My story - 35yo after 10 years on & off FIN & MINOX with pics - A topsy turvy tale...

[Lazoid]

Hi all,

So this is my story. Hopefully I can give some people advice, and I myself am open to any advice as there are some excellent contributors to this forum…

10years ago (25 approx years of age) I was thinning around the top of my head and receding bad. I knew it was MPB. My Dad and brothers all pretty much bald in their 30s, both grandfathers are bald. I booked into a consultant at a "hair clinic" and started a procedure in which I found out later to be the "Big 3" with some added laser therapies, saw palmetto and shampoos.

I did this program consistently for around 14-18 months with unbelievable results (extremely thick hair w/ regrowth with the REGIME = 1.25mg FIN & 2x 1ml 7% MINOX apps a day).

After this I decided to "taper off" somewhat and just take the FIN every now and again and keep up the minox once a day (1.5ml). This was quite effective in keeping my hair. I pretty much stopped using fin altogether around 3 years ago whilst continuing to use minox. However, in hindsight this was probably a mistake. I noticed that my hair wasn't as thick and I would still recede in the temples, however, I didn't mind. I figured if I could keep going at this rate until I was 40+ I would be happy.

Fast forward to 2011 where I stopped using Minox (as well as Fin) as I didn't want to take any drugs whilst my wife and I conceived. My hair was just OK at this point, but nothing to complain about… but I had started to read forums and hear about all these horror stories about ED and Brain Fog etc… I was completely shocked!!! I never really had any symptoms (besides mild anxiety, but don't know if it was from FIN) - suffice to say that the forums SHOCKED me out of the treatment.

After successfully conceiving and after a crazy time in my life - hectic work, exams at night school and knowing that I am about to bring a child into this world - approx 4 months of NO TREATMENTS I began noticing ALOT of thinning. So much so that you could see my scalp and I had severe loss of crown - VERY QUICKLY. ARRGGHHH...

I decided to jump back on FIN (1mg) and MINOX (2x 1ml) in October 2011. I had super good results within 6months of being back on - very happy indeed.

Then… it happened again… heaps of work/study and I started to get really paranoid with all the internet rant and wasn't comfortable taking the drugs whilst my wife was heavily pregnant. I STOPPED treatment again. Our bundle of joy was introduced into the world and maintaining my hair wasn't a high priority (plus it looked 'acceptable' anyway).

Well, this brings me to late July this year… after a 4 month exodus my hair was looking 'see through' again. People close to me were commenting on how thin it looked and I have a massive hole in the crown.

I jumped back on the Big 3 five weeks ago (with 1mg FIN & 1x MINOX) only to go through (and still going through) the biggest shed of my life - and CRAZY ITCHING. I have never experienced so much shedding (70-100 hairs on pillow + 70-100 or so in shower).


I am now Praying to the hair gods that my itching and shedding subsides and that I get some overall thickness back. My priority is to keep what i have got and hopefully get some thickness back whilst waiting for advanced treatments to realise.

Today I boosted it from 1x to 2x 1ml applications of MINOX a day, plus including and 1x Hair/Nails Vitamin (w/Biotin) - I am going to stick this through for a good 12 months and see how I go... will report back.

Any questions are welcome. Any advice on the itch and shedding are appreciated.

[Cyberdyne]

Hi Lazoid

Yes, I am exactly like you, i have gone through stages of using the big 3 with success, but once I come off then my hair quality declines very quickly. Most recently I spent 2 months away living in India, and I did not take my Fin or Rogaine regimen. Hair seemed OK, but once I went and got my haircut I was shocked. Hair very thin even under moderate light/sun. My theory is the haircut took off the top layer of 'good hair' and exposed the the hair which was not exposed to the fin/minox.

Back on the meds again, i am just praying I can get my volume back.

[thinkingaboutit]

Guys, I am new to these products. From what I understand from Hair Trasnplant clinics, my hair loss is too advanced for any medical treatments. However, I am interested to find out what these 3 big products (that you talk about) are? What's their common names? Also how much do you spend a month on these products?

[Lazoid]

Cyber.

I think that we can 'skip' MEDI like in the context of meals. Say we are on the program for 12 months then I think that a 2-4 week break wouldn't hurt. However when u talk months I think this can really hurt.

I also believe that it's podsible to maintain with Regular short breaks.


Sorry to hear that u lost your thickness - seems as though u are in a similar boat. I have witnessed my hair thicken again so I pray for us both!!!!

[Cyberdyne]

Guys, I am new to these products. From what I understand from Hair Trasnplant clinics, my hair loss is too advanced for any medical treatments. However, I am interested to find out what these 3 big products (that you talk about) are? What's their common names? Also how much do you spend a month on these products?

Hi mate

Finasteride (Propecia or generic)
Minoxidil (Rogaine or generic)
Ketoconazole Shampoo (Nizoral or generic)

I use generic products (Finpecia + Kirklands Minox) ordered online
Cost is around $25 per month.

[Cyberdyne]

Cyber.

I think that we can 'skip' MEDI like in the context of meals. Say we are on the program for 12 months then I think that a 2-4 week break wouldn't hurt. However when u talk months I think this can really hurt.

I also believe that it's podsible to maintain with Regular short breaks.


Sorry to hear that u lost your thickness - seems as though u are in a similar boat. I have witnessed my hair thicken again so I pray for us both!!!!

thanks mate, yes keep us informed with your progress.

[Lazoid]

Thinking about it - can u post some pics??

The big 3 are:
Finistride (proscar or procepia) = 1 to 1.25mg per day to slow/stop hair loss
Minoxidil (rogain or regain) = 1ml either 1 or 2 x a day on scalp
Nizrol shampoo = either 1% or 2% 1-2 times per week

These 3 are the most common method for fighting further loss or trying to get some growths / thickness back.

[Lazoid]

Guys, I am new to these products. From what I understand from Hair Trasnplant clinics, my hair loss is too advanced for any medical treatments. However, I am interested to find out what these 3 big products (that you talk about) are? What's their common names? Also how much do you spend a month on these products?

thanks mate, yes keep us informed with your progress.

And same with u - How long ago did u jump back on?

Also - don't forget that with regular sheds on the meds our hair can look like %^#}

[Cyberdyne]

And same with u - How long ago did u jump back on?

Also - don't forget that with regular sheds on the meds our hair can look like %^#}

yeah, tell me about it. only been back on 2 weeks. i reckon my hair looks worse than 2 weeks ago. my experience is that you do need to go backwards a little to go forwards. i am avoiding people like the plague at the moment. ugh. i went to the gym last night and left early. saw myself in the mirror and lost all motivation to lift

[Lazoid]

Haha u sound exactly like me right now. I was at the gym this morning thinking the same.

However u do need to take one step back to take two steps fwd. keep up the regime strictly - there is no other way!!!

Trouble for me is I have this MASSIVE itch primarily in the crown - don't know if it's the minox or mpb - ive never had it b4

[tommy079]

So what do you suggest?

After reading your experience I'm unsure what you'd suggest. I am completely new to the thought of trying any of the big three. I'm a little nervous at the thought of sexual side effects so I really think I'd like to do a big 2 to start.

This is what I think I've learned so far just from reading around:

1) The foam is more user friendly than basic menoxidil.
2) Generics are every bit as good as name brands like Rogaine.
3) 5% is the highest FDA approved legal dosage and there's no real proof that 15% is all that great anyway.
4) Using the shampoo helps in some way, but I still don't know how or why, but apparently you only need to use it once or twice a week.
5) A limited number of people have crappy side effects, especially the sexual ones, from the active fen-something ingredient in propecia (even in generics).
6) Very few experience lasting sexual side effects so just trying it doesn't always hurt because 80% of people who use it don't have them.
7) In a Consumer Reports Health study of more than 8,000 men Propecia's Fen ingredient was the most effective in that 27% of men saw hair regrowth.
8) Some people spend a ton of money on all this stuff and see little results as as result of ...I dunno...genetics or individual differences in body chemistry???

Please anyone feel free to alter the above list or pat me on the back for getting some/most/all of it right.

So I think I'm sold on trying generic Rogaine and the shampoo. On Amazon Kirkland seems to be pretty cheap and also comes in a foam. Can you get away with just the foam or do you need the liquid stuff too? I saw someone recommend a good generic shampoo but can't remember the name. Feel free to reply with recomendations for your favorite generic shampoo...even menoxidil, even propecia.


I'm still up in the air on the Fen...stuff. It seems risky. I think I can get away with trying the Menoxidil and see what results I get. Then after a year or so throw in the Fen if I think I can get better results and see how it messes with my body.

Any thoughts???

[Lazoid]

Tommy, I pre-wrote this but it may apply to you:

My advice… to all those starting out with not too much balding… I wish I had have done this:
1/2 pill of FIN for 1 year see how this goes for you. If hairloss is still apparent then go with the MINOX apps.

I feel the initial hair clinic really gave me the wrong treatment for my age and hair (I feel that 1.25mg FIN and 2x 7% MINOX per day immediately was excessive). Commencing the big 3 should only be when you are thinning quite noticeably. Building up the FIN slowly should save you with plenty of arsenal to tackle more aggressive MPB later.

Whilst I understand that a small minority get sides, please don't worry too much about the side effects - if you worry then you will suffer - getting paranoid thinking that the meds are doing something which they are not (this happened to me consequently stopping the program).

My doc (a great one) said "don't believe everything you read on forums" - understand that there are wayyy to many scare mongers out there. Although I really do sympathise with people that have had sides. I myself feel that my forehead is more wrinked cause of minox (but I do get alot of sun).

I have received mainly High Distinctions and Distinctions during a post-grad Masters Degree (brain fog?) and conceived a beautiful child the first time we tried (never had a problem with ED over the 10 years, my libido may have dropped off a little, but I'm now nearly 36, not 25 anymore).

I must say - I live a clean lifestyle these days as well - heaps of exercise - I enjoy 1-3 wines most nights over dinner (salads, fish, red meat once a week) but I don't get too smashed.

[Night]

You should probably do foam in the morning and liquid at night. Foam only will have to depend on your hair loss...

Then, a number of years later they came out with men’s foam which has no propylene glycol in it. The problem with the foam is that, even though it is aesthetically a little bit nicer, it doesn’t really allow the medicine to penetrate quite as well into the scalp. Also, the foam is very hard to get on the scalp, especially if you have a lot of hair. It seems like the foam gets caught up in the hair, where with the liquid, you can separate the hair and get the liquid directly on the scalp.

http://www.bernsteinmedical.com/hair-transplant-video/which-is-better-rogaine-foam-or-liquid/

[Lazoid]

THANKS Night.

I understand about the propylene glycol problems people have... but its unusual that I havent had the itch before (with reg minox) and all of a sudden i have this reaction (which could be either Fin, Minox or further hair loss)

I have heard that implementing the foam can cause another shed tho? and I feel I maybe nearing the end of this current MASSIVE shed I am experiencing now... I cant afford to have another one!

[VictimOfDHT]

yeah, tell me about it. only been back on 2 weeks. i reckon my hair looks worse than 2 weeks ago. my experience is that you do need to go backwards a little to go forwards. i am avoiding people like the plague at the moment. ugh. i went to the gym last night and left early. saw myself in the mirror and lost all motivation to lift

I know how that feels. I feel 1000 times worse. You lose motivation to lift. I lose motivation to stand on my feet let alone lift weights.