Ashley and Martin 7% Minoxidil with 0.01 ra- Want to change

[Wolforius]

For the past few years I've been using a 7% Minoxidil with 0.01 retonoic acid from Ashley and Martin.

It's not that I'm unhappy with the solution, I am actually very pleased as it has worked well over the years. However, it is also quite expensive to go through Ashley and Martin, so I'd prefer to skip the middle man and all their fees.

Thing is, I'm a bit worried about changing the solution that I'm using considering this stuff has actually worked. The last thing I want is to lose what I've gained, even if it does cost me.



I decided to get a Doctor to write a prescription for minoxidil and get a compounding pharmacist to make a 7% minoxidil and 0.01 solution for me and I've been taking it for a week now, but I'm a bit concerned for a couple of reasons.

First, it's a different colour. It's clear, whereas the stuff I was getting from A&M had a yellow tinge. This suggests to me that maybe there's something else in the solution from A&M that I haven't included in the stuff I got compounded.

Second, at the bottom of the bottle, there are little crystallized bits forming. They weren't there at first, but maybe something's not dissolving properly, I dunno. I mean.. what's up with that?!



So, I'm here because I would like advice on what I should do? I definitely want to be using at least a 7% minoxidil and 0.01 re solution, as I've received good gains from it. But I'm not sure whether there are better products out there than getting it compounded myself?

P.S- I'm still using the shampoo, conditioner and Presol from them as I have that left over. Once again, I don't want to change it up if I'm going to lose results, but anyone have any recommendations for a better/equal alternative?? Presol is apparantly supposed to do something similar to nizoral. Its ingredients are- Sulphonated Ricinoleic acid, filtered water, yeast extract and Vitamin B extract.


Thank you for your time and reply

 

[wesleyBelgium]

well the high amount of minoxidil could be the cause of the crystalization...
somethimes putting little more ppg or glycerin into it would halt this more...
you can order online some retin-a pilles, and calculate how mutch you need to add to your minoxidil, the pills would disolve...

i add 500mg msm to my bottles of 60ml minoxidil
its still a low dose msm, 1000mg would be good also...

 

[Bryan]

So, I'm here because I would like advice on what I should do? I definitely want to be using at least a 7% minoxidil and 0.01 re solution, as I've received good gains from it.

Just use ordinary 5% Rogaine. I'm sure it's a LOT cheaper than the brand you've been using, and once you apply it to your scalp, it will turn into a 7%+ solution. If you also want to use Retin-A, apply it separately.

 

[JWM]

and once you apply it to your scalp, it will turn into a 7%+ solution.

Can you elaborate on that one, Bryan?

Wolf,

My advice would be to get Dr. Lee's minoxidil w/ retin-a. Good quality and not expensive. The retin-a concentration is 0.025, however, you could always take 1 ml of standard minoxidil and mix it with 1 ml of minoxidil w/ retin-a. This would give you a 2ml dose (obviously slightly larger) but with a diluted concentration of retin-a closer to 0.01.

Can you elaborate on the type of results you've had and what your loss pattern is like? How often were you using the formula?

 

[rcom440]

Just use a little bit more then 1ml. of 5% minoxidil. It will be approximately the same as 7%.
Save the money that way.

 

[Bryan]

and once you apply it to your scalp, it will turn into a 7%+ solution.

Can you elaborate on that one, Bryan?

I've talked about that a number of times over the years. When you apply ordinary Rogaine of either type (2% or 5%) to your scalp, the volatile components of the vehicle (alcohol and water) evaporate rather quickly, leaving behind a saturated solution of minoxidil in propylene glycol. I've seen some rather conflicting information about the maximum solubility of minoxidil in propylene glycol; the Merck Index says it's about 7.5%, while I've seen some Upjohn scientists claim in a study that it's about 10%. Either way, it maxes-out to 7% or more.

 

[blaze]

Ashley and Martin...LMAO.

They have taken paying the middle man to a whole new level. Pack of leeches.

***BTW how much are those dirtbags charging you for their minoxidil/retin-a combo topical?

You can get finasteride and minoxidil with retin-a for quite cheap.

**The "yellow stuff" is retin-a. When dissolved it has a yellow color. I have various retin-a in topical solutions and they are all yellow. I have also had retin-a gel and it was yellow too. Retin-a powder is yellowish.

Seriously, order from dr lee. He sells 5% minoxidil with Retin-a 0.025%.

Very affordable and a good price. The extra 2% of minoxidil is insignificant. The extra 2% of minoxidil you think your missing out on doesnt matter. The only reason why A&M do that is because you cant buy it over the counter. 5% is only sold over the counter and they know that. They wont you to beleive that 7% is only what is working for you, so they try and bind you to them. There are no studies confirming anything higher than 5% is beneficial. After 5% the effects werent any better in spite of the higher dosage.

 

[rcom440]

Ashley and Martin...LMAO.
There are no studies confirming anything higher than 5% is beneficial. After 5% the effects werent any better in spite of the higher dosage.

I totally agree with you. The higher % of minoxidil doesn't mean better results!!