Question about long term use of both Propecia and minoxidil together?

[DoctorHouse]

I was just wondering about what happens to the efficacy of minoxidil when you are using it with Propecia over about 5 years? If minoxidil is just offsetting the balding process while Propecia is slowing down the process, then won't eventually all your "appearance" of maintaining or slowing down balding really just be due to Propecia after about 5 years (or less)? If the hair counts decline when using minoxidil alone then what happens to hair counts when you use it with Propecia? Of course, we know the hair counts stay above baseline in most cases but is this strictly do to the Propecia? Or does something completely different happen when you combine these drugs together where minoxidil helps increase the hair counts as well? I know the reason most people stay on minoxidil when they commit to it so they don't have to go thru the huge shed if you decide to quit using it after say 2-3 years when it reaches its maximum efficacy. I am curious if that is the only reason or do people actually believe minoxidil is being more helpful than the Propecia or just as helpful? Starting to believe minoxidil is great for someone who can't use Propecia but why bother using it with Propecia if its only going to buy you a few good years of thicker hair and the trade off is you have to stay on it for life just so you won't have to go thru a huge shed? Or is minoxidil just feeding the Propecia saved hair from balding sooner?

- - - Updated - - -

Bryan, can you answer this one please.