Finasteride can reduce neuroactive steroids, causing side effects like depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Some users experience persistent symptoms after stopping finasteride, while others use alternative treatments like topical solutions.
A 20-year-old lost significant hair after one year of treatment, using minoxidil, finasteride, and later dutasteride. They are considering adding RU58841 but are advised to return to finasteride and minoxidil for a year before deciding.
The conversation discusses whether finasteride's reduction of DHT and increase in scalp testosterone contribute to hair follicle miniaturization. Some participants argue testosterone does not cause miniaturization, while others suggest that even with reduced DHT, other androgens like testosterone may still contribute to hair loss.
User shared before and after photos of hair regrowth using Dutasteride 5x a week for 19 months. They experienced significant improvement and thanked others for their support.
The DNA Trichotest is considered unreliable for predicting hair loss treatment responses, and topical spironolactone is questioned for its effectiveness and safety in cis males. Finasteride and Dutasteride are recommended as more reliable treatments for androgenic alopecia.