Q: I am not yet ready for a hair transplant but am considering Propecia. What is your opinion on the “optimal dose”? I know Merck recommends 1 mg, but could I get away with taking less? Or would I get a better result by taking more (2-3 mgs)?
A: You may get away with 0.5 mg a day. However, there are published data by Roberts et. Al. in the JAAD in 1999 showing a dose-response between 0.2 and 1 mg/day, with the lower dose showing reduced efficacy, from controlled clinical trials.
There is little evidence that a higher dose helps, but I often double the dose if a patient has been on 1mg a day for 3-5 years and then stops responding. The hope is that this can postpone the need for surgical hair restoration, but there is no scientific data to support that it will.
Topic: Drugs (Medications)Tags: Finasteride / Hair Loss Medication / Hair Loss Medication Dosage / Merck / Propecia / Propecia Dosage / Pulse Therapy for Hair Loss
Posted by Robert M. Bernstein M.D. at 12:59 pm
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