How
come some people take less than the standard 1 mg
dosage of finasteride?
A:
Early dose ranging hair loss studies showed that much
smaller dosages, such as 0.5 mg and even less, inhibited
DHT
on average almost as well as much higher dosages, such
as 5 mg. One 6-month study comparing a placebo group,
which lost hair, to users taking differing dosages
of finasteride found that 0.2 mg of finasteride increased
hair counts about 81% as much as 1 mg when compared
to the placebo. Similarly, 1 mg increased hair counts
82% as much as a full 5 mg compared to placebo. The
tiny 0.2 mg dosage did about 66% as well at regrowth
and retention as 5 mg. Accordingly, the 1 mg dosage
was probably a compromise designed to be high enough
to pick up those who may not respond as well to the
lower dosages, but low enough to minimize side effects.
Many of those who take less than 1 mg opt for either
0.5 mg or 0.625 mg (1/8th of a Proscar tablet). Some
people also skip days periodically based on the fact
that finasteride suppresses DHT for up to several days
and also on the old pharmacological rationale that
it may help preclude any possible tendencies toward
tolerance, which sometimes happens with continuous
long-term use of medications. |
