November 28 2007, 12:33 pm PT | Posted in: Drugs
Dear Dr. Rassman,I started using Proscar (5 Mg. divided into 2, 1 part daily) about 3 years ago. 6 months ago I added the use of Minoxidil just once daily (every morning), opposed to the recommended 2x daily, since it is only to aid the Proscar. Am I doing the right thing?
Best
The recommended dose of finasteride is 1mg for treating hair loss, sold under the brand name Propecia. Taking 5mg or 3mg or 2mg will not grow more hair, but will produce more negative side effects. Changing doses from 5mg or 2.5mg to 1mg will not likely affect hair growth. Merck’s research has shown that 1mg is as good as a higher dose, so if you are taking a higher dose and then bring it down to the normal 1mg does, there should be no negative effect.
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I have also been on 2.5mg of Finasteride for three years (after 2 years at 1mg a day) and added Rogaine Foam once a day to that when it was released and it has provided much more growth.
2.5mg simply works better for some people than lower doses, especially those who balding starts younger and/or is more aggressive.
I am a doctor from Bangladesh. I had been using Finasteride 2.5 mg daily since 1999 and my hairfall has segnificantly reduced or may even have stopped ( I am a Norwood class 3a patient and I began to loose my hair at the age of 16 ). I did not try Minoxidil at first, but now for the last 3 months i have started to use 5% Minoxidil in addition to Finasteride 2.5 mg and I have already experienced a mild increase in the density of hair on the vertex
Dr. Rashid