41 y/o here. I started on 1mg finasteride about 16 years ago when I first noticed shedding. It worked incredibly well for me—basically maintained everything I had and even saw a little regrowth on top. Honestly, couldn’t have asked for a better response.
Lately though, I’ve been noticing more temporal recession creeping in. I’m trying to figure out what’s going on and what my next step should be. A few questions I’d love some input on:
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Longevity of fin: After ~16 years, is it possible that the drug’s effect is “wearing off,” or is this just natural progression despite long-term use?
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Quality concerns: Could I have gotten a bad batch/shipment of finasteride? Or is that unlikely?
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Dosing: Would bumping up slightly (e.g., 1.2mg instead of 1mg) make a meaningful difference?
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Switching meds: Should I consider switching to dutasteride, or maybe stacking with oral minoxidil?
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Supplements & lifestyle: Nothing in my diet has changed, but I’ve added magnesium, vitamin B, and ashwagandha. Could any of these interfere with finasteride’s effectiveness?
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Testosterone & lifting: I’ve recently started lifting weights consistently. Could higher testosterone from lifting translate to more DHT, potentially “overpowering” the blocker?
FWIW, the rest of my scalp still looks ok, a little thinning globally—it’s really just the temples that are bothering me now. Would love to hear if anyone’s been in a similar situation or has advice on whether to stick, switch, or stack treatments.
TIA 