Scarpro said:
Aplunk: Well, don't we save our hair so we can look better and get the more beautiful girl? Well, if our sexlife/libido is crippled, then what's the point? I was on finasteride almost 7 months, and the entire time I lost a sh?tload of hair. 7 months later (after starting the treatment), I was A LOT worse of then when I started. It also took several months to get back my sexdrive. The sides did abate after a few months of use, but still I was nowhere near my pre-finasteride state.
Those 2% are what Merc says. It's a well known fact that often sideeffects occur more often then what the documentation tells you.
DHT is a hormone connected to sexual function, so when people say they use dutasteride and have no sides, that sounds very impressive... Obviously the hormone balance will differ from body to body.
What about Arcon Tisane which also has studies that claims the same successrate as Propecia, and I've yet to read about a single person who tried that and had success with the product.
I also tried external dht products like Nisim shampo and conditioner (ala minoxidil), which also had no effect. (It had money back garantuee, so I didn't loose any money trying it).
I would love to have my hair back, or keep what I have...but seriously, my sexlife is possibly the one thing I find more important than having great hair.
Anyway, if there's anyone here who actually have great success with finasteride, then that's great. I just don't think it's the miracle cure that some people here believe it is.
We all have different reasons for wanting hair. The healthiest reason to want hair, in my opinion, is to raise our self-esteems.
Using finasteride treatment for less than 7 months provides little or no indication that it's working for you, in terms of your hair. Your hair cycles were likely adjusting before you quit.
In terms of having a lower libido, that, too, goes away throughout treatment. There are a number of supplements that you can take if you REALLY need to help your libido-- ie, L-Arginine.
Scarpro said:
It's a well known fact that sideeffects occur more often then what the documentation tells you.
No it's not.
Many of the side effects that people incur are likely from a placebo effect.
None of the "external dht products" that you listed are proven to treat male-pattern baldness. Minoxidil has a great success rate. You should use it twice daily.
Check out the Success Stories Forum. There are numerous successes with finasteride. Although it might not be the miracle cure that some believe it is, it is the best, proven treatment that we have.
Finasteride works. Side effects vanish over time, if you are unfortunate enough to get them. Try exercising more and eating better. I'm sure you'll feel better.
Minoxidil works, working synergistically with Propecia. Highly recommended.
Nizoral works, with numerous benefits.
The Big 3 will not harm your hair.
Finasteride will not make your "hair worse off than what it was." You obviously didn't continue Propecia long enough to make a true decision.
Don't use scare tactics and ruin people's options with finasteride by providing your "hopeless" story.