propecia, spiro, or dutasteride?

guineapig · 08-09-2003, 07:42 PM

I wanted to know, if anyone was taking or had been taking any of these three drugs for hairloss:

spironolactone?
propecia/finasteride?
dutasteride?

If so, what was your starting & ending dosages and did you see any hair-growing-back results? I am on the verge of self-treatment because I am sick of condescending docs who are clueless to boot.

TTC is out of the picture and being controlled by a nonhormonal IUD for 5 years now.

charliegirl · 08-19-2003, 07:30 PM

I'm on Propecia, I take half a pill each day. Works very well for hairloss, but no miracle drug either I'm afraid. The shedding stopped my first week of taking it and gradually after a few months my hair looked a lot thicker. I was very happy with that! But on the other side, it still isn't the fullest it ever was. But I hear that's hardly possible. Which is why you have to get help for this problem real soon. The sooner you treat the hairloss, the most chance you have that your hair recovers (I read that if you leave it untreated the hair follicles of the hairs that have fallen out, die).
If a doctor doesn't want to prescribe it to you, can't you just go to a pharmacy and say (lie) that you ran out of prescriptions but need this and you can't wait for your appointment becaus that's in three months and your hormones will be out of wack. Say that you will bring the prescription after your appointment. I know it's not very ethical, but I do that sometimes. and then I never go back.
Not sure about dutasteride. I read a lot of positive things (www.hormonehelpny.com), but I asked my endo today and she says it's not on the market yet. It will be in October.

guineapig · 08-23-2003, 08:04 PM

Thanks Charliegirl. I was just going to order it off the internet, whichever drug it was, if my next doctor won't do anything (I doubt it). I have already seen Avodart (dutasteride) online, but I have also read weird things about it affecting receptors in the brain, and personality changes in men. I don't know if it was fact or fiction. But if propecia works I'll probably try it soon--order online or get high-foreheaded DH to go ask for it from a dermatologist (have you noticed docs will prescribe anything men ask for and the insurance always pays too! grr). I'd be satisfied if my hair never got any worse, and if it got slightly better, that'd be even more fantastic. What is your dose of propecia that you break in half? I have seen 1, 3, and 5 mg pills of the active ingredient, finasteride.

charliegirl · 08-28-2003, 11:35 AM

Hi Gineapig,

Letting your husband buying it is a very good idea!!
I use the 5 mg from a brand called MSD. I pay 38 euro (euro almost the same as dollar) a pack. One pack lasts 2 months. Just wanted to let you know that so you know the real price and don't get ripped off buying it online. Although I feel ripped off as well, because for some strange reason our ministery of public health doesn't want to pay it back and I have to pay the full price myself.
I must say that I had a break from Proscar (=Propecia) last month and now I'm shedding again. My scalp itches so I have a feeling this is not going away overnight. I asked my endo and she said just to be patient and take Proscar again. I am doing that for a week now but the shedding hasn't stopped. I have a new appointment next week to talk about the results from the bloodwork I had done a week ago, we'll see what she says. I'll keep you posted on the treatments she suggests.

Love,

Charlie