Hi there, new user-

[Angyle]

Hello all,

I was going to post this in the "Tell your story" spot but I really do not have a story to tell yet other than I just found out I have male pattern baldness.

So, I am a 25 year old, very active male and I have recently noticed crazy amounts of shedding. I am sure it started before but we all have heard the story so I will stop there. I have no history of any medical disabilities or diseases. I play foot ball (soccer), avid break dancer, la cross and getting into basket ball. In summary, I am extremely healthy. Went to two of the best physicians I could find in my area and had a thorough examination to see if there was any underlying issues that could cause the hair loss. Negative on all that. My hair loss is in the very, very early stages, I can see a little bit of my scalp in the back and I can tell the thickness is not as thick as the sides and back of my head, which was different a year ago. Mind you, I have really really curly-coarse hair. (typical football player hair)

Went to my dermatologist and he prescribed me 1mg Propecia. I've noticed a lot of younger guys like myself have been on regiments of Propecia and some have had side effects and others have not. I am trying weigh the pro's and con's here because the internet (devil's playground) is making Propecia sound like you have a 90% chance of having side effects that could possibly be permanent, instead of it being the other way around. That alone right there is enough to give a person a anxiety disorder, let alone the anxiety and depression that comes along with losing hair (which I am starting to experience). I would like to catch it before it gets a lot worse, and yes it does run in my family. Half of my cousins are thin and the other half are not- 50/50 chance.

Hopefully I posted this in the right spot and thank you for your time!

 

[Bob Chylan]

i think you have been misinformed, you are much more likely NOT (Merck claims 98% of people do not get sides) to have sides and even less likely to have sides that are permanent

 

[maximiliandreams]

i think you have been misinformed, you are much more likely NOT (Merck claims 98% of people do not get sides) to have sides and even less likely to have sides that are permanent

:agree:

 

[Angyle]

Thank you for the response!

Yes I was misinformed. Thank you for the correction. Although, it still does not overlook the fact that many on here have had effects from Propecia as well as the success rate. I am still on the fence in taking it or not. That risk of permanent effects really throws me off.

Bottom line is I guess I will never know unless I try... yikes.

 

[Bob Chylan]

I understand where you are coming from. I have been on it for about a month and a half, and was on the fence myself. I would recommend against looking at the side effects forum unless you genuinely think you are having side effects, because you will freak yourself out and start to think you are experiencing things you aren't. The disclaimer at the top of that forum pretty much say that these effects are not typical, but people that have these problems tend to seek out boards like that to discuss them. However, that does not mean they are normal. (and some peoples problems may not even be caused by the drug)

 

[Nex]

I think the amount of people that get sides is much higher than the 2% number that Merck gives. I think it is more like 10-20%. That being said, out of that subset that gets sides you have low odds of them being permanent.