Is Propecia only effective for as long as I take it? If I stop Propecia, will it stop working over time?

Question

I have used propecia and minoxidil for the last 5 years with great results..Shedding does happen now and again however it seems fine but I have patchy areas where the hair had already gone before I started the treatment. I am wondering whether it will last forever as if it does then I would be interested in having a hair transplant to fill in the gaps but if it doesn't then I wouldn't as I do not have sufficient donor hair to cover my whole head and would be left with problems in the future.

Sanusi Umar, MD · Answer

Propecia works by blocking one of the alpha-reductase
enzymes responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.

Therefore, this compound is needed on an ongoing basis to
keep the levels of dehydrotestosterone (DHT) at reduced levels . This prevents
hair follicles from miniaturizing and losing their ability to produce new
shafts.

After stopping Propecia, your hair loss will develop to the
point it would have been without taking it in the first place.

Advanced Follicular Unit Extraction with body hair grafts
can offer the ability to attain greater quantities of donor grafts, beyond
those available only on the head.

Specialized
punches are needed to safely remove follicles from the body. And the level of
skill used in inserting the grafts will affect how natural and attractive the
results look.

Bernard P. Nusbaum, MD · Answer

Yes, as other professionals have stated on this thread, use of Propecia (Finasteride) must be continuous, otherwise the results will cease. In our experience, discontinuing the use of Propecia can lead to hair loss within 12 months.

Jeff Donovan, MD, PhD · Answer

The benefits of finasteride as lost within 9 months of stopping the drug. Therefore,  the drug needs to be used continuously to sustain benefit. Benefits are most pronounced in the first few years. The benefits of finasteride start dwindling a bit after 5 years of continued use.

Is Propecia only effective for as long as I take it? If I stop Propecia, will it stop working over time?

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Is Propecia only effective for as long as I take it? If I stop Propecia, will it stop working over time?

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Everything you need to know about Hair Loss Treatment

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