According to my doctor it doesn't matter when you take it, however whenever you take should be consistent. I have asked questions about Duta before and found that most people are using Fina.
I can't tell you what's going on, but I can tell you all the meds and tonics are useless if you are under a great deal of stress. My worst shedding phase was also the worst stress I have ever encountered. I'll let someone else comment on the other.
Have you added any kind of drugs to your routine in the last couple of months? What you are experiencing seems very odd. Couldn't it perhaps just be a natural cycle of shedding?
We need some of the vets to chime in here.
Warm climate! For proof just travel to a warm climate and then to the snow, watch how fast your beard grows. Don't laugh! I experience very little growth after a morning shave when I go skiing as opposed tpo surfing in Hawaii.