Can't do Minoxidil - what else can help?

[BigBrother69]

Hey guys, so here's my status on the Big 3:

1. nizoral: just started using twice a week
2. finasteride: too much risk for me to take (not worth addressing, move along )
3. Min: so I just tried this yesterday and there's no way I can use this. Massive headaches, lightheadedness, and dizziness both times I've applied it (it was 5% Rogaine liquid.) I'm writing this now about 24 hours after my last application and I still feel about 40% of the symptoms. It was BAD. And immediate.

For what it's worth, I'm also using Nexxus Vitatress shampoo and scalp creme- those two are great.

So I need to now figure out what I can/should take to ensure the best results. Min is out of the question, even at a 2% solution. You know how sometimes your body tells you, in no uncertain terms, THIS SHOULD NOT BE HERE? That's how I felt with this stuff- it feels like poison.

So what else should I do? I haven't done any nutritional supplements yet since I didn't want full-body hair thickening/growth, but maybe it's time (Biotin? MSM?)

Any alternatives to Min out there that are showing promise and are known for not having side effects?

These are basically the questions I have- what can I do to ensure as much as thickness as possible given the above constraints, till one day maybe a transplant ?

Thanks all! (Oh, and please, please avoid commentary on why I should in fact take finasteride or Min- consider them off the table for me. Thanks.)

 

[LosingHairIsNotFair]

If you can't use a 5-ard inhibitor then you might be screwed.
Just being honest...

 

[BigBrother69]

If you can't use a 5-ard inhibitor then you might be screwed.
Just being honest...

Thanks (sincerely). Trying to map out the landscape here in its entirety to come up with the best plan.

 

[LosingHairIsNotFair]

You really need to consider taking finasteride. It's the only thing that will maintain your hair long term because the whole cause of male pattern baldness is male hormones.

If you are worried about your hormone levels, go to an endocrinologist and get some blood work done before you start, and then you can monitor it over time with more tests to make sure your estrogen doesn't go too high and that sort of thing.

 

[maxou]

no minoxidil, no finasteride, no dutasteride...

you can try nofap or laser comb :uglylol:

 

[TD500]

^^^^

Don't wanna take a chance on the best option you have and already complaining of sides from one time use of minoxidil. Those are you options.

 

[BigBrother69]

Thanks all. And as regards supplements (Biotin, MSM, and so on and so forth), are there generally more reliable ones than others? I realize they likely pale in comparison to the Big 3's efficacy, but given many seem to use them as well, is there a ranking to them?

 

[zdm632]

Thanks all. And as regards supplements (Biotin, MSM, and so on and so forth), are there generally more reliable ones than others? I realize they likely pale in comparison to the Big 3's efficacy, but given many seem to use them as well, is there a ranking to them?

In my opinion MSM and biotin don't help at all in male pattern baldness, on the contrary they can make the appearance of the hair worse. Just my experience. Reason: most of the time, a man doesn't bald completely, there are hairs here and there which remain to grow tick. And that MSM what will do: it will make those isolated hairs grow like madness, and at the same time will not do much to the miniaturised hairs around, so the general appearance will be more non-uniform.
Also MSM and biotin will make the hair on sides/back, again grow thick like mad, and that doesn't help at all, it makes an even bigger contrast with the thin hair on top. Also MSM+biotin makes body hair grow thicker.

 

[psyhotria]

Alternative to minoxidil is ketoconazole which you already use, abeit pretty much wasting its potential. Ket, in cotrast to minoxidil, works via a different mechanism but the results are comparable - with ket yielding slightly better. To make it work full force you would need: the shampoo and 70vol% alcohol. Mix one-to-one and apply every other day just the way you would apply minoxidil, and leave it on for 1/2 hour, then wash off. Also you can do stuff like RU, neogenic and a million other things.

 

[BigBrother69]

Alternative to minoxidil is ketoconazole which you already use, abeit pretty much wasting its potential. Ket, in cotrast to minoxidil, works via a different mechanism but the results are comparable - with ket yielding slightly better. To make it work full force you would need: the shampoo and 70vol% alcohol. Mix one-to-one and apply every other day just the way you would apply minoxidil, and leave it on for 1/2 hour, then wash off. Also you can do stuff like RU, neogenic and a million other things.

This is quite interesting. In all of my (albeit not yet exhaustive research), I haven't come across this use for ket. I'll definitely be researching more. Do you have any links/how-tos/sticky threads/FAQs about this? Seems really worth looking into!

Thanks

 

[hellouser]

Look into Setipiprant

 

[steveo1218]

Could try women's minoxidil at 2% once a day ?