The user has been taking 1.25mg finasteride daily for 11 months and recently added a generic version due to increased shedding. They also use keto shampoo twice a week, which has reduced seborrheic dermatitis but not the itching or shedding.
Genetic variations influence how people respond to dutasteride for hair loss, with some benefiting more from finasteride. Dutasteride is effective for most, but genetic differences may cause it to be less effective for some.
Switching from finasteride to a generic dutasteride led to unexpectedly high DHT levels, prompting a switch to a reputed brand and consideration of softgel capsules for better absorption. The user plans to retest DHT levels and may return to finasteride if issues persist.
Topical finasteride may have higher systemic absorption and lower efficacy when using a Propylene Glycol/Ethanol formulation compared to the hydroxypropyl chitosan (HPCH) formulation. The safety profile of topical finasteride relies heavily on the HPCH formulation, and using standard solutions might lead to different pharmacokinetics.
Minoxidil is highly toxic to pets, particularly cats and dogs, and there is a call for proper labeling to warn pet owners. Despite some skepticism about the effectiveness of petitions, many agree that awareness and caution are necessary to prevent accidental poisoning.