Minoxidil: Unsure Whether To Use It...

[Lebal1984]

I'm 36 and been losing hair for 10+ years. Norwood 3 vertex, heading towards a N4 with diffuse thinning within what is there.

The hair loss progression seems slow compared to others who started at similar points. However, I am wondering whether I have left any intervention too late.

I am going on Dutasteride (1.5mg for a month, 1mg for a month).
Then 5 days 1mg Finasteride, 2 days Dutas a week.

In a year will review progress and a hair transplant then.

Minoxidil I am unsure about using...expensive, side effects and general faff.

If I wait a year to see how I respond, however, am I just wasting this time in not using it...?

 

[ScaredOfBalding]

Only 1/3 ppl respond to minoxidil and most don't regrow alot of hair with it. It has synergistic effects tho with finasteride but if i were you i would use finasteride for a year first if ur hair loss is atleast stable and or improved u can still decide to use minoxidil first or just go for a hair transplant.

 

[DoctorHouse]

I'm 36 and been losing hair for 10+ years. Norwood 3 vertex, heading towards a N4 with diffuse thinning within what is there.

The hair loss progression seems slow compared to others who started at similar points. However, I am wondering whether I have left any intervention too late.

I am going on Dutasteride (1.5mg for a month, 1mg for a month).
Then 5 days 1mg Finasteride, 2 days Dutas a week.

In a year will review progress and a hair transplant then.

Minoxidil I am unsure about using...expensive, side effects and general faff.

If I wait a year to see how I respond, however, am I just wasting this time in not using it...?

I would use oral dutasteride and topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil if I were in your shoes. I think taking dutasteride and finasteride orally at the same time is overkill so at least one of them is being used topically instead so you have local(topical)l and systemic drugs treating your hair loss.

 

[ScaredOfBalding]

Using topical finasteride when ur using oral dutasteride doesn't make much sense to me tbh. Dutasteride already inhibs way more DHT than finasteride will inhib, even topically. U'd be better using RU or CB topically. Why do u think it's good Dr. House?

 

[DoctorHouse]

Using topical finasteride when ur using oral dutasteride doesn't make much sense to me tbh. Dutasteride already inhibs way more DHT than finasteride will inhib, even topically. U'd be better using RU or CB topically. Why do u think it's good Dr. House?

I agree with you. I think using both is overkill. But if he feels so inclined to believe you have to use both at the same time then I would do it the way I said. I think just using Dutasteride 3 times per week along with minoxidil is enough for his situation. If he was a lower Norwood, I would just recommend finasteride first. I used both and I did not see any significant difference. I got more sides with dutasteride and every time I took it I had a bad stomach cramp. It was legit from a legit pharmacy. That was a sign enough that my body does not want dutasteride in it. I would use it topically to see how I do.

 

[Lebal1984]

I would use oral dutasteride and topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil if I were in your shoes. I think taking dutasteride and finasteride orally at the same time is overkill so at least one of them is being used topically instead so you have local(topical)l and systemic drugs treating your hair loss.

"topical finasteride mixed with minoxidil"...and where do I purchase this magic potion Mr Wizard...? I've not seen that anywhere...

 

[Lebal1984]

I agree with you. I think using both is overkill. But if he feels so inclined to believe you have to use both at the same time then I would do it the way I said. I think just using Dutasteride 3 times per week along with minoxidil is enough for his situation. If he was a lower Norwood, I would just recommend finasteride first. I used both and I did not see any significant difference. I got more sides with dutasteride and every time I took it I had a bad stomach cramp. It was legit from a legit pharmacy. That was a sign enough that my body does not want dutasteride in it. I would use it topically to see how I do.

Three times per week and nothing on the other days? Just to be clear...I'm new here.

Is minoxidil once a day worth something over nothing? I am concerned about the costs tbh.

 

[Lebal1984]

Like others have said, there's no point using finasteride and dutasteride together. Just use .5mg dutasteride daily. Minoxidil is definitely worth a shot. If you're a responder it will help you add a lot of regrowth. 40% of people are responders. When you look at studies that mention hair count increases for minoxidil keep in mind that most of the subjects are getting an increase of zero, so the 40% that it works for are actually getting much more than the average hair count increase that you see in the top line numbers. It is hugely effective if you have enough of the sulfotransferase enzyme. Why not try it to see if you respond? It's dirt cheap if buy the generic version which is the exact same thing as Rogaine.

Some seem to differ on the notion of using both though. That the half life of Dutas means you even out a blood serum level of it and benefit from the finasteride the rest of the time. I know its not an official protocol, but nor is just using Dutas everyday either tbh. Generic finasteride is very affordable, generic dutas per day adds up...