I Need a Second Opinion About My Propecia Dosing

I reached out to you awhile ago for Propecia advice, and just had a few more questions. Thank you for taking the time to help me.

I tried using Propecia several years ago for 3 months. I was taking the 5mg pill and quartering it, effectively taking approximately 1.25mg per day. I quit at the three month mark because I felt it was causing definite side effects. I am not so sure they were legitimate or psychological.

I decided to try it again in 2011, but started with smaller dosages. I cut the 5mg pill into eighths, and took .625mg on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I tried to put all worries to the back of my head, and work through what I believed to be mental side effects. I feel like I am getting through this, and if I am experiencing side effects that they are indeed in my head. The last two weeks I have done my best to cut the 5mg pill into 1mg pieces, and have taken approximately 1mg on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

My question to you is what dosage should I be working up to? I know that the kosher dosage is 1mg a day, but many people have stated that they find this to be unnecessary. When I went to Dr. Hasson in Vancouver for a consultation he gave me a prescription for Propecia, and it was prescribed that I should be taking 1.25mg on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. If you wouldn’t mind, I’d appreciate a second opinion. Would it be better to take 1.25mg on MWF, or perhaps 1mg every other day or even .5mg everyday?

Lastly, plenty of hair is still falling out in the shower. I can’t say I have seen any benefits thus far, but I have only be taking .625 to 1mg MWF for a little less than 4 months now. I know they say it takes a full year to determine whether or not it is working. Do you believe that the lower dosage is significantly preventing results in halting the hairloss?

Thank you so much for your time,

The standard dose of finasteride is 1mg/day for treating hair loss. Less than that or alternating daily doses will give you some type of result, but I can not tell you what dose you should take or how to work up to it. You need a relationship with a good doctor, not one over the internet. I can’t give you a second opinion, as I’m not your doctor.

You should have bulk measurements to see where you are in the hair loss process and where you are going over time. Anything less that that is second class medicine, something I do not offer my patients.