Minoxidil over Propecia

[sruhel]

Hi,

I've been thinning for about 2 years now and recently (last 6 months) have suffered a huge shed, norwood 2 at the moment but very likely to become a norwood 3 in the next few months.

I don't want to take Propecia as I plan to start a family in the next year or so. So I've seriously been thinking of starting Minoxidil, I'd just like some advice on how effective it might be in maintaining my current hair, as I understand it is a relatively short term solution and what it means for the hairs to be addicted to Minoxidil - if I stopped taking it would my hair line return to what it might have been if I had never taken it or would I lose all hairs that have come into contact/been helped by the solution.

Really appreciate your help and advice... never realised how depressing this could be.

 

[BodyDysmorphic]

it can be very depressing indeed.............

minoxidil isn't as effective when used alone

alot of people use and suggest the Big 3

i wouldn't be worried about the POSSIBLE side effects of finasteride fewer than 2% of men get them

you wont know until you try

as far as your question minoxidil is a life long commitment

the hair you grow/maintain with minoxidil become dependent to the use of that product

some say that the adjacent hair that also gets exposed to minoxidil will become dependent as well

i agree if you were to stop using it after years of use alot of your hair will shed and you will quickly return to baseline but probably worse because you dont know the amount of hair you were able to maintain with minoxidil

hope this helps ....but if i were you (and wanted to keep my hair) i would go on finasteride

 

[sruhel]

Thank a lot for you advice.

Propecia isn't an option as I have been advised that it can possibly cause deformities in developing babies... not something I'm willing to risk.

Are there many people who only take Minoxidil and achieve good results? Will it work for as long as I use it?
I only ask as I think the majority of the people on the forum go for the 'big 3'.

Is there anyone on the forum who's documented their hairloss while weaning themselves off of Minoxidil?

Thanks again.

 

[casperz]

Are there many people who only take Minoxidil and achieve good results?

About 10 years ago I tried minoxidil for about 6 months and had
very little regrowth and I stopped. The little regrowth I did get
was gone in a few months.

 

[tgates209]

It will likely thicken up what you have. Not like when you were young, but it will improve what's there. If you do start using minoxidil you will likely shed and feel even worse, which is such fun. But it will come back and then thicken up. Again, you probably won't look in the mirror and have Brad Pitt's hairline, but over time you'll see in pics (like with my own situation) that, hey, my hair looks better. Then again, you may get Brad Pitt's hair and if you do don't tell me because I'll be jealous...

 

[AssignmentZero]

I agree with that ^ guy. I don't think there is any evidence that propecia = birth defects.

If you don't like the mess of putting on minoxidil everyday then finasteride is the best place to start.

You can always start with a low dosage and work your way up to 1mg. I take finasteride at night so I don't even have time to think about sides before I fall asleep.