at a Norwood 2 and have maintained since starting.

My problem is that the Dr. that prescribes to me, a prominent hair guy in New Jersey, has recently been unavailable for reasons that I can not figure out. I recently had to get an family doc that I did not know from my school to write me a temporary 90 day script, but with my future move to residency and the time constraints on a surgical resident (which I will be), makes me worry I will be left in the lurch if this keeps happening.

My question is basically this: can I write myself scripts for propecia every 90 days when I get my prescription pad this July? Is their anything ethically/legally wrong that will prevent me from doing this?

All the best

I understand that dealing with doctors can be difficult, but in your generation of medical students I am sure you are ingrained in the medical ethics of medicine.

In addition, the American Medical Association suggests, “Physicians should generally not treat themselves or members of their immediate family“.

So as harmless it may seem, you should not be prescribing medications to yourself. If you are so motivated, I suppose you can ask a colleague or another physician if they would mind (or feel comfortable) prescribing you the medication.


2012-01-15 11:00:19I’m a Medical Student Taking Propecia — Can I Just Prescribe It to Myself?

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I’m a Late Bloomer — Is It OK to Take Propecia?

I started thinning in one temple at 18 and was prescribed rogaine and biotin supplements. At 20 the entire top started thinning (especially in the frontal hairline area) and I am now nearing 21 and considering propecia, however, I am hesitant to start at such a young age for a couple reasons. I am a late bloomer with no facial hair and am constantly told that I look much younger than I am. I have two questions: 1) Will propecia effect my body’s development including facial hair? and 2) Is it more likely that something other than MPB could be affecting my hair because my body is so early in its development? I enjoy your blog and would appreciate any help you can give me. Thank you

It is possible (but not probable) that Propecia will slow down body hair growth. That has not been my experience. I really don’t know the answer to your perceptions of being a “late bloomer”. Some men don’t grow facial hair well at all, but at 20 years old your body is not early in development. I can’t say for sure what you’re experiencing without an exam, but from your brief one-line description, it sounds like MPB (frontal hair loss, top thinning). Propecia is a prescription drug, so discuss your concerns with your doctor.

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I’m a Diffuse Norwood 6/7 at 21 Years Old

I started losing my hair when I was only 13 years old and now at 21, I’m a very diffused NW 6/7. My permanent zone is also not as thick what it was used to be. My father and grandfather both have good density in their permanent zone but they both started losing their hair after mid twenties.

Does permanent zone of young MPB sufferer thin out too?

You need to see a doctor and get a good diagnosis of your hair loss and its cause. You may have diffuse thinning (including your donor area) or you may just be a Norwood 6/7 with fine hair. I do not know this. Permanent zones do not undergo thinning with typical male pattern baldness.


2013-10-10 10:47:43I’m a Diffuse Norwood 6/7 at 21 Years Old

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I’m a Breastfeeding Mom And My Dermatologist Told Me to Just Deal with My Hair Loss

I went to see a dermatologist in Raleigh NC. After he learned that my hair loss started 15 years ago, then got excessive in the last 3 months since I am a breast feeding mom, he came to the conclusion that I have the genetic type of hair loss and I have 2 choices if I am not going to have more kids – propecia or rogaine.

I mentioned that my scalp is irritated and I have a lot of pain. His response was that this may not be related to hair loss. Bottom line he said that he wished that he was a hero and could fix my hair but he is not and he asked me to look at his bald hair. He basically said there is no cure yet and just deal with it. This experience was so hard because I had hope that I will get some kind of help, instead I had to hear just deal with it and use rogaine.

it has been 2 days since then and still asking myself if I went to see a very honest dermatologist that happened to be a rude doctor or if there was some test and other practices that he should’ve proceeded with but would not or could not do.

I wish I was a hero too, but I am merely a doctor who has to inform you that there is no medical cure for hair loss in either men or women. Maybe your doctor was too blunt or was not sensitive to such a delicate issue, but I think your doctor was being honest.

In general, the only hope for women that want to treat hair loss (after excluding any medical reasons for the loss) is topical minoxidil, also sold as Rogaine. Propecia (finasteride) does not really work for women unless there is a clear diagnosis of androgenic alopecia and it should never be prescribed to any woman who might get pregnant. And since you’re a breastfeeding mother, it should be pointed out that it is unknown if the medication can be passed through breast milk. Besides that, even if you have androgenic alopecia, Propecia is generally not recommended for women since we do not know the potential side effects (including cancer). The cancer part may be very rare, but since there have been no large scale studies it might just be a worst case scenario that has been theorized.

The final option may be hair transplant surgery, but this is also a limited solution for women who generally have diffuse thinning. And since you were curious about tests for possible causes of female hair loss, they are listed here.


2012-09-18 10:52:23I’m a Breastfeeding Mom And My Dermatologist Told Me to Just Deal with My Hair Loss

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I’m 7 Months Pregnant and Experiencing Hair Loss

Please help me – I’ve been suffering from hair shedding since Aug 2007. I was on the pill for 12 years and came off in august just after my wedding to conceive. I concieved straight away and am now 7 months pregnant. In Dec 2006, I was in hospital for a day with an infection which caused a hemorrhage. The shedding does seem to have slowed down now so losing about 25 after washes and I feel spiky bits all over my head. This has lasted about 7 months now and just wanted to know how long it usually last for and if it will stop? Will I ever get the thickness back in my hair?

I’m so depressed about this and would be grateful if you could help me. Thanks

You have many potential causes for hair loss, including:

  • Pregnancy, which can cause hair loss that should reverse after about a year
  • Changes in your hormones from the withdrawal of birth control pills
  • Illness from the infection that put you into the hospital

It is likely that this process will reverse. You are not alone and the experience of others with this problem have been far from hopeless.

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I’m over 50 and my blood testosterone level is low. Will that reduce my hair loss?

As men get older, their testosterone often drops along with the DHT levels in their blood. That is why balding reduces. Actually, when DHT levels are the highest in your teens and early 20s, the impact of the DHT on genetic balding is highest also?. For women it works in the reverse because the high estrogen levels of fertile females, counter balances any androgen (testosterone is an androgen) her body produces and genetic balding it put at bay.

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I’m 45 and Just Saw My Hair Started Thinning So I’m Taking Everything I Can Find

i am a 45 yr old male in good health but take blood thinner. i noticed that i was thinning so started a vitamin regimen and rogaine plus Nuhair for men. Im not seeing great results but it hasnt been that long. im still shedding not real bad but 20+ hair when i style. is this normal? and i thought propecia had bad side affect?

P.S. just started a new relationship i want it too go rite plus been kinda stressed too 🙁 help

You really should see a good doctor and find out what is happening. Stress can cause hair loss, but shedding 20 hairs is within the range of the 100 or so hairs anyone might lose per day as new hair grows in (the regular cycling of hair).


2012-11-29 13:38:48I’m 45 and Just Saw My Hair Started Thinning So I’m Taking Everything I Can Find

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I’m 35, can I stop taking finasteride?

If most hair loss occurs by 35 and then pretty much stabilises does that mean we can stop taking fin after 35?

Hair loss is progressive. If you are stable on finasteride, stop it, and you might find instant hair loss to a pattern that you should have had if you didn’t take finasteride. I call this “Catch-up Hair Loss,” which means that you lose all of the benefits plus what you fixed by going on the drug. Catch-up Hair Loss always occurs in men on long-term finasteride. This is a warning for you: don’t do something that you might regret, as so many people I have taken care of told me when they decided to stop taking finasteride.