To finasteride or not to finasteride

[C1boomvang]

I started using HIMS topical .3% Finasteride/Minoxidil 6% after I noticed I was losing hair.

So far, so good: hair is thick again and hair loss has stopped (Note: Approximately 6 weeks on it).

No significant side effects for me. Libido remains intact.

The oral was expensive for me to run and I didn’t like what I was reading about the sides many were experiencing.

I second the HIMS topical. Did the oral and paradoxically it f’ed with my prostate. Went on the topical and all is good.

 

[Bigbadwolf04]

For me the combination of oral finasteride (1.2mg) and oral minoxodil (5mg this is important) work great and allow me to keep my hair on steroids. Fin takes a LONG time to work (ie think something like 6 months or so I read before you can expect to notice anything so you need to be patient.

No sexual side effects for me but obviously people do report them. I think its worth trying and if you get dick problems a cialis should fix that up. Some people will disagree with me so it depends on your risk tolerance and how much you care about your hair. If you dont do the finasteride I would still get on the oral minoxodil regardless because thats side effect free except faster hair growth on your body

Thanks man can't do oral minoxidil I have a hx of svt so don't want to play with that.

 

[Cypher]

I just don't see the value in someone who clearly doesn't care about their hair scaring away those who do care about their hair and do care about trying to preserve it by warning them of side effects of FDA approved medication that most, including myself, will never experience. Its not productive.

What you just said is a clear indicator that you don't know a lot and talk like you know it all.

Someone with actual logic would weigh the pros and cons of medications and use reasoned thinking to evaluate outcomes. I've had plenty of good discussions with my doctor, family friends who are GPs or in the medical field regarding 5-AR inhibitors. I've read the data, the white papers, and have come to an agreement and understanding that even a 0.01% chance of issues isn't worth it.

You're not doing that. You're just dismissing anyone who raises concerns as "unproductive fear-mongering."

You say "These are FDA-approved medications" like that's the end of the discussion. Well, guess what? A respected institution such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that finasteride is linked to suicidal ideation and psychiatric/sexual side effects that may persist even after discontinuing the medication.

There's a reason Europe is seriously reconsidering whether this is even a healthy/safe alternative. The data and studies go way beyond just "rare side effects most people won't experience."

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/docume...ts-finasteride-dutasteride-medicines_en.pdf-0

Health Risks Associated with Long-Term Finasteride and Dutasteride Use: It's Time to Sound the Alarm - PMC

Hair loss and prostate drugs linked to persistent erectile dysfunction in men

Suicidal risk associated with finasteride versus dutasteride among men treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia: nationwide cohort study - Scientific Reports

And not to have confirmation bias, I will post the studies where it's very effective, well-tolerated, and "safe":

Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group - PubMed (finasteride)

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Dutasteride versus Finasteride in Patients with Male Androgenic Alopecia in South Korea: A Multicentre Chart Review Study - PMC (dutasteride)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DEdskgOWVI
(RIP Dr. John Crisler)

Maybe actually read the research instead of acting like people sharing legitimate medical concerns are the problem. The only thing unproductive here is you trying to silence informed discussion because it threatens your confidence in a decision you clearly haven't fully educated yourself about.

There's a phenomenon where side effects continue long after discontinuing these medications. It's not a matter of DNA changes, but researchers still can't conclusively explain why the body fails to return to its previous state of hormonal balance. The culprit may be a cascading effect—some form of androgen deprivation that develops over time, transitioning from short-term to long-term impact.

While hair loss itself isn't typically a medical issue, the potential side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride certainly are. These risks have been increasingly recognized in recent years, though they're often downplayed or overlooked.

With what you said as well, you come off like you have this overvalued belief regarding someone's appearance (e.g., hair) and being a gatekeeper of it—kind of like that Clavicular cat with his whole looksmaxxing or mogging or whatever crap it's called. A lot of us just don't care. We've been through life, have families, and either don't care about losing our hair or value ourselves in ways that go beyond self-vanity (once again tying self-worth to keeping your hair and whatnot).

If you want to keep your hair, great. If you want to try a 5-AR inhibitor, more power to you. But down the road you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul—not saying it happens 100% of the time, but even a 0.01% chance isn't worth it in my view. That's not being scared, it's being informed.

The juice just isn't worth the squeeze.

 

[Bigbadwolf04]

What you just said is a clear indicator that you don't know a lot and talk like you know it all.

Someone with actual logic would weigh the pros and cons of medications and use reasoned thinking to evaluate outcomes. I've had plenty of good discussions with my doctor, family friends who are GPs or in the medical field regarding 5-AR inhibitors. I've read the data, the white papers, and have come to an agreement and understanding that even a 0.01% chance of issues isn't worth it.

You're not doing that. You're just dismissing anyone who raises concerns as "unproductive fear-mongering."

You say "These are FDA-approved medications" like that's the end of the discussion. Well, guess what? A respected institution such as the European Medicines Agency (EMA) confirmed that finasteride is linked to suicidal ideation and psychiatric/sexual side effects that may persist even after discontinuing the medication.

There's a reason Europe is seriously reconsidering whether this is even a healthy/safe alternative. The data and studies go way beyond just "rare side effects most people won't experience."

https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/docume...ts-finasteride-dutasteride-medicines_en.pdf-0

Health Risks Associated with Long-Term Finasteride and Dutasteride Use: It's Time to Sound the Alarm - PMC

Hair loss and prostate drugs linked to persistent erectile dysfunction in men

Suicidal risk associated with finasteride versus dutasteride among men treated for benign prostatic hyperplasia: nationwide cohort study - Scientific Reports

And not to have confirmation bias, I will post the studies where it's very effective, well-tolerated, and "safe":

Finasteride in the treatment of men with androgenetic alopecia. Finasteride Male Pattern Hair Loss Study Group - PubMed (finasteride)

Long-Term Effectiveness and Safety of Dutasteride versus Finasteride in Patients with Male Androgenic Alopecia in South Korea: A Multicentre Chart Review Study - PMC (dutasteride)

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DEdskgOWVI
(RIP Dr. John Crisler)

Maybe actually read the research instead of acting like people sharing legitimate medical concerns are the problem. The only thing unproductive here is you trying to silence informed discussion because it threatens your confidence in a decision you clearly haven't fully educated yourself about.

There's a phenomenon where side effects continue long after discontinuing these medications. It's not a matter of DNA changes, but researchers still can't conclusively explain why the body fails to return to its previous state of hormonal balance. The culprit may be a cascading effect—some form of androgen deprivation that develops over time, transitioning from short-term to long-term impact.

While hair loss itself isn't typically a medical issue, the potential side effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors like finasteride and dutasteride certainly are. These risks have been increasingly recognized in recent years, though they're often downplayed or overlooked.

With what you said as well, you come off like you have this overvalued belief regarding someone's appearance (e.g., hair) and being a gatekeeper of it—kind of like that Clavicular cat with his whole looksmaxxing or mogging or whatever crap it's called. A lot of us just don't care. We've been through life, have families, and either don't care about losing our hair or value ourselves in ways that go beyond self-vanity (once again tying self-worth to keeping your hair and whatnot).

If you want to keep your hair, great. If you want to try a 5-AR inhibitor, more power to you. But down the road you might be robbing Peter to pay Paul—not saying it happens 100% of the time, but even a 0.01% chance isn't worth it in my view. That's not being scared, it's being informed.

The juice just isn't worth the squeeze.

Thanks for the response man I'll read those articles. Off your opinion you don't think it's worth going on dut?

 

[Cypher]

Thanks for the response man I'll read those articles. Off your opinion you don't think it's worth going on dut?

I’m not giving advice, brother. Use your own discretion and your own logical, critical thinking. We’re grown adults here, my man (well, most of us)

 

[Bigbadwolf04]

I’m not giving advice, brother. Use your own discretion and your own logical, critical thinking. We’re grown adults here, my man (well, most of us)

Appreciate it man