Starting dutasteride

[25 going on 65]

Switching from finasteride tomorrow, after years of good results. Already have the capsules. I am nervous but science is on my side.
Thank you Big Pharma. You are unethical and greedy for money, but less greedy than I am for hair.

Wish me luck. I will update the forum like I did with fin and keto shampoo.

[drybone]

Good luck to you !!!

I just started finasteride. Why did u switch? What is this dutasteride?

[BigThinker]

Best luck, man.

[25 going on 65]

Update
First dose was 12 hours ago. Hair is now a fully dense Norwood 1, however, penis has fallen off.
Overall assessment: worth it.

but seriously, thank you guys for your well wishes.

Good luck to you !!!

I just started finasteride. Why did u switch? What is this dutasteride?

Dutasteride is the active ingredient in Avodart. It blocks more 5-alpha reductase than finasteride, and 5-ar is the enzyme that forms DHT by combining with testosterone (DHT is the hormone that causes follicles to miniaturize). It is better for maintenance than regrowth (like fin) but I am hoping for the best.
I switched basically because I am trying to build on my results from meds. I want to avoid any kind of surgery as long as possible. I am NW2 with slight diffuse loss....my hair looks quite good when styled (people do not know I have MPB and I want it to stay that way), and I have meds to thank for that because I was rapidly thinning 4-5 years ago. My honest opinion, you are on the right track by starting fin.

[drybone]

Thanks .

When can I expect the shedding to start. Its been almost 2 weeks. Or is the shedding gradual like the MPB was so I dont necessarily notice it in the shower but will notice it in the mirror ?

[Aames]

Hi, are you using actual avodart, dutas, dutagen, or some other generic? I'm toying with the idea of ordering some dutas and taking it with fin until I run out of fin.

[25 going on 65]

Thanks .

When can I expect the shedding to start. Its been almost 2 weeks. Or is the shedding gradual like the MPB was so I dont necessarily notice it in the shower but will notice it in the mirror ?

Everyone is different man. Some people do not notice a shed, some others say they shed badly for a year or more before things improve. If you are going to have a shed I would think it would start within the first 5 months or so but I am not a doctor.
I feel like I went through several "cyclical" sheds while on finasteride, but they were never too bad. I don't worry about the hair in my shower as long as the hair on my head looks ok

[25 going on 65]

Hi, are you using actual avodart, dutas, dutagen, or some other generic? I'm toying with the idea of ordering some dutas and taking it with fin until I run out of fin.

I use actual Avodart from a licensed pharmacy, about 400 dollars for 3 months supply. I understand the cost concerns but I am not willing to gamble with my hair in any way. If 130-140 dollars a month is the difference between NW2 and NW4+, it is worth it to me.
I am also taking it with fin for the first few months. I have no idea if this is wise or unwise and do not necessarliy recommend this to anybody else. I choose to do this in hopes of bridging the transition period between the drugs, so that (with luck) I can avoid serious shedding. Again I have no idea if this will work or what the risks are (I really am not worried about my health but others might not want to risk it). I will completely taper off fin within 6 months or less I think.

[BigThinker]

I use actual Avodart from a licensed pharmacy, about 400 dollars for 3 months supply. I understand the cost concerns but I am not willing to gamble with my hair in any way. If 130-140 dollars a month is the difference between NW2 and NW4+, it is worth it to me.
I am also taking it with fin for the first few months. I have no idea if this is wise or unwise and do not necessarliy recommend this to anybody else. I choose to do this in hopes of bridging the transition period between the drugs, so that (with luck) I can avoid serious shedding. Again I have no idea if this will work or what the risks are (I really am not worried about my health but others might not want to risk it). I will completely taper off fin within 6 months or less I think.

Well, it sounds like you are treading into parts relatively unknown. I hope you maintain your health, and wish you all the luck in this endeavor. Your experience will undoubtedly be valuable for everyone.

[Aames]

I use actual Avodart from a licensed pharmacy, about 400 dollars for 3 months supply. I understand the cost concerns but I am not willing to gamble with my hair in any way. If 130-140 dollars a month is the difference between NW2 and NW4+, it is worth it to me.
I am also taking it with fin for the first few months. I have no idea if this is wise or unwise and do not necessarliy recommend this to anybody else. I choose to do this in hopes of bridging the transition period between the drugs, so that (with luck) I can avoid serious shedding. Again I have no idea if this will work or what the risks are (I really am not worried about my health but others might not want to risk it). I will completely taper off fin within 6 months or less I think.

So you actually convinced a doctor to write you a script? I've heard a lot of people have problems with that. I'd love to use actual Avodart but online pharmacies are charging like 3.50 usd per pill which is just insane. Also, I have a theory that the brand name stuff is more likely to be faked. Who is going to go through the trouble of faking generics when they cost pennies to manufacture? It would be like selling a fake Timex watch.

[25 going on 65]

So you actually convinced a doctor to write you a script? I've heard a lot of people have problems with that. I'd love to use actual Avodart but online pharmacies are charging like 3.50 usd per pill which is just insane. Also, I have a theory that the brand name stuff is more likely to be faked. Who is going to go through the trouble of faking generics when they cost pennies to manufacture? It would be like selling a fake Timex watch.

I have very little concern about a licensed pharmacy selling me fake Avodart but I guess anything is possible. I have heard that some counterfeit generics have been found in licensed pharmacies, including fin, but I never tried to research this myself. From my understanding the pharmacies were not necessarily in on the counterfeit, it was the manufacturers that were to blame.
There is no generic for dutasteride recognized in the US as far as I know. Maybe in other countries....I have no idea.
As far as getting a rx for Avodart, hair loss specialists are much easier to work with. At one time I tried getting a prescription from my GP and then a dermatologist, but neither one was comfortable writing it or even heard about dut for hair loss. Most doctors honestly do not know jack about alopecia
I think I had an especially easy time getting the rx because I have been on fin for years without suffering problems from it.

[baldesswonder]

I have very little concern about a licensed pharmacy selling me fake Avodart but I guess anything is possible. I have heard that some counterfeit generics have been found in licensed pharmacies, including fin, but I never tried to research this myself. From my understanding the pharmacies were not necessarily in on the counterfeit, it was the manufacturers that were to blame.
There is no generic for dutasteride recognized in the US as far as I know. Maybe in other countries....I have no idea.
As far as getting a rx for Avodart, hair loss specialists are much easier to work with. At one time I tried getting a prescription from my GP and then a dermatologist, but neither one was comfortable writing it or even heard about dut for hair loss. Most doctors honestly do not know jack about alopecia
I think I had an especially easy time getting the rx because I have been on fin for years without suffering problems from it.

nothing wrong with getting a generic proscar/propecia online most of us are doing that.

[25 going on 65]

I keep thinking I am imagining things but I cant help but share. I am not shedding at all. I can make no sense of it, it's much too early for dut to be doing anything (it has been less than a week). But since I started I notice maybe 4-6 hairs coming out the entire day, including when I shower. I have never been a "shed hair counter" but I always noticed hairs coming out while I was on fin. Nothing extreme, I just figured it was the normal hair cycling that would happen with or without MPB (for example I would see maybe 15-20 in the shower alone). But now it is like everything is glued to my scalp or something.
I feel this must be a coincidence because there is no way I have had dut in my system long enough to change my shedding. Does anyone else have any kind of experience like this to share?
(now watch, in 8 weeks I will shed out to a NW5)

[Widowmaker]

I started on Dut a bit before January 1. Prior to that I was on Fin 1mg everyday for around 2 years. I clipper my hair pretty short so I am not sure if I shed or not. It seems I would go through periods of seeing more scalp, and periods of satisfaction. That could just as well be attributed to psychological factors. I am pretty sure Fin was just retaining what I had, but part of me would have liked to see a shed...from what I've seen, most people who see gains experience a shed.

Anyway, back to the Dut...I think I've had a rather minimal diffuse shed. I see a bit more scalp, but it's not really noticable. I have also noticed a lot more faint baby/vellus(?) hairs sprout up along my recessed temple hairline. They aren't very noticable except up close. Sorta reminds me of a hair graveyard. I'm hopeful, but not convinced they will thicken up. Didn't have sides on Fin and haven't noticed any on Dut. I get my Dutas from InHouse. I'll probably stay on Dut to see how it goes and if I see no gains I may go back to Fin. I figure Fin was holding ground and it should be widely available as a generic (and a lot less $) by then.

[drybone]

I have to agree with 25/65

I have been on fin for over two weeks, maybe 3 weeks and I got no side effects nor any shedding.

The only thing I can think of is that I am still shedding at the same rate so I dont notice any shedding at all.

According to what I have read, I have blocked out 90% of the DHT to my hair, but that wont show up in results for up to 12 months.