Hi everyone, I’m 20 and have been losing hair for quite some time. I’ve used minoxidil (Rogaine) for 2 years, I take some vitamins, and I added microneedling a few months ago. Despite all that, I’m still losing hair and I’m looking for more potent solutions.
From what I’ve researched:
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Finasteride (1 mg) – orally inhibits type II 5α-reductase, reducing DHT by approximately 65–70%, FDA/EMA-approved for hair loss; well-studied and commonly used.
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Propecia – the brand-name version of finasteride 1 mg, specifically for male pattern baldness.
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Finpecia – generic equivalent of Propecia; same active ingredient, usually cheaper.
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Proscar – finasteride 5 mg, intended for benign prostatic hyperplasia, not hair loss—splitting tablets to get 1 mg is common but not ideal.
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Avodart (dutasteride) – inhibits all three isoenzymes of 5α-reductase and can reduce DHT levels by up to approximately 98%, making it significantly more potent than finasteride. Multiple studies show better hair regrowth and reversal of miniaturization compared with finasteride, with similar side-effect profiles. That said, it’s not FDA-approved for hair loss (though allowed in some countries) and, as this is my first time considering it, I’m hesitant to jump straight to it.
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Fincar – generic finasteride 5 mg, occasionally used off-label for hair loss.
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Rogaine (minoxidil) – topical vasodilator that increases blood flow to follicles; requires consistent use (2–4 months to start seeing results, 12–18 months for peak effect) and must be continued to maintain gains.
Strength & Relevance (for hair loss):
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Dutasteride (Avodart) – most potent, but off-label and more caution advised.
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Finasteride / Propecia / Finpecia (1 mg) – targeted, approved, reliable.
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Rogaine (minoxidil) – helpful but less powerful as monotherapy.
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Proscar / Fincar (5 mg tablets) – intended for BPH; not ideal for hair dosing.
My questions to you all:
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Have you tried finasteride, Propecia, or Finpecia? Which one worked best for you?
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Has anyone moved from finasteride to dutasteride? Was the extra potency worth the concerns?
I’m in Italy and looking for a trustworthy online supplier that ships here and may or may not require a prescription. So far, I’ve found these sites:
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farmaciadelcentro.com – offers Finpecia without a prescription, worldwide shipping in 5–14 days, with discreet packaging.
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click2pharmacy .co.uk – doesn’t ship to Italy.
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genuinedrugs123 .com – very low prices, but there’s about a 20% chance the package gets stopped by customs and destroyed without refund.
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pharma-true .com – lists finasteride products; no further info yet.
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24hreup.biz – another Reddit-recommended site; claims to ship Proscar from Turkey “invisibly”.
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hairrepairclinic .co.uk – sells finasteride, but shipping may include extra costs or complications.
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mobidoctor.eu – telemedicine provider potentially suitable for obtaining a prescription.
Has anyone used any of these? Were they reliable? Did your order arrive safely, and did products work as expected?
Right now, I’m leaning toward farmaciadelcentro .com for convenience and discreet shipping, but I’m unsure—so I really want insight both about which treatment is best and which sources are trustworthy.
Thanks in advance—your input means a lot!