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    Glossary Finasteride

    medication that inhibits DHT to treat hair loss

    Finasteride is a medication primarily used to treat male pattern baldness (androgenetic alopecia) and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It works by inhibiting the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which converts testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), a hormone linked to hair loss and prostate growth. Commonly known by brand names like Propecia for hair loss and Proscar for BPH, finasteride is taken orally and requires a prescription.

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      learn Finasteride

      Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia
      • Is finasteride safe? Studies report that most men tolerate finasteride 1 mg, but case series, regulatory labelling and patient reports describe sexual, mood and cognitive effects that some say persisted after stopping, and how often that happens is not established. It is a prescription-only medicine and is contraindicated in pregnancy.
      • Is Finasteride unbeatable or are there equally powerful alternatives? Trials report finasteride as the single medication with the strongest measured effect in male androgenetic alopecia, while dutasteride, minoxidil, topical finasteride, PRP, LLLT and microneedling all have supporting studies and are often reported to work better in combination. Finasteride, dutasteride and oral minoxidil are prescription-only, and several of these uses are off-label.
      • What does finasteride do to the female body? Find out its side effects. Finasteride is not approved for hair loss in women anywhere; the one controlled trial, in 137 postmenopausal women at 1 mg daily, found no benefit over placebo, while smaller uncontrolled studies at higher off-label doses report some improvement. It is contraindicated in pregnancy and crushed or broken tablets must not be handled.
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      learn Dutasteride

      Heavy duty finasteride that comes with higher risks

      learn Minoxidil

      An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

      learn Saw Palmetto

      a natural and far less effective alternative to Finasteride

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      community questions regarding topical finasteride

      in Finasteride  4 upvotes 7 years ago
      The conversation discusses the potential effectiveness and risks of using topical finasteride for hair loss, with considerations about using DMSO as a vehicle for application. Concerns are raised about DMSO's safety, absorption issues, and the systemic effects of topical finasteride.

      community Been on Fin for almost 3 months. Need help with a shampoo regimin to compliment this.

      in Finasteride  4 upvotes 8 years ago
      The conversation discusses a hair care regimen to complement finasteride use, with the original poster using OGX Biotin & Collagen Shampoo, Nizoral, and Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Texturizing Dry Shampoo. Other users suggest that the effectiveness of a regimen depends on individual results and recommend sulfate-free products for maintaining healthy hair.

      community Finasteride only (2 years, different doses, details in body text)

       12 upvotes 19 hours ago
      The user has been using finasteride for two years, gradually increasing the dose to 1 mg, and is satisfied with the results despite not using minoxidil due to lifestyle constraints. Another user shared their experience with finasteride, noting side effects like discomfort and loss of libido, and ultimately stopped using it before planning to have a child.