I'm a rookie looking to start Propecia and need some guidance...

[falle]

I'm 21 with a receding hairline, I'm already a Norwood 2, possibly on my way to a Norwood 3. It's difficult to tell, because I have had a high hairline for a very long time, as long as I could remember. Even as an infant. I remember 4 or 5 years ago, someone telling me that I would be "bald" by 20. I am not. I can still cover it up decently. Also, for some reason I have strange coloring all over my body (black facial hair, blonde arm hair, etc.) and the hair around my hairline is blonde like when I was a child which worsens it. I know these can be vellus hairs but they always have been blonde, everywhere else is darkish brown mixed with blonde strands. I have read that 96% of caucasian men advance to at least NW2. And they do. Look around. I don't know how much it has progressed (or regressed) in recent years, if in fact it has. I look at pictures of my dad in college, and he seems to have had the same/similar pattern. He still has roughly half of his hair on top of his head. Also note I have no thinning whatsoever.

I want to start taking propecia, but am worried about sides of course. I want to know a few things:
1. Does propecia maintain your current hair, or improve it? Could it even lower my hairline? What if there was never even any hair there to begin with?
2. Do side effects stay long term after stopping propecia?
3. Does the brand matter?
4. I recall reading something about it actually worsening your current hair when you start it. Is this true?
5. If propecia really worked, why wouldn't all bald men, all MEN, start taking it? Especially celebrities
6. Any suggestions?

 

[Ptrt]

I want to start taking propecia, but am worried about sides of course. I want to know a few things:
1. Does propecia maintain your current hair, or improve it? Could it even lower my hairline? What if there was never even any hair there to begin with?
2. Do side effects stay long term after stopping propecia?
3. Does the brand matter?
4. I recall reading something about it actually worsening your current hair when you start it. Is this true?
5. If propecia really worked, why wouldn't all bald men, all MEN, start taking it? Especially celebrities
6. Any suggestions?

1. Mostly maintains. A combo with minoxidil will work best for regrowth.
2. Most people don't experience the side effects after stopping them, however, there have been claims of permanent side effects. Take those stories with a grain of salt.
3. No. Generic finasteride is like $6 bucks for me.
4. Some say it gets worse before it gets better. I really can't recall how it worked for me.
5. A lot of people just don't care?
6. Order minoxidil online. I use eBay and get Kirkland's brand.

 

[GoldenMane]

Some men don't care, but most aren't even aware that propecia exists. Most men are told that thare's nothing they can do and to just accept ind shave their heads. A quick google search will show many uninformed articles about hair loss treatment from writers who have done ver little research, particularly writers for mens health magazines/sites, or anything written by a woman.

 

[I.D WALKER]

It is strange how not only the writer's, but their editors and publicists are still in the dark about hair loss in general. I guess apathy or indifference has more to do with it than ignorance, but at the end of the day I suppose they're one and the same.

 

[falle]

1. Mostly maintains. A combo with minoxidil will work best for regrowth.
2. Most people don't experience the side effects after stopping them, however, there have been claims of permanent side effects. Take those stories with a grain of salt.
3. No. Generic finasteride is like $6 bucks for me.
4. Some say it gets worse before it gets better. I really can't recall how it worked for me.
5. A lot of people just don't care?
6. Order minoxidil online. I use eBay and get Kirkland's brand.

so has your hair regrown itself? what sides have you experienced?

also - how can a substance so cheap and available without prescription be so potentially dangerous for health? it's as available as vitamins

what else is minoxidil used to treat?

 

[Notcoolanymore]

Propecia results vary from person to person. Some just maintain what they have, some will continue to lose, some will have regrowth. I have had some regrowth. Nothing spectacular, but is has made a difference. The only thing I will say about sides is that I don't have any that I know of. I have heard that there is a difference between name brand Propecia and generic finasteride. If you have the cash, then go with propecia. I use generic and it has worked for me.

 

[Ptrt]

so has your hair regrown itself? what sides have you experienced?

also - how can a substance so cheap and available without prescription be so potentially dangerous for health? it's as available as vitamins

what else is minoxidil used to treat?

When I first went to the doctor about my hair loss, I had a near-bald patch on the top of my head. I started propecia (then switched to generic finasteride). It was very successful in slowing my rate of loss at 1.25mg every other day. I've always shed a ton of hair on a daily basis, and am a little thin in the back, but nothing that notable. The bald patch I did have is long gone.

I have always used minoxidil on and off due to my schedule, and often forgetting. It's only been recently that I started using it daily. So, I would say finasteride did a good job of helping with regrowth when I wasn't using minoxidil very often.

I honestly can't say if I've had any side effects. I've been on it for over 2 years and truthfully haven't paid much attention.

As far as minoxidil -- where are you hearing that it's dangerous? It's a relatively safe, and well proven topical drug. The only annoyance that I get from it is an itchy scalp after applying, which subsides.

 

[zzzzz]

1. Half of people will experience some degree of regrowth, another 40% will maintain, and 10% will lose their hair but slower. finasteride will not regrow hair in areas where the hair is already totally gone
2. No
3. No, as long as the stuff is real
4. Finasteride may or may not cause an initial shed but this is only temporary loss
5. Some people don't care/ are paranoid about the scare stories/unaware
6. Any suggestions? Take 1mg or 1.25mg daily If regrowth is what you desire use minoxidil in combo with finasteride.

 

[falle]

When I first went to the doctor about my hair loss, I had a near-bald patch on the top of my head. I started propecia (then switched to generic finasteride). It was very successful in slowing my rate of loss at 1.25mg every other day. I've always shed a ton of hair on a daily basis, and am a little thin in the back, but nothing that notable. The bald patch I did have is long gone.

I have always used minoxidil on and off due to my schedule, and often forgetting. It's only been recently that I started using it daily. So, I would say finasteride did a good job of helping with regrowth when I wasn't using minoxidil very often.

I honestly can't say if I've had any side effects. I've been on it for over 2 years and truthfully haven't paid much attention.

As far as minoxidil -- where are you hearing that it's dangerous? It's a relatively safe, and well proven topical drug. The only annoyance that I get from it is an itchy scalp after applying, which subsides.

wait, so you guys are just taking it casually like it's nothing?

I thought minoxidil was finasteride?

can you still get a boner? any changes in mood, skin quality?

You're taking it orally, right???

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which is the dangerous one, minoxidil or finasteride? so i could theoretically keep every folicle until my 60s?

why do people get hair transplants if this works?


so many questions . . . i don't want to lower my testosterone or shrink my balls.

 

[Ptrt]

Minoxidil is a topical agent applied to the scalp. It was originally used for lowering blood pressure, and was found to help with hair growth. Very few side effects are noted with it.

Finasteride blocks an enzyme that causes hair loss. Everyone is different with side effects and you won't know unless you try. This drug is taken orally.

People get hair transplants for many different reasons. Some are past the point where drugs can help them. And realistically, a hair transplant is the best long term solution, because long term drug therapy may or may not work.

 

[zzzzz]

there is no dangerous one they are all safe

 

[asdf1234]

1. Mostly maintains. A combo with minoxidil will work best for regrowth.
2. Most people don't experience the side effects after stopping them, however, there have been claims of permanent side effects. Take those stories with a grain of salt.
3. No. Generic finasteride is like $6 bucks for me.
4. Some say it gets worse before it gets better. I really can't recall how it worked for me.
5. A lot of people just don't care?
6. Order minoxidil online. I use eBay and get Kirkland's brand.

salt raises blood pressure



anyway people experiencing dick problems probably are older. as a young male pattern baldness sufferer (fricken sucks) im willing to bet the odds for us are lower. also people losing their hair tend to have low self esteem and depression which effects sex drive. that being said dont go above regular dose.