Treatment compliance is the key to success when you’ve decided to take medication to treat a health condition and dutasteride is no exception to this rule. According to the CDC, medication non-compliance is responsible for 30-50% of cases of treatment failure in chronic diseases (Kim et al, 2018).
Hair loss treatment may not seem like a chronic health issue, but if you’ve started hair loss medication then chances are, it’s a significant issue for you. We know that genetic hair loss can is a chronic condition and can have detrimental effects on mental health and well-being and this is why it’s so important to make the most of your treatment. The positive effects of taking the right medication(s) for your hair loss might take some time to reveal themselves, but it’s important to stick to your treatment plan while you wait.
Dr. Han, a board-certified dermatologist and Medical Director at XYON gives her insight on why it’s so important to be consistent with your medication and answers the most pressing questions about your dutasteride treatment.
Minimize your risk of side effects with XYON's topical dutasteride gel.
Experience the hair growth benefits of dutasteride, without all the side effects.
Why am I not seeing results since starting dutasteride?
Treating hair loss doesn’t happen overnight. Waiting for results does take patience, but the key thing is that you’re doing something about your hair loss. As Dr. Han reminds us, pattern balding is progressive so if left untreated, it’s only going to get worse. If you’ve recently started taking dutasteride and haven’t noticed a difference in your hair, don’t panic. It’s likely having an impact beyond the surface.
As a quick refresher, dutasteride works by blocking the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which helps to prevent the process of hair follicle shrinkage. This means that you might not see the effects of dutasteride for some time, but it may still have an impact on the hair follicle.
It’s also important to remember that treatment success is not solely measured by visible hair growth. That’s why Dr. Han takes the time to explain the following to her patients that:
Successful hair loss treatment can be measured in two ways:
- A reduction and/or halting of hair loss
- Actual regrowth of hair
Both are considered a good response to dutasteride and indicate that the treatment is working.
This is a good reminder to stick with your dutasteride treatment for at least 6 months before assessing whether it’s working. In some cases, this can take longer but remember: visible hair regrowth isn’t the only positive sign to look out for.
Should I stop taking dutasteride if my hair is shedding more?
An initial increase in hair shedding when first starting any hair loss medication is perfectly normal and it’s not necessarily a sign to stop taking the medication. The shedding is due to changes in the hair growth cycle and it’s actually an indication that your hair follicles are entering a new stage of growth. Dr. Han explains further:
Shedding in the first few months of hair loss medication happens because telogen (resting) hairs are shed, to make room for new anagen (actively growing) hairs.
The good news is that this shedding is temporary and it should resolve within 3-6 months of taking dutasteride. If you notice your hair is still actively shedding after several months on dutasteride, it’s recommended that you talk to your doctor about whether you need to discontinue treatment or consider other potential treatment options.
It can be discouraging to experience shedding when taking medication for hair loss, but Dr. Han encourages her patients to stick with their treatment through those first few months, if they can tolerate it. If you’re concerned about shedding, you should reach out to your prescribing doctor, which can be done directly through your XYON account.
To learn more about shedding with hair loss medications, head to our pages on finasteride and minoxidil shedding.
What should I do if I miss a dose of dutasteride?
Dutasteride should be consistently taken every day, but we understand that it's not always easy to remember. Setting a reminder on your phone or incorporating it into your daily routine (for example, applying it at the same time each morning) can be a great method for helping you to remember. Applying topical dutasteride can become as routine as brushing your teeth.
However, on the odd occasion that you do forget, make sure that you don’t double your dose the following day. You should simply continue to use your medication as usual as soon as you remember.
Do I have to take dutasteride every day?
Hair loss treatment is a slow process, so it can be hard for some people to continue taking medication when you don’t initially see the benefits from it. Dr. Han explains:
Hair regrowth is one of the slowest processes I council my patients on, but the key to successfully slowing hair loss and potentially regrowing hair is consistency.
When you are prescribed dutasteride, your doctor has chosen the dose and dosing frequency that they believe will give you the best chance at hair growth and balances the possible risks and benefits. But unfortunately, side effects may be an issue for some people. If this is the case, it’s important to consult with your doctor before altering your dose of dutasteride as doing so by yourself may end up worsening side effects or making your treatment ineffective. Hair loss is complex and multifactorial, so relying on experts to guide you through this journey is going to be your best bet for successful treatment.
The bottomline on treatment adherence with dutasteride
If you want to give your hair the best chance of growth, you should try your best to be consistent with your dutasteride medication. While it can be tempting to stop medication when you experience shedding, view it as sign that your follicles are making room for new hair growth. Remember that your medication will only work for as long as you’re taking it, so if you stop before you see any visible results, you may be reversing any progress that has happened beneath the surface.
At XYON, we have taken the time to design our topical dutasteride with patients' concerns at the forefront. For this reason, our dutasteride compounded in SiloxysSystem Gel™ has been designed to deliver medication in a safe and controlled manner which could minimize the risk of side effects, whilst still delivering results.
References:
Kim, J., Combs, K., Downs, J., Tillman, F. (2018). Medication adherence: The elephant in the room. US Pharmacist, 43(1), 30-34. https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/medication-adherence-the-elephant-in-the-room#:~:text=Nonadherence%20can%20account%20for%20up,chronic%20medications%20is%20around%2050%25.
