Some users experience side effects from finasteride and switch to alternatives like pyralutamide and a finasteride-minoxidil mix. These alternatives may reduce side effects while helping with hair loss.
The user is on Finasteride for hair loss, taking 0.5mg daily, and plans to reduce the dose to 0.25mg while making lifestyle changes to lower prolactin, SHGB, and cortisol. They will retest in 90 days to assess progress and are open to advice.
The conversation discusses using a 0.03% topical Dutasteride solution for hair loss, as it may be more effective than Finasteride with fewer systemic side effects. OP plans to apply it daily for 100 days, then reduce frequency, due to past negative cognitive effects from oral treatments.
A user is experimenting with creating a DIY oral Dutasteride solution using raw powder, MCT oil, and Vitamin E to reduce costs. Others discuss their experiences with similar methods and the challenges of sourcing and testing Dutasteride.
Beard hair grown with minoxidil can become permanent because it is not sensitive to DHT, unlike scalp hair, which requires ongoing minoxidil use even with DHT blockers like finasteride or dutasteride. Dutasteride reduces scalp DHT significantly but not completely, which may explain why scalp hair still needs minoxidil for maintenance.
A user stopped using minoxidil after 10-12 years due to severe side effects like fluctuating blood pressure and chest pain, resulting in significant hair loss. Other users shared similar experiences, emphasizing health over hair and suggesting alternatives like finasteride, nanoxidil, and rosemary oil.
The conversation discusses natural DHT blockers like rice bran oil, which may reduce 5α-reductase activity similarly to Minoxidil and Dutasteride. One user argues that finasteride is more reliable and effective than natural alternatives.
The conversation discusses taurine supplements for hair growth, highlighting their potential to reduce DHT and improve hair health. A user comments that people often try alternatives to finasteride.
The conversation discusses the role of NADPH in hair loss and the potential impact of creatine and B complex vitamins on hair shedding. The user theorizes that increasing NAD levels with B complex vitamins may reduce hair shedding, despite using finasteride and minoxidil for 9 months.
The user is concerned about hair loss despite using oral finasteride, oral minoxidil, and topical minoxidil. They are seeking advice on additional blood tests to identify potential causes.
The user has been using topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride for 6 months to treat hair loss, with noticeable improvement. Another user mentioned using unnamed drops for 4 months to successfully reduce a bald patch, but with less effect on a receding hairline.
Female with PCOS experiences receding and thinning hair, wants dutasteride instead of spironolactone. Discusses desire to reduce DHT without losing libido.
User discusses frustration with hair loss treatments and lack of progress. Emphasizes importance of measuring blood hormone levels to understand treatment effectiveness and side effects.
Combining dutasteride and an aromatase inhibitor may increase testosterone levels significantly, potentially enhancing athletic performance but also posing health risks like elevated blood pressure and worsened cholesterol. The user is experimenting with dutasteride, anastrozole, minoxidil, and ketoconazole shampoo to manage hair loss and estradiol levels, while monitoring side effects and hormone levels.
A user shared that taking vitamin E, specifically tocotrienols, seemed to reduce their hair shedding, and they are also using finasteride, minoxidil, and derma rolling for hair loss. Another user cautioned against high doses of vitamin E due to potential health risks.
A 22-year-old male has been experiencing hair thinning since 18 and was prescribed 50mg oral spironolactone for hair loss and high blood pressure, despite inquiring about finasteride. A reply suggests that spironolactone is less effective than finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss and recommends seeking a second medical opinion.
A user is considering a long-term hair loss treatment stack including Dutasteride, Finasteride, and oral Minoxidil, and is concerned about potential liver damage. Some responses suggest the stack is excessive, while others believe it's not harmful to the liver, but recommend regular blood work to monitor health.
A user shared their hair loss journey, using finasteride since age 18 and adding dutasteride at 30, which halted hair loss and promoted regrowth. They take finasteride daily and dutasteride three times a week, experiencing reduced libido and drier skin as side effects.
Adding an LLLT laser cap to a routine of finasteride, minoxidil, and ketoconazole shampoo significantly reduced hair shedding from 200+ hairs a day to around 80, improving scalp health. The user attributes the laser cap as the key factor in stabilizing hair loss after two years of using other treatments.
Bee venom at 0.001% concentration was more effective than 2% minoxidil in promoting hair growth in mice, possibly due to increased growth factors and reduced inflammation. Caution is advised due to potential allergic reactions and the reliance on animal data.
The user experienced significant hair growth using topical finasteride and minoxidil but noticed nipple changes, suggesting early gynecomastia. They plan to stop the treatment and consider blood work to check hormonal balance.
The conversation humorously suggests that drug use might be more effective for hair retention than traditional treatments like minoxidil or finasteride. It attributes full heads of hair in homeless individuals to lifestyle factors like reduced stress or hormonal changes.
A 29-year-old male experienced hair loss and found improvement using a combination of onion hair oil, castor oil, ketoconazole shampoo, and aloe vera gel with vitamin E, while discontinuing minoxidil and finasteride due to side effects. He emphasizes the importance of scalp massage and oiling for hair growth and reduced hair fall.
A 25-year-old male shared his 3-month progress using oral minoxidil, finasteride, and biotin for hair growth, reporting positive results and minimal side effects, such as slightly reduced libido. He plans to continue treatment and possibly add microneedling, with hopes of further improvement and potential hair transplant if needed.
1 mg of finasteride is commonly prescribed because it is more effective for a larger number of people compared to lower doses, despite only slightly reducing serum DHT more than 0.2 mg. Serum DHT and scalp DHT are different, and 1 mg is believed to reduce scalp DHT more effectively, contributing to better hair growth results.
Increased hair loss after starting a 10g daily creatine regimen, possibly linked to elevated DHT levels despite dutasteride use. Stopping creatine reduced shedding, but the exact cause is uncertain, with discussions on exercise and lifestyle impacts.
The user switched from finasteride to dutasteride and experienced noticeable hair regrowth without side effects, though some users questioned the necessity of such a potent treatment given the minimal hair loss. The conversation also touched on potential side effects of dutasteride, such as reduced sperm quality, but the user reported no issues.
A 24-year-old user shared their 3-month progress using a topical spray containing 0.3% finasteride and 6% minoxidil, along with dermarolling and Nizoral shampoo, reporting reduced shedding and signs of hair regrowth. They emphasized consistency in their routine and noted no side effects, expressing optimism about future results.
Finasteride is effective for hair regrowth, especially on the crown, but can cause side effects like reduced libido and erectile dysfunction in some users. Opinions are mixed, with some reporting positive results without side effects and others experiencing significant issues.
Switching from finasteride to dutasteride can cause hair shedding, with mixed results; some see improvement, others see worsening. Using both treatments together initially may help reduce shedding.