My Dermatologist Prescribed Me 2.5mg Finasteride for Preventive Measures
Dear doctor,
I am a male of 22 years old. I am experiencing very slight recession of my hairline at this moment almost invisible for the human eye. I also have some shedding which freaks me out a lot(not an understatement) because I always have got extremely thick hair and never noticed any shedding. My dermatologist prescribed me minoxidil and the second appointment because I was still worried gave me a prescription for Finasteride 2.5 mg. She said I could take it ‘preventive.’ Is this true? My pharmacist forgot to write the dose on the box so I have been taking 5 mg for one month. Is this dangerous; should I start taking the right dose now(i.e. 2.5 mg or just keep on with the 5 mg.
Thanks a lot in advance
What you are doing (taking 5mg finasteride daily) is not dangerous, but it is not the right dose. For the treatment of androgenic alopecia, the correct dose of finasteride is 1mg a day.
In your case, there is nothing you are telling me that you were even diagnosed with androgenic alopecia! You should not be taking any drug for preventive measures. Perhaps you need to find another doctor and a pharmacist.
To be fair though, it sounds like the person did go to the dermatologist for a receding hairline. It was only after the second appointment when he was still worried that finasteride was prescribed. There may have been confusion about the intended dose, and the Doctor intended the patient to take a quarter of a tablet. If the Doctor thought the hair was really receding she may have thought that it is better to act now, given that it is easier to keep the hair you’ve got, than trying to grow new hair !