Can I Predict How Fast I’ll Lose Hair Even If I’m Already Taking Finasteride?

I am 25 (almost 26) and I am starting to notice some hair loss. I have been using generic finasteride…5 mg…and I cut it into 4 pieces to take once a day. I’ve been using it for a couple years now. I also use Rogaine (the foam), though sometimes I forget to put the rogaine on.

I have noticed on this board that you mention finasteride will “eventually stop working” and there is really nothing I can do about it. Is there any way to further slow the growth down? I was thinking of upping my dosage to 2-3 mg a day of finasteride. Will this work? Am I doing myself a disservice by using the generic brand instead of Proscar?

Also, is there any way to predict exactly how much hair I will lose, and how fast?

Thanks!

Finasteride does not stop working, but your hair loss can continue while you are taking it. Some people report a noticeable decline in the benefits they saw from Propecia after the 5 year mark or so, but that just means your body is winning the tug of war over genetic balding. If you stop the medication at that point, you will see even further, faster loss (which is what I refer to as “catch-up” hair loss). Finasteride slows hair loss in men, but does not necessarily stop it. I wouldn’t up the dosage without first consulting your prescribing physician. The higher the dose, the greater the side effect risk.

To my knowledge, there should be no difference between the generic finasteride 5mg pills cut into quarters from the 1mg Propecia pill. It’s the same drug, afterall… just different dosages.

There is no way to predict exactly what your hair loss pattern will be or when you’ll get to it. You can get a good idea by mapping your scalp for miniaturization, and then mapping it again in 6-12 months to see the progression (if any). An educated guess could give you some clues at that point, but it’s not an exact science.