Should I be scared of starting Lipogaine Intensive Treatment

[Pioneer]

So, for the last couple months, I've tried just about everything "less extreme" to combat what seems to be diffuse thinning. The hairline isn't receding as much as it is narrowing in the front and just thinning all over on the top... Starting to see my scalp under more intense lighting. I've tried just about everything:

Ongoing:

- Saw palmetto (taken daily)
- Biotin (taken daily)
- Nizoral every other day 1%
- Nioxin - Conditioner daily and shampoo every now and then
- Lipogaine shampoo - use on some days when not using nizoral
- American Crew Tricology hair recovery concentrate
- Nutrafol : men's daily pills
- Folligen : concentrate spray at nights along with American crew tricology

In the medicine cabinet I have:
- Lipogaine Intensive Treatment concentrate (read it's a better version of rogaine)
- Propecia

I have had both for months but have refused to give them a go. I took half a propecia pill once and felt a weird bloating in my right pectoral area (maybe it was purely coincidental) and after that I worried.

Since I've been trying everything, I am almost at the point of just saying f*ck it and trying both propecia and lipogaine (rogaine).. but part of me figures I should try just adding the liopgaine first before going all in.

But I'm nervous as I've read of sides on Rogaine. Can anyone make a recommendation as I'm really on the ledge here unsure what to do.

 

[Giiizmo]

You might be disappointed by the results from minoxidil alone but discontinuing the drug is easy. Also, I haven't come across evidence of any long-lasting side effects although some users reported baggy eyes and more wrinkles. If you do get any side effect it's usually because it goes systemic so be sure to not apply it on wet hair or use a lower concentration formula.

On the other hand, finasteride is no sugar pill and there is a risk of side effects. Some users don't get any, others get a few mild ones and others just can't use the medication. The overwhelming majority who discontinue the drug lose the side effects down the line (couple of months up to a couple of years). Ultimately, it's your choice whether you want to take the risk.

If you're really unsure and afraid of starting either minoxidil or finasteride, read more about both treatments and wait a few more months if you have the luxury.

 

[Pioneer]

You might be disappointed by the results from minoxidil alone but discontinuing the drug is easy. Also, I haven't come across evidence of any long-lasting side effects although some users reported baggy eyes and more wrinkles. If you do get any side effect it's usually because it goes systemic so be sure to not apply it on wet hair or use a lower concentration formula.

On the other hand, finasteride is no sugar pill and there is a risk of side effects. Some users don't get any, others get a few mild ones and others just can't use the medication. The overwhelming majority who discontinue the drug lose the side effects down the line (couple of months up to a couple of years). Ultimately, it's your choice whether you want to take the risk.

If you're really unsure and afraid of starting either minoxidil or finasteride, read more about both treatments and wait a few more months if you have the luxury.

Thank you for the comprehensive response. When you say disapoainted with the results of miox alone, is it because Propecia provides such a significant improvement and minoxidil, in comparison, is rather ineffective at creating change?

 

[Goldee Lox]

Thank you for the comprehensive response. When you say disapoainted with the results of miox alone, is it because Propecia provides such a significant improvement and minoxidil, in comparison, is rather ineffective at creating change?

From reading this forum and a few others, most users tend to agree that minoxidil doesn't do anything for the underlying cause of baldness whereas Finasteride does. minoxidil is a growth stimulator, but doesn't block DHT.

 

[Iopu]

I only really get sides from minoxidil when I start overdosing it. Dark circles and heart palpitations. But typically no sides at all if you just go easy on it. If your nervous about sides you should maybe try 1ml per day. You may get no sides at all! I certainly don't at that dose. And if you do get them they'll go away fairly soon after you stop. I've never shedded from using it either.

 

[DoctorHouse]

I only really get sides from minoxidil when I start overdosing it. Dark circles and heart palpitations. But typically no sides at all if you just go easy on it. If your nervous about sides you should maybe try 1ml per day. You may get no sides at all! I certainly don't at that dose. And if you do get them they'll go away fairly soon after you stop. I've never shedded from using it either.

I am using Rogaine foam every other day once at night and I am able to keep the sides to almost none with some regrowth in areas that I lost hairs when I stopped using the foam in the past. So my advice is try it every other day if you once everyday is still causing sides. Minoxidil has a half life of 22 hours.

 

[pegasus2]

Risk vs reward. How important is hair to you? If it's important then it's worth it because minoxidil and propecia are the only things that will help in a meaningful way, with the exception of similar drugs. It's up to you, but I wish I had started sooner instead of worrying about side effects.