Son using hair loss products

[SonHairLoss]

Hi,
I'm a bit worried.
Accidentally opened nearly 19 year old son's package but glad I did.
He has received- from an online pharmacy- shampoo/conditioner minoxidil (I presume- too packaged for me to see properly!!)
But the thing that's worried me most is the pack of tablets in the package- dutasteride/minoxidil/biotin combo.
I know it's for hair loss, I also assume that dutasteride is some sort of diuretic which I don't like the idea of for a physically healthy youth!
I've done a bit of googling and found that dutasteride can lessen DHT (testosterone derivative) production and also found evidence that it can therefore inhibit sex drive- thanks reddit!
I admit I haven't looked into it loads before posting on here- but just wondered if anyone had experience of this.
What worries me is that he's 18, a late bloomer and I really don't think he should be taking something that inhibits any form of testosterone, especially as I don't think he's fully through puberty.
Even if he was fully developed I wouldn't like it!!
When does a "patient" stop taking it?- the thought of him taking it long term is very worrying
There's also stuff about raised cholesterol and general buggering up of basic bloods.
I can't say I've noticed his hair loss but I guess I don't much examine his hairline.
His dad's bald- no getting away from it- I'd say it became more noticeable for him in his mid-30s which isn't so terrible (not to undermine male pattern baldness but I feel it's so early for my son to be worrying and taking stuff which could be so much worse for him).
I guess some aspect of this is prevention and no doubt that's pushed by the drug companies- get 'em in early!
So, I'm worried from a medical damage point of view and I'm also sad that it's something that's on his mind- my poor boy!!
I have read that finasteride is probably less potent than dutasteride but it's still an inhibitor of DHT.
The men in my own family have excellent heads of hair!!- I wonder how that would impact my son's chances of not going bald? problem is you just don't know, I guess, and the drug companies will push not leaving it to chance.
I've posted on AIBU for traffic- hope that's ok.

Lots of people use Finasteride long term. I’d have a chat with him,ask if he’s shedding lots of hair / receding.

Would he talk to you about it or would he just be very embarrassed/upset that you’ve opened his private package?

He’s an adult so any medical decisions are his own but if you think he’d be open to discussing it with you then you could suggest that he speaks to a pharmacist or GP in person (or offer to pay for an appointment with a private doctor who specializes in hair loss if that’s an option financially). At least then he’d be able to make a fully informed decision and have full knowledge of alternative treatment options and potential side effects.
Online pharmacies really vary in how throughly they screen patients (and of course it’s much easier for the patient to just say what the prescriber needs to hear in order to be given the medication). They also require the patient to read and understand all the information they’re given about the drug, the internet is also a Wild West of medical information so if he’s been looking on forums/social media etc then he might have information/recommendations that are inaccurate or don’t apply to his circumstances. Speaking to someone in person would at least allow him to ask questions and for the medical professional to give advice tailored to him.

Thank you both for replying

@Jacobs4 that does make me feel better that finasteride is used long term- possibly it's a little less potent than the dutasteride he's signed up for.

@MumbleJumble123 that's a great idea re private appt. I think he'd be ok to talk with us. He knows I'd never open his package deliberately and we do get on well and talk about some things. Then again, he does keep his cards close so I doubt we know too much about him.
I do wonder if at this point it's prevention- looking at his father's hairline as being his inevitable fate!!- which would make it less embarrassing for him maybe.
agree re seeing someone definitely reputable rather than online.
So will def have a chat and see where that takes us.

He left a bottle of vitamin d in the kitchen recently which was an excessively high dose! he's outside a lot anyway and unlikely to need even the smallest dose. I dissuaded him from taking it. Makes me wonder what else he's taking!

He left a bottle of vitamin d in the kitchen recently which was an excessively high dose! he's outside a lot anyway and unlikely to need even the smallest dose. I dissuaded him from taking it. Makes me wonder what else he's taking!

You’re starting to sound very controlling now. He’s an adult. Unless you’re a qualified medical professional, you need to stop interfering and let him make his own choices.

I disagree @HundredMilesAnHour - if he leaves something lying around that I know he definitely doesn't need- and might do him damage- I'm not going to keep schtum.
A year ago he was officially a child- do you honestly think 18 year olds are suddenly bestowed with experience and wisdom.
Just because you can buy something online doesn't make it ok.
You're very naive.

MYOB! Hes an adult and free to make his own decisions regarding his health, whether you like it or not. You've broke the law opening his package, and im not sure I believe it wasnt intentional. You do sound controlling and way too much in his business. You'll be writing posts in a few years wondering why your adult son doesnt visit you.

People are being very harsh here. You're right, he's only just an adult. If it was my son I'd have s chat with him. I know you said it's from online pharmacy, but Tiktok is a massive source of vitamin pushing. I've fallen for it a few times myself. So I think it's ok to have a conversation about it. Assuming you have a good and open relationship anyway he shouldn't react badly.

My mum would still tell me if she thinks I shouldn't be taking something and I'm 42! 🤣

You don't stop parenting when your child turns 18. Yes he needs privacy, but not without any guidance.

I get where you are coming from, it's very difficult as so many people watch videos on YouTube and tictok about health benefits of so many vitamins etc and they are so drawn in by it that it would be almost impossible to persuade them otherwise,I'm going through a very similar situation with my husband, he has been taking finisteride for years I accepted that but now he also takes a cocktail of vitamins and I know he needs none of them

Most people are deficient in vitamin D, especially Oct - March everyone should be supplementing
4000IU is the max daily dose so provided it wasn’t above that, it’s fine
I take that every day and have done a high dose course before

Accidentally opened? Yeah right 😅

if he’s shedding hair he might have a mineral deficiency which taking hair growth treatment won’t fix and could in fact make his hair loss worse as that is one of the side effects. I think a serous conversation needs to be had about using medication ordered online and advise that he speak with a doctor if he has concerns about his health.

I'm sure finasteride was in the news recently about the increasing number of men becoming depressed whilst taking it and also experiencing sexual problems. I did a quick google search and it's even mentioned on gov.uk website

I've done it. Not everyone is a sneaky bastard.

Christ almighty folks! 18 might be technically an adult but it is still so very very young and his brain won’t fully mature till he’s at least 25!
Have a chat with him OP if you feel you can. That’s probably the best way of supporting him with whatever he is going through.

agree with above post - talk to him - if he shares his concerns maybe he would go to gp to be reassured. My son got into something similar with a subscription service - I rang them up explained and they let us cancel.

Ah thanks for that- understood re winter.

Problem was it he was planning on taking it in the summer even though he spends hours on the basketball court! God bless him.

I don’t think you are controlling at all! You’re being a caring parent. He doesn’t need to start with oral treatment, if he’s starting to recede, he can start with topical treatment.
there are indeed people that get anhedonia and low libido on dht blockers, but truly the amount of people on them is enormous. You have probably noticed that baldness is a thing of the past….this is because of these drugs, and, of course, hair transplants.
he won’t be eligible for a transplant for quite a while. My guess is he did some panicky purchasing after spending too much time on Reddit or something. Your dh can talk to him about his experience of losing his hair, at what age it happened etc. normalise it… like you would if you had a teenager who wanted Invisalign. They are all very image conscious these days.

Just skimming the responses and I can see that I'm right to be concerned.
I'll have a more thorough read, but wanted to thank the helpful posters first.

The posters who were less than helpful seem to have form for unpleasant responses. @HundredMilesAnHour doesn't even have kids but spends a lot of time on here advising parents and I strongly suspect @GreenFields07 doesn't have teens, plus low IQ grammar so 2 reasons not to take her "advice". Oh and @Kateb12 don't judge me by your standards, sweetie- some of us have integrity.

My other half used finasteride for hair loss and it caused him no end of problems that took years to resolve. And while it worked, the second he stopped taking it the hair fell out again. Sadly the side effects lasted much longer

it’s difficult as your son is an adult but he really should research the side effects

Many young men use finasteride as part of diy transgender hormones. My son did

Oh thank you so much, ladies- you've really reassured me I'm not a complete arsehole- I felt quite got at by those other posters- hence not covering myself in glory with my response (but I meant every word!)

Anyway, back to my son.
Thanks for the wealth of info.
Ah! He really needs to not take it yet. He's not fully developed- his voice didn't drop until nearly 16 and he's grown somewhat just over the last month or two- he's not finished with it all yet and that may well apply to all aspects of puberty.
Of course I don't want him to take at any age really.
Very helpful to know that there are documented side effects- not many teens are going to want to risk sexual side effects/ahedonia, are they? @Couldthiswork do you mind telling me what side effects your husband had? does he still have them? sorry I hope that doesn't come off as prying- I really appreciate your telling me his experience and hope he's ok. Interesting that it stops working once discontinued- this was also my worry- lifelong patient.
Agree with sense that kids are bombarded with info on forums- I mentioned the vitamin D thing as an example that he's in this uber healthy mindset. He's semi obsessed with fruit and veg but he does still eat some crap, thank God- not full blown orthorexia yet!
Though of course I don't know if he's bought anything else as contrary to what some may say, I don't actually snoop!!
Son not long back from work so I'll leave it tonight and address tomorrow.
Recently we have had to have candid chats with him about contraception (new gf stayed over a lot) and weed (admitted to having occasionally) so in the scheme of things this latest conversation feels less onerous :)

Thank you for sharing that.
The things our kids are fed on the internet. Is your son ok now- bless him getting caught up in all that.

sorry that last was to @Laganlove

Also agree with posters that us actual adults can easily succumb to the vitamin/supplement market- I know I have.
My mother should give me a dressing down really :)

My vitamin D is very low. The only way to know is from blood work. Unless you've seen his blood work you don't know that he definitely doesn't need it.