Potential side effects of 5AR inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride. Users debate risks, benefits, and personal experiences with these hair loss treatments.
Fighting hair loss with "The Big 3" treatments of Propecia, Rogaine and Nizoral shampoo, as well as specific advice on how to use these products. People have shared their long-term success stories and some have discussed the side effects of finasteride. Other suggestions included Lipogaine and Pura D'or Hair Loss Prevention Therapy Shampoo & Conditioner.
The user is considering stopping finasteride due to depression, anxiety, and difficulty building muscle, despite its effectiveness in stopping hair loss. Suggestions include reducing the dose, switching to topical solutions, or consulting a doctor for alternatives like dutasteride or RU58841.
Begin with finasteride to evaluate its effectiveness before adding minoxidil. Combining treatments may enhance results but could also increase side effects; individual responses differ.
Finasteride is believed to slow down hair loss significantly, but may not completely stop it for everyone. Effectiveness and duration vary by individual, with some users experiencing positive results for over 10 years, while others see less benefit.
Minoxidil and finasteride are the primary treatments for hair regrowth, but they must be used continuously to maintain results. Alternatives like dermarolling and lifestyle changes are suggested, but their effectiveness varies.
The user experienced a panic attack after adding 5% topical minoxidil to their routine, which already included oral finasteride and minoxidil, and microneedling. They are seeking advice on whether microneedling increased absorption and if the anxiety attacks will subside.
The user experienced severe side effects from finasteride, including panic attacks and suicidal thoughts, and is seeking alternative hair loss treatments. They have been using oral finasteride and topical minoxidil.
The user quit oral finasteride over a year ago, experienced improvements in brain fog and erectile dysfunction after quitting smoking and porn, and plans to try dutasteride. Another user shared their experience with finasteride, mentioning panic attacks and anxiety, and managed symptoms through lifestyle changes like meditation and exercise.
The user has been using topical minoxidil for over a year and added kx826/pyrilutamide to improve hair growth, avoiding finasteride due to side effects like lowered libido and panic attacks. They report positive results with reduced shedding and healthier hair, particularly in areas previously unresponsive to minoxidil.
A user shared their 11-year journey with alopecia, using finasteride, dutasteride, and a hair transplant. They encouraged others not to panic, noting that hair miniaturization can take over 15 years to complete.
The conversation discusses skepticism around claims that dutasteride worsens hair loss, with some users suggesting misinformation or panic during shedding as reasons for such claims. One user shared their negative experience with dutasteride, including increased sebum production and hair loss, and is now considering a higher dose of oral minoxidil after stopping dutasteride.
The conversation discusses hair loss treatments, emphasizing the importance of patience and sticking with a treatment for at least 12-18 months before judging its effectiveness or adding new treatments. Users share experiences and agree that introducing treatments too quickly can lead to panic and negative outcomes.
A 25-year-old male shared his successful hair regrowth journey using oral minoxidil, topical minoxidil, finasteride, and dutasteride. He experienced initial regrowth, a shedding phase, and then improved hair density, advising others not to panic during shedding and to act early on hair loss.
Hair shedding in the shower is normal, with 50-100 strands lost daily, but excessive shedding may indicate issues like low iron. Treatments like gentle hair care, iron supplements, and medications like minoxidil and finasteride can help reduce hair loss.
Hair loss treatments like finasteride, dutasteride, and minoxidil can cause initial shedding as they restart the hair growth cycle, but this is not an indicator of treatment failure. The effectiveness of these treatments should be judged by cosmetic changes over time, not by daily hair loss counts.
Taking a slow and steady approach to treating hair loss, as well as the potential risks of combining too many treatments. The post suggests trialling individual treatments (such as Minoxidil, finasteride, or RU58841) for an extended period before adding more into your treatment protocol.
The conversation discusses hair loss treatments, focusing on the use of finasteride and minoxidil. It suggests starting with finasteride alone to assess its effectiveness before adding other treatments like minoxidil, while noting that biotin and caffeine shampoo are unlikely to help unless there's a deficiency.
Users discussed hair loss treatments, specifically 0.1% latanoprost with melatonin, caffeine, and biotin. Other treatments mentioned include minoxidil, finasteride, RU58841, and microneedling.
Users discuss alternatives to DHT blockers for hair loss, suggesting minoxidil, microneedling, natural DHT blockers, and scalp massages. Some explore RU58841, ketoconazole, hair transplants, and hair systems due to side effects from finasteride and dutasteride.
The user started oral minoxidil in February 2025 and noticed hair improvement, but paused due to pregnancy. They experienced minimal shedding and some facial hair growth as a side effect.
Some users experience worsening hair loss with dutasteride, while others improve after initial shedding. Many switch back to finasteride due to better results or fewer side effects, often using minoxidil and topical treatments.
The user used finasteride but stopped due to side effects, then used topical minoxidil for 13 months, and later added KX826/pyrilutamide for 8 months. They experienced shedding after starting pyrilutamide and use minoxidil and KX826 once daily.
A 29-year-old male experienced hair regrowth using minoxidil 5% foam and KX826 after stopping finasteride due to side effects. He applies both treatments once daily and reports no side effects from the current regimen.
A 15-year-old experiencing hair loss and anxiety is using minoxidil and microneedling but is advised against starting finasteride or dutasteride due to age. The discussion emphasizes consulting a doctor, considering hormonal evaluations, and exploring non-medication coping strategies.
A user's 6 month hair loss progress while using finasteride, minoxidil and dermarolling once or twice a week. The user is considering whether they may be able to avoid needing a hair transplant.
The user has been using minoxidil for almost 6 months and finasteride for almost 4 months, experiencing significant shedding and minimal stabilization. They are considering switching to dutasteride if no improvements are seen and are advised to be patient, as results may take up to 2 years.
A user shared their experience with hair regrowth using supplements like NAC and DIM, and briefly using minoxidil with microneedling. They reported some improvement in hair density, but the community questioned the effectiveness compared to traditional treatments like finasteride.