My minoxidil experience (subtitle: Xandrox really worked...)

[buckaroo]

I started minoxidil about seven years ago. I got amazing results from Rogaine 5% once a day. Then the results started to go away.

Then I got good results from Rogaine 5% twice a day. I was 31 and college girls were mistaking me for an undergrad. The results went away again.

Then I tried the foam. Hated it. Then Spectral DNC. Not so great for me. Then Perfect Image Solutions 15%. Not much better.

And then I tried Xandrox.... and it actually worked! My hair was thicker. It looked and felt better. It wasn't perfect but I was happier than before (and happier than I am now). But of course the [EDIT]ing FDA shut it down.

Now like many, I'm losing ground noticeably while looking for a replacement. It's been over a year since they shut down Dr. Lee, right? I've tried a few things, most of which were also shut down. Also tried Nanominox MS. It's AWESOME to apply, but didn't work for me otherwise.

Now I just received an order from MOPC. Has anyone used this recently and care to share their results with me?

The thing is with testing new products, you just don't know if it's a healthy shed or just further loss.

So in the end, this is just another thread about what to do after Xandrox? Make my own? Test MOPC? Another M.D.-oriented boutique solution? Something else? Please help me out with suggestions!!!!!!! I'm not looking forward to a five/ six month experiment that doesn't work.

Let me know what you think. Your advice is greatly appreciated

 

[Xandroxuser]

On another forum, a thread asked for post-Xandrox reports. When I last looked at it, very few posters had responded. One reported never making up the ground; one reported just about hanging on.
I hope other Xandrox fans respond to this thread.

 

[WarLord]

I wonder, why 15% minoxidil from Perfect Image Solutions didn't work, but 15% Xandrox did. It doesn't make much sense. Judging from the reviews on Amazon.com, Perfect Image Solutions produce a good stuff.

Maybe it worked better, because Xandrox also included finasteride. In any case, the simplest thing that you can do at this moment is to combine minoxidil with finasteride. MinoxidilMax sells 5-15% minoxidil, but as far as I know, they don't sell it to USA. There is also a product called LOT OF 6. But they don't sell to USA either.
http://www.amazon.com/Medical-Minoxidil ... B005FC1I3Q

I use their 15% minoxidil as a "percentage enhancer" LOL I mix it with 5% Kirkland to achieve a higher minoxidil concentration. The 15% minoxidil is too strong for me. It was the only minoxidil concentration on which I regrew some thick hair, but it caused a big shock to my hair follicles and I experienced a very unpleasant telogen effluvium.

If you can't get to 15% minoxidil, I think that the best option for you is to order minoxidil powder from abroad (China). Alibaba.com offers a big choice in this regard, and the suppliers here are usually reliable (although you should be careful in any case):
http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?Sea ... t_en&fsb=y

Not a long time ago, I contacted some of the suppliers and the price for 200 grams was 200 USD (which is not bad). There is also a recipe for higher minoxidil concentrations:
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6946120.html

If all producers of 15% minoxidil are busted, this is a good way, where to go.

 

[buckaroo]

Thanks for the replies! Warlord, I know it doesn't make much sense that one would work better than the other, but that was def my experience (shared, I think, by Xandroxuser and a lot of other people). Dr. Lee said that his was superior because of the care with which it was compounded. But if that's true, then somebody should do that again!!

Maybe that person will have to be me. Speaking of which.... Warlord, thanks for the link! I don't know how excited I am about making my own concoction, but maybe it is the best way to go.

Right now, I'm using MOPC. Shipped from Thailand. Anyone else out there who's using it, pls respond!

Also, I was using Xandrox, which does NOT have finasteride, unlike Xandrox Plus, I think it was called, which does.... or did

I am still apprehensive of finasteride, even as a topical. That's how you use it, Warlord?

 

[WarLord]

Thanks for the replies! Warlord, I know it doesn't make much sense that one would work better than the other, but that was def my experience (shared, I think, by Xandroxuser and a lot of other people). Dr. Lee said that his was superior because of the care with which it was compounded. But if that's true, then somebody should do that again!!

Maybe that person will have to be me. Speaking of which.... Warlord, thanks for the link! I don't know how excited I am about making my own concoction, but maybe it is the best way to go.

Right now, I'm using MOPC. Shipped from Thailand. Anyone else out there who's using it, pls respond!

Also, I was using Xandrox, which does NOT have finasteride, unlike Xandrox Plus, I think it was called, which does.... or did

I am still apprehensive of finasteride, even as a topical. That's how you use it, Warlord?

I don't use finasteride, but I think it would be interesting to use it topically, dissolved in minoxidil. It works. One guy reported that nothing could help him, except a topical dutasteride solution.

I would use finasteride orally or topically (on the whole head) only if minoxidil stopped working - which hasn't happened even after 15 years (since 1997). I am still fine, Norwood 2.5, but the last year was somewhat hectic for me. In January 2011 I decided to regrow my temples back and I bought Xandrox 15%. Well, it worked, it has been for the first time I regrew some thick hairs on minoxidil, albeit not too many. After 5 months I had to stop the treatment, because I experienced an incessant heavy shedding. Then I applied EssenGen15% every other day for the next 7,5 months, till February 2012, but it didn't produce anything remarkable and my hairy areas in temples were not fully recovering. It was curious, because I repeatedly saw some new little hairs springing out of the skin, but the density didn't increase. I suspect that the hair cycle "got crazy" due to minoxidil overdose. Now I use 15% minoxidil only on bald areas, and I am a bit nervous, as for the general state of my hair, because it is still unstable. Hopefully this is only a reaction to the lowering of the minoxidil dosage, because my bald areas now contain the highest number of thick and vellus hairs since 1997. I ascribe it mainly to dermarolling that I started to practice several months ago, but I don't think that it would produce wonders. Therefore, I intend to make a minoxidil/finasteride mix. This would be one of the very last chances to regrow my temples back.

I am curious that dr. Lee's products would be so superior, because he made his cocktails out of ethanol (enables only 1.9% minoxidil concentration) and glycerol (4.7%) , which are poor solutants of minoxidil. The key role obviously played additional compounds like the phosphoric acid. Propylenglycol is far better (8.7%) , and in benzylalcohol you can achieve 12.5% concentration.

 

[buckaroo]

Hey Warlord, thanks for the thoughtful reply! Then would you recommend the dermaroller overall? I haven't added it yet, but was considering it.

When are you starting on finasteride? Let me know how it goes. I'm still hesitant about finasteride even as a topical. :/

I really don't know why Xandrox worked better than others. Hopefully MOPC will work as well...... We shall see. And let me know about your dermaroller experience when you get a chance.

 

[WarLord]

Hey Warlord, thanks for the thoughtful reply! Then would you recommend the dermaroller overall? I haven't added it yet, but was considering it.

When are you starting on finasteride? Let me know how it goes. I'm still hesitant about finasteride even as a topical. :/

I really don't know why Xandrox worked better than others. Hopefully MOPC will work as well...... We shall see. And let me know about your dermaroller experience when you get a chance.

I only want to use topical finasteride mixed in minoxidil in my temples. I don't know when. I want to order some finasteride from China.

 

[resu]

No it's not the same at all, just using the same name.

 

[Christie]

Thanks. Sir, The product Re-Stim from HLCC looks very interesting. Does anyone know if it is legit?

 

[Christie]

Not sure if everyone is aware that someone has tested the new "xandrox". The minoxidil concentration is far less than what it claimed. The color is not right either. I just wish the old Xandrox were still available so I don't need to worry if the product I order is real or fake.

 

[AussieM]

Thanks. Sir, The product Re-Stim from HLCC looks very interesting. Does anyone know if it is legit?

My dermatologist had me start Restim a few months ago on my hairline and I'm starting to notice a bit of regrowth. I went through a very noticable shed so hopefully it bounces back better. I haven't been able to find too many reviews on Restim and am going to add Rogaine foam to the morning as that ofcourse has great reviews.

 

[armyknife]

I know where you are coming from, I am stuck on that same bandwagon

 

[warner8]

restim is just 5% minoxidil plus saw palmetto.....nothing revolutionary there

My dermatologist had me start Restim a few months ago on my hairline and I'm starting to notice a bit of regrowth. I went through a very noticable shed so hopefully it bounces back better. I haven't been able to find too many reviews on Restim and am going to add Rogaine foam to the morning as that ofcourse has great reviews.

 

[AussieM]

Restim is way too expensive, I am thinking of changing to a 5% minoxidil with azelaic acid in it. Any recommendations? Perfect hair solutions minoxidil?