Does Finasteride really work?

[FrancisAnn]

I've been taking Fin. for about 6 months along with normal my HRT/E patches & spiro. I cannot see any improvement in hair growth. Has anyone had nice real results with this drug?

[JulieBlair]

It seems to work for me, but it took a full year to make much of a difference, and now twenty months on is still helping.  I started off mostly bald, 5% Minoxidil helped, but things really began to change a year ago January after a year on Finisteride.  I need to put up a new avatar picture.  The hair thing is better now than when that was taken.  Patience and persistence is something this process is good at teaching.

Peace,
Julie

[FrancisAnn]

Thanks, I ordered another 3 month supply, we'll see, maybe.

[Christine167]

Yep, it has been really really slow but finally I feel more confident growing my hair out. 6 months to a year more and my hair should be done.

[Kimberley Beauregard]

Approaching three months in, I've noticed subtle differences on my crown which I'm not just attributing to growing hair.  Thankfully, I've not experienced  any of the nasty side effects I hear about, including issues with focus and depression.  In fact, I've been feeling much better while on the drug.

YMMV but hair growth will take some patience.

[Jill F]

Fin worked for me.  I wasn't that far gone, but was thinning like crazy on top like a middle aged rocker.  No bald spot, but receding a bit and noticing my pony tail getting thinner every day.  I started taking it 2 months before I started a low dose of E.  I had no side effects, but I noticed a lot of new hairs popping up in about 2 months.  I added dutasteride and upped my E dose six months after I started on E, and I started to REALLY notice a difference.  I mean, it basically all came back.  It's not thin anymore and looks very feminine now.   The only problem is that I keep having to cut it so the shorties blend in better.   I miss having hair almost down to mah butt.

[barbie]

I have taken it for about 2 years, but I am not quite sure of the effect.

barbie~~

[FrancisAnn]

Thanks girl friends. Is there anything better than fin.

I'm taking a medium dosage. My body hair has greatly reduced since hrt which is nice however my scalp hair is still so thin. I almost have to change TV channels when the Wen Girl commercial comes on, so frustating.

Thanks for any advise & good luck to us all to have nice thick hair. 

[JulieBlair]

Finisteride + Minoxidil + Biotin is about as good as it gets unless you want to go the transplant route.  It does kind of suck that for some of us hair growth/regrowth takes years rather than days/weeks/months.  Even then there are no guarantees.  I may be doomed to a pixie cut, but I'm still hopeful.

Julie

[LizMarie]

May I suggest you add microneedling to your regimen?

A Randomized Double Blind Study on the Effects of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia

Basically, microneedling once a week and using Minoxidil twice a day the other six days produced an average of 4 times as much hair as Minoxidil alone for seven days a week.

You can buy a microneedler cheaply at Amazon for something like $12-$18 usually. I bought mine a bit over a year ago and I was a full Norwood 7 hair loss (worst sort) when I started. I am slowly approaching a Norwood 5 situation. If I can get enough back for a Norwood 5, I should become a good candidate for hair transplants rather than a really bad candidate as when I started.

[JulieBlair]

I will check it out.  Thank you.

[FrancisAnn]

Thank you to all. I use Biotin however I've not added Minoxidi. Good luck GF's.

[Stephanie2]

I was prescribed finasteride and will receive it in a few days. However, I am taking it for reducing testosterone and for an enlarged prostate. I hope it works for both!

[JulieBlair]

Yep that is it's on label use.  At lower doses it is an effective DHT blocker which is why it works for those of us with thinly covered pates
J

[FrancisAnn]

May I suggest you add microneedling to your regimen?

A Randomized Double Blind Study on the Effects of Microneedling in Androgenetic Alopecia

Basically, microneedling once a week and using Minoxidil twice a day the other six days produced an average of 4 times as much hair as Minoxidil alone for seven days a week.

You can buy a microneedler cheaply at Amazon for something like $12-$18 usually. I bought mine a bit over a year ago and I was a full Norwood 7 hair loss (worst sort) when I started. I am slowly approaching a Norwood 5 situation. If I can get enough back for a Norwood 5, I should become a good candidate for hair transplants rather than a really bad candidate as when I started.

Liz Marie, Thank you but can you expound on this microneedler device?  I guess it stimulates the scalp? Is it used along with Minoxidil? Where can I or we purchase one direct, a little $ is just fine if this combination will really help. Thank you so much. I'm so tired of receiving Paula Young catalogs I could just scream.   

[AnneB]

I have noticed a pretty significant difference too with Fin.. once a day, (was told to take it at night by pharmacist).. Biotinn also, (recommended by my stylist to promote growth).  I have a couple bottles of 5% minoxidyl, but I havent broken them open yet.. My loss has slowed quite a bit, tho I'm still seeing some hairs in the sink after drying/brushing it.  Less than before.. still better than it was.  After a couple months, my stylist happened to mention while it really helps head hair, it also help whiskers grow..  well, that explains a lot..   I actually didnt think of that, tho I sort of guessed it isn't a smart bomb.  eh.. more hair on the head is easy trade off for having to shave chin, arms, legs more often.

[FrancisAnn]

How can we girls ever win??? Also hair growth on our bodies along with our scalp, terrible. It's time for a little cry almost. 

[Lauren1]

Been on Finasteride 6 months.

I think the biggest thing I've noticed is a vast reduction in hair loss. Before it used to be depressing to run my fingers through my hair. Now I still shed some but it is a MASSIVE reduction.

Secondly, over the last several years the corners have kind of receeded/thinned whatever because life sucks. BUT! If you look closely now, very closely, the area is now swarmed with tiny super thin light vellous hair. I'm not sure if these will become real hairs, baby hairs, or stay the same... but there's a good chance I have more of these in places I can't see in my scalp.

So that said, I'm willing to give it more time. The reduction in hair loss by itself is a blessing and a success.

[Jane's Sweet Refrain]

My physician just prescribed Finasteride, but I've not yet picked it up from the pharmacy. I had requested that dutasteride to address corners and a front that had thinned pre-hrt. So what do you think? Should I pick Finasteride up and take it or call her and re-request dutasteride?

[MyKa]

Most defiantly, I was told when 1st starting out that it could take atleast 6 months for the fin to start working