Thinking to Start finasteride. How to? please advise

abhi.r

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I am a Male, Age 31 Year
Current Hairline Status: Somewhere between NW3 and 4A
Ofcourse the reason is Genes. My grandfather was bald, and my dad became bald at a very early age.
I dont have much body hair like my other male friends have. also have less dense facial hair.

I was always afraid of side effects of finasteride, but now as my hairline keep on declining I've decided to take the risk.
Reading this forum helped me a lot and boosted my confidence to try finasteride. On the other hand i am also desperate to save my hair (whatever is left of them).


Currently I use 1ml Rogain 5% + 1ml Mintop Forte 5% twice a day (4ml of 5% minoxidil). But it is not helping.

Once in a week I apply Oliv Oil + Mustard Oil stored in a bottle with Fenugreek Seeds on my hair.

I dont drink very often but I smoke like 2-3 cigg per day
I dont exercise. Want to but im too lazy :p

I have few questions before I start finasteride...

1) Finax (By dr. Reddy Lab)... Is this brand ok? I think this will be easily available in my city.


2) How much finasteride per day should I start with?? 0.5mg or 1mg/Day?


3) What precautions should I take before taking finasteride? (Diet, tests)


4) What precautions should I take during the period of taking finasteride? (blood tests to check liver, gyno, Erectile dysfunction, stress, depression etc...).


5) What diet should I follow? Which vitamin supplements should I take?


6) Should I keep using minoxidil 4ml/Day = (2 morning +2 at night)?


7) How should I keep track of any side effects of finasteride and what should I do if I face any side effects? Should I quit finasteride or continue taking it with reduced dosage?

8) I shampoo my hair everyday. I use Head n Shoulders.
I shampoo everyday because my scalp is more visible when i have oily hair.
Should I add Nizoral 1% (2-3 days a week) to my regime?

9) What kind of Exercise should I do to keep myself and my hairs healthy?

Looking forward for advises. Thanking you all in advance.
 

swingline747

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first go get blood work. I posted today in the side effects portion that since off finasteride due to sides my testosterone has almost doubled and continues to rise. Get your T levels tested and monitor them. If you feel sides coming on and they arent horrible you can try to change the dose or barrell through and see if they go away.
It always a crap shoot. I think if you are healthy, which I am, then you bounce back okay.
 

abhi.r

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From today I will start finasteride.
Today I went to test lab to give blood sample for following tests..
1) T
2) Free T
3) E2

Also wanted to test my DHT and SHBG but those tests were very expensive so skipped it.

How often should I test my T, Free T and E2???

From today I will start following regime
1mg Finax every day (will take the pill before sleeping),
2% Nizoral 2-3 days a week, Rest days of the week I will use Himalaya Protein Shampoo
minoxidil 2ml (1ml Rogain + 1ml Mintop Forte) X 2 = 4ml Everyday**
Biotin every day
Vitamin supplements
Zinc Supplements
Revit-A and Himalaya Anti Wrinkle Cream to counter side effects from minoxidil
Codliver oil capsules every day
Himalaya Amlaki capsules Everyday
Green Tea 1 cup every day
--------------------------------

** Why I use 4ml of minoxidil?
Because previously I was only on minoxidil 2ml every day (mintop Forte)
3 Months ago I switched to Rogain Liquid, stopped Mintop Forte and started Rogain (2ml every day).
But my shedding became worse, so I started Mintop Forte again along with Rogain. My hairfall seems stable since then.

Hope this regime helps my hair.
 

isishearmyplea

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best of luck. btw what how much did the tests cost you? and how much was the DHT test for?

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abhi.r

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Thank you!

I did not do DHT test. it cost about 18000INR (around 300USD) so I skipped it.
SHBG test was for 2200INR (35USD) (skipped this one too)

Rest three test (T, Free T, E2) cost me 1800INR only

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Should I consider including RU in my regime?
If yes, then where can I get RU in India?
 

isishearmyplea

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okay, its pretty expensive. i dunno abt RU in india :/. ppl used to order frm m p b t re atments(.)com. not sure whether its authentic.
 

abhi.r

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Got my test results today..
Test Date: December 2, 2013 (Before Starting finasteride)

Total Testosterone: 4.19 ng/ml (Normal Range: 3.0 ~ 10.0 ng/ml)

Free Testosterone: 22.34 pg/ml (Normal Range: 13.0 pg/ml ~ 40.0p pg/ml)

Estradiol (E2): 36.72 pg/ml (Normal Range: 0.0 ~ 40 mg/ml)

- - - Updated - - -

As per my Blood Tests...
Estradiol (E2): 36.72 pg/ml (Normal Range: 0.0 ~ 40 mg/ml)

My E2 is high, and it will be going even higher in future with finasteride i guess.

My height is 5Feet 8 Inches (172 cm), my weight is 84Kg. So I am Fat.

Does this mean I have higher chances to have Gyno because of finasteride?
If yes then are there any measure to minimize or avoid the side effects?



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Should I take Vitamin D3 to counter high E2?
If yes, then how much??
 

abhi.r

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I went to a dermatologist today.
Told him about my regime. he asked me to immediately stop finasteride, as it may screw my hormones badly.
Also showed me some videos of FUE Transplant he did on his patients, and the results he showed me was great.
Now Im thinking of getting FUE. He said that within 6-8 months my hairline will look good, and i can choose the type of hairline I want.

So after 5 days, I am discontinuing finasteride. Not because of it game me any kind of sides :p. but because of the fear of it.
Will continue minoxidil, Nizoral and other Vitamin supplements.
Now I am looking forward towards Hair Tranplant.
 

rerun

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I went to a dermatologist today.
Told him about my regime. he asked me to immediately stop finasteride, as it may screw my hormones badly.
Also showed me some videos of FUE Transplant he did on his patients, and the results he showed me was great.
Now Im thinking of getting FUE. He said that within 6-8 months my hairline will look good, and i can choose the type of hairline I want.

So after 5 days, I am discontinuing finasteride. Not because of it game me any kind of sides :p. but because of the fear of it.
Will continue minoxidil, Nizoral and other Vitamin supplements.
Now I am looking forward towards Hair Tranplant.

It sounds like the dermatologist wants your money.
 

booghi

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Hi all, Is it ok to leave Propecia pills in room temperature?! or should we keep it in the fridge?!
 

rerun

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Are there any possibility of problems/compications in FUE Transplant?

I have no idea. It just sounds like your dermatologist wants you to choose the option that will give him more money. He makes more money giving you a transplant than simply writing you a prescription for Finasteride.
 

abhi.r

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i can understand. but after reading the horror stories of how finax can mess up. im really afraid
 
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