Mon 29 Sep 2008
Taking Propecia for Hair Loss Every Other Day?
Category: Non Surgical Treatments , Propecia (Finasteride)This insightful hair loss information was posted on our hair restoration forum by Dr. Jerry Cooley of Charlotte, NC who is a member of the Coalition of Independent Hair Restoration Physicians.
Propecia is approved by the US FDA for once a day use for hair loss. This does not mean it is the best dosage, only the one that was studied and approved. The average serum “half-life” of finasteride 1mg is about 5 hours in young men and 8 hours in older men. This does not mean that half of the medicine is out of your body in that time period though. The finasteride molecule is distributed throughout the body where it binds to the type II 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, thereby inhibiting conversion of testosterone to dihydrotesterone (DHT). Serum DHT is reduced about 65%, and less DHT means less balding. But several studies show that a single dose of finasteride suppresses serum DHT for 7 days or more (Eur J Drug Metab Pharmacokinet. 1991 Jan-Mar;16(1):15-21, J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1990 Apr;70(4):1136-41, Prostate. 1989;14(1):45-53). So the finasteride is leaving the bloodstream, entering the tissue throughout the body, and binding to the type II 5AR (5-alpha-reductase) enzyme, resulting in long lasting DHT suppression.
I do not “recommend” my patients take finasteride daily, every other day, twice weekly, etc. Rather I feel it is my duty as their doctor to advise them of the known facts about this medication. Most of my hair loss patients choose to take it on a Mon-Wed-Fri schedule, which is rational from my point of view. Many of my younger patients take it daily ‘just to be sure’ while my older patients are happy to take it two or three times a week. There are no clinical studies showing that less than daily dosing is as effective to treat baldness as daily dosing and for obvious financial reasons, the pharmaceutical company making finasteride has no incentive to fund such a study.
I hope this information is helpful. It is up to each patient to make an informed decision about which dosage is right for them.
Dr. Jerry Cooley
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Bill
Associate Publisher of the Hair Transplant Network and the Hair Loss Learning Center
View my Hair Loss Weblog
Technorati Tags: hair loss, Propecia, finasteride, dihydrotesterone, DHT, balding, treat baldness
- What Dose and Frequency of Propecia is Necessary for Optimal Results?
- Why Propecia Might Be Effective When Taken Every Other Day
- Finasteride Causing Dry Skin – Will Taking Propecia Less Frequently Stop Hair Loss?
- Will Hair Loss Continue if I Stop Taking Propecia?
- Avodart (Dutasteride) Dosing Charts
June 21st, 2010 at 2:05 pm
Hello, thanks for the informative article!
I’m wondering if reducing the dosage to a Mon-Wed-Fri schedule removes all side effects? The only way to know is to speak to Dr. Cooley and ask him what his patients are saying?
Sincerely,
Tim
June 22nd, 2010 at 12:34 pm
Tim,
Lowering the dosage of finasteride doesn’t necessarily guarantee you won’t experience any side effects from Propecia. But I imagine at the very least, they may be reduced. You may want to contact Dr. Jerry Cooley directly for his professional input.
Best wishes,
Bill Seemiller
Managing Publisher of this Community
July 6th, 2010 at 6:05 am
Is it true that usage of 1 mg finasteride has irreversible side-effects? If yes, does this medicine have any replacement, except for minioxil.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:03 pm
Arjun,
From what I’ve gathered, the side effects (sexual or not) from finasteride/Propecia should subside once you stop taking the medication and the compound is flushed from your system. Although there are alternative medications (like minoxidil), nothing else, to my knowledge, is going to work like finasteride (stopping the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone – the chemical that causes hair loss)without actually containing finasteride.
Hope this helps!
Blake (Future_HT_Doc)