new thread
I went to the dermatologist yesterday (on the advice of a previous post on this board) to get my hair checked out and it turns out I have male pattern baldness. It's not especially noticable yet; I went because my hair seemed thin on top, but I wasn't sure, and rather than spend the rest of my life worrying about it... You get the idea.
Anyway, after looking over the product literature, I'm kinda leaning toward Propecia as a treatment, but I'm not sure. Anybody here have any words, pro or con, to so say on this subject? I'm new to this problem so any advice I can get would be great.
Thanks,
The Rev
IF you decide to use Propecia, it only claims to work if taken BEFORE the thinning of the hair becomes very noticeable, so if you decide to go for it, better sooner than after it is too late (like me).
Having said that, to take a hormonal drug for the rest of your life or even for several years is a big step to take, so it would be interesting to hear from anybody who has given it a try.
Talk to your doctor about Proscar. It is the same as Propecia but cheaper and you only take 1/4 a tablet each day. I've been taking it for 1 1/2 years now and I think it works.
Your doctor will want to establish a base line on PSA via a blood test but that should not be a problem.
Terri
I'll ask him about that. I've read about Proscar, but I did not realize it was so much cheaper. Thanks for the info!
The Chia-Rev
Rev,
How long would it be before you lose all of your hair? Are there any other men in your family that are bald?
ZaPper
Awhile, I think. I've noticed that it seemed thin for a few years, and it hasn't changed much. Most people wouldn't notice, really. My dad has been gradually losing hair for like 40 years and still has some left. I expect to go bald slowly if I do nothing. Still, you never know.
The Rev
BTW, If it all goes, then I'll still have a horseshoe pony (the androgenic alopecia mullet). Viva la Long Hair!
I have had thinning hair for many years. I first noticed thinning on the top of my head in my mid-twenties.
I have used minoxidil for about 15 years. I started with 2%, and have now graduated to 5%. I have been happy with this product. I never grew hair back, but my thinning was slowed considerably.
I have also used Propecia. Propecia is the same medication as Proscar (generic name: finasteride). Propecia is 1mg finasteride; Proscar is 5mg finasteride.
Proscar was originally developed for benign prostate hyperplasty, i.e. non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. An enlarged prostate can cause numerous problems for older men, especially men over 70.
Male pattern baldness (medical term, androgentic alopecia) occurs in men who possess an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase. This enzyme converts testosterone to a very potent male hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
There are two types of this enzmye, type I and type II. Type II 5-alpha reductase is associated with the enlargement of the prostate. That is the enzyme that Proscar and Propecia inhibits.
Propecia has undergone numerous medical trials. They have found that Propecia is somewhat effective in regrowing 'lost' hair, and is more effective in slowing or stopping hair loss. It also seems to be very effective in increasing hair diameter. Hair in the susceptible zone will look thicker and fuller.
Recent medical literature has suggested that type I 5-alphareductase is involved to a greater extent in hair loss. This one study suggests that a type I inhibitor was the only one of the two types active in hair metabolism.
There is a new drug that has been approved by the FDA called dutasteride. Its trade name will be Avolve, if I have the spelling correct. It is approved for the same prostate enlargement problem that Proscar was designed to treat.
The buzz on dutasteride is that it is a 'wow' type of product. One hair researcher in whom I have a lot of trust said that this product is much more effective than Propecia.
GlaxoSmithKline is the pharmaceutical company that is selling the drug. It will be available for hair-regrowth purposes by any doctor who is willing to prescribe it 'off-label'.
That's interesting. I didn't know there was a follow-up to Propecia, but I will ask my doctor about it. Thanks so much.
The Rev
Dear Rev,
About a year ago I too found myself loosing hair, “male pattern baldness”. Well actually I admitted it a year ago, I have probably been slowly loosing my hair sense I was 18 or 19, I am 43 now.
I went to Wal-Mart and bought “Equate brand” of Rogaine and It has worked great!
Then about 6 months later, I started taking “Saw Palmetto Berries” an herb also available at Wal-Mart, and this added even more results to the re-growth of my lost hair.
Then about 45 days ago I started taking “Propecia” but have not notice any added effect yet, but I expect too in another 45 days.
The thing about taking “Proscar” because it is cheaper is true in that it is only cheaper because you are dividing the tablets into 4 parts, pill for pill, the price is not much different, about 50-100 dollars a month, depending on where you buy it, for the rest of your life to retain your re-grown hair.
All three, Propecia, Rogaine and Saw Palmetto do the same thing to your hormones and prostrate, as does Proscar, just in differing degrees. But Saw Palmetto is probably the safest orally taken product, with the topical Rogaine (or Wal-Mart’s Equate) being safer because it does not have to pass through your liver to treat the effected area.
NONE of them will have an instant effect, usually you will need to take whatever you take for at least 3 months before you will see any real results.
Another note, I have not had much change in my sexual function. Penile function effects about 2% of people taking Propecia, but according to what I have read, this side effect goes away in time.
My long haul plan is to get as much of my hair back as I think I will be able to get back, and then just take the “ Saw Palmetto” herb to maintain it. As it will be the most cost effective of them all.
Remember, you did not loose your hair over night, and you will not re-grow it over night. Also, hair grows in stages, and the hair follicle also have a resting periods, that is why it takes several months to see any results.
Do a lot of reading on the www, and you will have a better understanding of hair growth cycles and how the different treatments work, and what side effect to expect.
Hope you the best in keeping your hair and re-growing some new ones.
Sincerely,
Fred
I appreciate your help and the info.
The Rev