Minoxidil dependence

[Frank]

New to this site. Very informative Learned a lot.

Still a couple of questions maybe you all can help with.
I used minoxidil 2% just once a day for 15 years. Never was aware of any regrowth and had continued diffuse thinning over the years. Went through a prolonged shed, tried 5% and the next few days shed was much worse. Went off minox and within days shedding was much less and stayed that way. I went on a half mg of Propecia (side effects at 1mg) and under bad advice quit Minoxidil after reading once a day was useless and ineffective especially after so many years. Also was informed that minox dependence was unlikely at 2% just once a day. (Doctor) So along with a much less shed I quit, thinking the minox was doing more harm than good.

Any thoughts about once a day 2% being ineffective after so many years? Never noticed regrowth. Started Propecia 5 months ago, quit rogaine about 3. After stopping minox the realized shed has been very low all this time. But after noticing thinning in the front a few weeks ago I restarted the Minox and the shedding is dramatic again.( within a few days of use) Derm saw no contact dermatitis. I'm confused if I'm experiencing catchup loss or shedding from a negative reaction to Rogaine.

I understand Propecia doesn't protect minox dependent hair. just upped to 1 mg a day.

Anyone restarting after stopping minoxidil with any success?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[SpencerKobren]

New to this site. Very informative Learned a lot.

Still a couple of questions maybe you all can help with.
I used minoxidil 2% just once a day for 15 years. Never was aware of any regrowth and had continued diffuse thinning over the years. Went through a prolonged shed, tried 5% and the next few days shed was much worse. Went off minox and within days shedding was much less and stayed that way. I went on a half mg of Propecia (side effects at 1mg) and under bad advice quit Minoxidil after reading once a day was useless and ineffective especially after so many years. Also was informed that minox dependence was unlikely at 2% just once a day. (Doctor) So along with a much less shed I quit, thinking the minox was doing more harm than good.

Any thoughts about once a day 2% being ineffective after so many years? Never noticed regrowth. Started Propecia 5 months ago, quit rogaine about 3. After stopping minox the realized shed has been very low all this time. But after noticing thinning in the front a few weeks ago I restarted the Minox and the shedding is dramatic again.( within a few days of use) Derm saw no contact dermatitis. I'm confused if I'm experiencing catchup loss or shedding from a negative reaction to Rogaine.

I understand Propecia doesn't protect minox dependent hair. just upped to 1 mg a day.

Anyone restarting after stopping minoxidil with any success?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Hi Frank,

From everything that you've described, minoxidil might not be for you. To be candid, I’m not a huge fan of the drug even though it does help some people. You might want to see how you do on Propecia alone for a while.

Do you see results with the .5mg dose?

[Frank]

Thanks for the reply.

My PSA did. Dropped about 40% on that small of a dose. Thought I did around the 5th month (Dec) after a haircut. Though I saw some loss in the front seemed like more coverage from mid scalp back. Didn't need dermatch at all. In fact after I saw that I increased to a full dose. 3 weeks later I started shedding a lot of hair. I'm not aware if doubling your normal dose will cause a shed. If it does the timing was right,
Or it could have been catchup loss from stopping the once a day 2% minox which is what concerns me.