Fin users - How did you get past your fear?

[Proper]

I use to be able to see my scalp even when my hair was long. It was terrible. If it was a windy day, I'd be scared to go outside. I use to be able to look in the mirror while tilting my chin down and see right through to my crown very clearly. With my hair buzzed, it looked even worst cause it was noticeable that the sides were thicker than the top cause the top had less density.

If you check my profile, there is a pic where I dyed my hair red. If I took a pic like that at the time when my head was diffusing, you'd clearly see the diffusal even under bad lighting. I never took any pics of myself during that time cause I just hated the way I looked. I even quit a job cause of my hair because of public transportation. I don't really take progress pics either. Those pics I posted were just random pics taken of me and pics I took of myself for a facebook picture or something lol.

Anyways, when I started fin, I started on 1mg daily, no taper or anything and have been taking the same dosage ever since. I do miss doses a couple times a month cause of travelling or waiting last minute for refills but I assume its safe since nothing happened to me like shedding or what not. Other than that, I think very Im consistent with dosages.

[BigThinker]

To be honest I didn't research the drug that much before I took it. Was recommended to me by friend I lift with who takes it. That was two years ago. Didn't know about sides until I looked at my first hairloss forum a year ago. None of my friends who take it have sides. The majority of people who rail against finasteride on this site have never taken it, which is odd.

Like whoever posted above: 5% chance of sides (even if it was higher I'd still give it a shot) vs 100% chance of going bald. Easy decision in my opinion.

This is the only thing people considering fin should be told.

[Breaking Bald]

I've been tempted to take fin for so long but still cannot bring myself to do it.

[BigThinker]

I've been tempted to take fin for so long but still cannot bring myself to do it.

Early in my hair loss it seemed so irrational to jeopardize your libido in any capacity for the sake of hair.

Changed my mind pretty quickly at like NW2.

[user1991]

Honestly, if you're one of those people who think about the side effects too much, just don't do it. When your on it, your going to find every possible side effect (big or small) to blame on propecia and just feel like crap. Not trying to bring you down in any way, it's just not worth the torment. On a side note, I just started generic finasteride 2 weeks ago and have had no sides or sheds or anything I just take it at noon everyday and go on with my life I encourage you to do your best to get past the idea of the side effects. If you really care about your hair and just feel like crap cause your not doing anything, you have the medicine to help it right in front of you. Life is tough man, but becoming is bald is nothing compared to a life threatening disease like cancer or other things. I now have a titanium rod inside my leg, where my bone was ha. Not trying to guilt trip u or make u feel bad, just live life man, or better yet Just do it. (Nike)

[Shan]

i thought the decreased libido would be a positive actually

[Jcm800]

How are you progressing Shan, any sides? Hair improving?

[Shan]

hair has improved drastically, and libido is still the same

[Jcm800]

hair has improved drastically, and libido is still the same

Nice one, what dosage are you on?

[Shan]

Standard 1 pill a day

[Jcm800]

Standard 1 pill a day

Ok, is that generic or branded, how long have you been on it now?

[Shan]

Finpecia and this August will be a year

[clockrepellent]

I think its pretty simple...try out the med at a low dose (0.25 mg), every other day and see how you feel after about a month and go from there. You'll need to take the med for a few months before you notice any difference in hair loss from the studies. If you have side effects you can't tolerate, just stop and know you gave it a shot. Th

[PatientlyWaiting]

No fear to begin with.

[Superstar]

User, those are some excellent points & you're right about everything that you said. I'm glad that I made this thread, because it's really pushed me into the direction of taking it. As you said, once you get the side effects into your head, you're going to blame every ache & pain on the fin & that's basically losing the battle before you even begin to fight, and that's where I'm trying to get to. How have you done on it?

Clock, yeah I actually had planned on starting with .25 and starting off 1 a week, then go to two the 2nd week, then 3, and just stick with doing .25, 3 times a week. Are you on it, if so, how's it working for you?

If something does come out, like if Follica progresses, or RepliCel ends up being the cure, are you guys whose taking it going to stay on Fin forever, or stop it and switch to the new thing?

The lifetime commitment, and it possibly making my current hair worse is my only 2 hangups still. Although, hearing some good things finally about Fin in this thread is helping me deal with those fears everyday.