Long-term minoxidil users?

[Devan]

I'm trying to decide if I should stop using minoxidil. I started using it over 10 years ago after my first baby. Since then, I have had three more kids. Every time I became pregnant, I stopped use and restarted after having the baby. This fourth time around, I do not feel like it is working. It's been 3 years and I would say my scalp doesn't look bald, but the hairs seem to grow around 4 inches and stop. These hairs have been that length for over a year, yet my hair does grow. I'm still shedding way too much. Anyone have advice?

[Tomane]

Any sides libido wise?
Any sides at all ? Minoxidil only?

I'm on minoxidil only, and once a day as I said before. I've been using it for very long, maybe even for more than 12 years as I can't remember when I started. Therefore I'm not sure if there are any side effects. If there were any I suspect my body is now used to it.

The only times I had sexual problems was during periods of depression totally unrelated to minoxidil.

It's been one month now, and I've been doing 2 days on and 1 day off. In a few weeks I'll reduce it down to every other day. Haven't noticed any abnormal hair loss so far.

[wellshii]

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/470297_5

[wellshii]

A lot of the sides seem with users also using Propecia(the dht blocker)
Any one using minoxidil only? No shamppos,no meds,
etc?

[wellshii]

I'm 32 and starting using minoxidil at 20, so that makes 12 years using 5% minoxidil, but only once a day in the evening.

My hair has been receding slowly, but it's at a point where either I cut it very short or do an implant. I've decided to go short and start progressively going off minoxidil over the course of a few months.

I'll report here if I lose my hair quicker after ending it.

Any sides libido wise?
Any sides at all ? Minoxidil only?

[Kashman]

It is an effective weapon , no cure for sure but an effective weapon . Much better option than Propecia , I quit it 7 months ago and none of the side effects has subsided for me . So I d take Minoxidil over Propecia anyday .

[Tomane]

I'm 32 and starting using minoxidil at 20, so that makes 12 years using 5% minoxidil, but only once a day in the evening.

My hair has been receding slowly, but it's at a point where either I cut it very short or do an implant. I've decided to go short and start progressively going off minoxidil over the course of a few months.

I'll report here if I lose my hair quicker after ending it.

[burtandernie]

Finasteride is only effective for the short term anyway - it might buy you an extra 3 - 5 years at best, that's **** all use to someone who's thinning at 21.

I agree you really need fin to fight this battle today or you wont win at all. I also see the other side of the coin why a lot of men dont want to use it. Believe me I am in that camp that unless you have a major health issue you should really try to avoid taking any drugs just to avoid any pointless risk of breaking something no one understands. Just personal choice.
3-5 years might be all you need. 5 years from now you might not limited to the options we have today. Things are never constant. A year from now some new amazing treatment shows up out of nowhere and the game changes. Realistically there is a good chance in another 5 years you wont need fin anymore although fin might still be cheaper or have other advantages maybe in combination with new stuff. Who knows

[Dimoxynil]

Any one on here try a higher percentage minox? 10-15%? I believe that if you've been on 5% for years and haven't experienced any sides, that this is a solid idea. It would make sense that, like with any drug, over a period of time it becomes a bit less effective and may need a boost.

Yes I went on belgravia higher strength 12.5%. No real difference I feel

[jamesst11]

Any one on here try a higher percentage minox? 10-15%? I believe that if you've been on 5% for years and haven't experienced any sides, that this is a solid idea. It would make sense that, like with any drug, over a period of time it becomes a bit less effective and may need a boost.

[mpb47]

I had been on propecia for 7 years and stoped it for 1 month. But i started the rogaine at the same day i off propecia. Do you think this would keep the hair that i am having?

It depends on how active your mpb is to be honest. Mine is very slow most of the time. The one time it was not was when I first first starting losing in the back and went on propecia. So the first time I went off proprocia (~10years ago)I lost a lot of hair starting around the 3-4 month mark even though I stayed on Minox. About a year later, I got some of it back..maybe about half due to still staying on minox. Over a long time, I gradually started losing again so I got back on propecia about 3 years ago for about a year. Got hair back, then went off again about 2 years ago. This time I did not dramatically loss hair like the first time. At first I just gradually lost the hair that it had regrown, then at some time after that..I started to gradually bald again. The kicker was this second time, I was NOT on minox..just that my mbp is very slow again. Considing to back on it but only use it once every 2 weeks, but to answer your question, it should help but you will probably lose ground over time. But it is worth it for sure as you may be able to hold on for years ...just have to try it and see

[Lader]

For anyone who doubts the efficacy of minoxidil take a look at this video, does minoxidil work as good as fin no, but is it mildly effective no, it can reduce your shedding by up to 50%, that means you have 50% more active terminal follicles, this means it greatly delays the balding process just as fin, remember fin only eliminates 60-70% DHT the other 40-30% is still attacking the follicle, fin greatly delays the balding process it does not cure it or stop it completely. There is no cure for MPB.

What happens when you think minoxidil is not effective
http://youtu.be/aFYnz1on4hs

Huge thanks for sharing

[HTsoon]

For anyone who doubts the efficacy of minoxidil take a look at this video, does minoxidil work as good as fin no, but is it mildly effective no, it can reduce your shedding by up to 50%, that means you have 50% more active terminal follicles, this means it greatly delays the balding process just as fin, remember fin only eliminates 60-70% DHT the other 40-30% is still attacking the follicle, fin greatly delays the balding process it does not cure it or stop it completely. There is no cure for MPB.

What happens when you think minoxidil is not effective

http://youtu.be/aFYnz1on4hs

[MING]

I had been on propecia for 7 years and stoped it for 1 month. But i started the rogaine at the same day i off propecia. Do you think this would keep the hair that i am having?

well i have been on it for 15 years and it is still working. Whether it works or not depends on how aggressive your mpb is. I know this firsthand as i have had fast (aggressive) spurts of mpb, but most of the time it has been gradual.

When it was fast, minox did basically nothing and only propecia could stop it. But now that it has slowed down, minox alone is working for me. And by working i mean it slows it down-not completly stop it. But it is enough to buy me a lot of time.

What ever drug you use for mpb,you will need it for life as like others just said, mpb never truly stops, though i have had mine take breaks.

From what i have read, i will probably continue to get those fast spurts. If/when that happens i will jump back on propecia to try and ride it out.

[MING]

After you off fin ,when did you start losting hair?