Another Propecia question

[mr_xxxplosive]

I got the info on when about the thickening/regrowth should happen but I got 2 more questions.

1. If Propecia halts your hairloss how long does it usually take for that too happen? I assume that happens before regrowth not simulatenously!?

2. I keep seeing Dr. Rassman says that Propecia halts or slows down hair loss for most men. If it just slows down, is the process then very slow? For example in 5 years you may still look the about the same to the eye or what?

[Mark]

I got the info on when about the thickening/regrowth should happen but I got 2 more questions.

1. If Propecia halts your hairloss how long does it usually take for that too happen? I assume that happens before regrowth not simulatenously!?

It's impossible to tell exactly when you're going to see results. Dr Rassman usually expects to see results at around 9 months or so, but that's just an average of the people he sees here.

2. I keep seeing Dr. Rassman says that Propecia halts or slows down hair loss for most men. If it just slows down, is the process then very slow? For example in 5 years you may still look the about the same to the eye or what?

Again, different for different people. A co-worker here had been taking Propecia for 5 years or so and then noticed that it wasn't working as well for him any more. He now takes dutasteride. Some other people have been taking propecia since it was approved for use by the FDA and they're still fine.

This is why it's a good idea to see your doctor regularly. They'll take photos of you and do miniaturization tests so you can objectively evaluate your level of hair loss.

I know this isn't the sort of cut and dry, black and white answer that you're looking for, but I hope it helps.

-Mark

[kb1979]

So, in the example above where your co-worker found after 5 years that propecia wasn't working well anymore, did his baldness simply pick up where it left off 5 years prior or did he see the catch-up hair loss that one would expect if they stopped using propecia entirely?

[Mark]

So, in the example above where your co-worker found after 5 years that propecia wasn't working well anymore, did his baldness simply pick up where it left off 5 years prior or did he see the catch-up hair loss that one would expect if they stopped using propecia entirely?

If I recall correctly (I'd have to ask him for details), he had simply noticed more shedding than was normal in the previous 5 years. He started taking .5mg Dutasteride once a week and that helped him out.

Again, I'm not 100% certain on those facts. I can tell you with certainty however that he didn't suddenly start losing massive amounts of hair or anything.

-Mark

[kb1979]

Thanks. Do you know if that's common for those people who "develop a tolerance" for propecia over time? As a propecia user, I worry about a day when it will lose it's effectiveness for me and I'll lose a massive amount of hair in a short period of time.

[Niall]

If I recall correctly (I'd have to ask him for details), he had simply noticed more shedding than was normal in the previous 5 years. He started taking .5mg Dutasteride once a week and that helped him out.

Again, I'm not 100% certain on those facts. I can tell you with certainty however that he didn't suddenly start losing massive amounts of hair or anything.

-Mark


so can the "catch up" period be skipped if another treatment is started that blocks dht?

[Mark]

so can the "catch up" period be skipped if another treatment is started that blocks dht?

Sure, that's all that finasteride does anyway. If you could find another drug that would continue to block DHT then you'd be fine.

The "catch up" hair loss is simply from all those follicles that were being protected by finasteride suddenly being swamped with DHT.

[Mark]

Thanks. Do you know if that's common for those people who "develop a tolerance" for propecia over time? As a propecia user, I worry about a day when it will lose it's effectiveness for me and I'll lose a massive amount of hair in a short period of time.

I don't have any specific statistics for you, but I don't think it's all that common.