Testing out minoxidil first

[Felk]

I want to start minoxidil, but am afraid of the sides. I had some chest pain recently. Im almost certain it was the finasteride, however, as i dropped minoxidil for 5 days, there was no change, and after dropping finasteride for two days it went completely. Ive been back on finasteride for a day, and so far nothing yet.

Anyway, since minoxidil can cause a massive shed when you begin it, I dont want to suffer a puffy face/aged skin/more chest pain etc a few months in, only to realise I can't drop the minoxidil because my hair has become minoxidil dependent.

Is there any way I could test out minoxidil, not on my hair, to see if I'd get side effects? But i dont want to grow hair anywhere else like my neck or chest or anything really, but id say applying it to my leg wouldn't give me the same sides as, say, my head.

Would applying it to my donor area be a bad idea? This way i can begin it, and not worry about losing hair perhaps permanently upon ceasing, if I encountered sides.

Help me out lads!

 

[hellohello]

Jeez man, don't stress just use a little bit on the areas you want to regrow hair. IF you do shed hairs, it's a good sign.

Don't go testing it anywhere, it's not going to give you an accurate indication of the absorption where it's needed.

 

[Felk]

No no, you misunderstand me. If I shed, I'd like it cos i know its working, sure.

But what I want to avoid is the side effects - i already have strange heart pain, and I don't want a bloated face, you see.

The difference between minoxidil and finasteride is that finasteride doesnt give you a shed, well it shouldn't, whereas you have to keep using minoxidil even if you get sides, or you can lose hair that you wouldn't normally have lost whilst on it.

minoxidil can shed all hairs, not just ones sensitive to DHT like finasteride.

 

[CCS]

I'm not convinced about minoxidil dependency occuring. But i've heard from people who believe in it that you have to be on it several months.

what part of you chest hurts? nipples? heart? minoxidil has no effects on nipples, and finasteride sides dont predict min sides. if your heart hearts, you should get checked out for pulse rhythem and other indicators of a heart attack. that is something doctors can rule out.

 

[Felk]

I think i'm just going to jump on the minoxidil wagon.

However if it makes me shed, and then a few months in my face puffs up or I get a rapid heart beat, is the best plan to wait until minoxidil restores the hair, then go off it? Or just stop straight away, and hopefully it will go back to normal?

I know the data suggests that even though upon cessation of minoxidil, a large amount of hair is lost, eventually hair counts go back to normal. However, i wonder if this still happens if you quit right after minoxil makes you shed?

 

[mvpsoft]

If you quit minoxidil, the only hair you'll lose that will stay lost is the extra hair that grew because of minoxidil. It's not like your entire head all of a sudden becomes minoxidil-dependent.