Rogaine Foam

Try propicia, it's your only other OPTION FOR FDA approved med.

NW777, do add a safety warning about Propecia before casually advising someone take it.

well said,

The lack of shedding is a direct indication that what you were using before was not doing you any good. Shedding means the medicine is working. If you started shedding with Rogaine foam, that means the medicine was working. Stopping the medicine because of shedding is usually a very big mistake.

I bet his doctor covers that.

rogaine foam

Thanks guys.. and girl.. I should have mentioned I've been on Propecia for 2 years. Right Tracy, I understand shedding can be an indication the medication is working. But if you're shedding in the frontal area which is an extremely difficult area to regrow hair, continued use and shed there seems like a losing prop. Very few people restore their hairline and I had a great hairline 10 days ago.
Dr. Lee's products did seem legit.. but who knows.
On the other hand I've read a lot of doctors who claim more patients don't shed than do on either minox or Propecia. They would not argue that meant the treatment wasn't working. So I don't know.
I may go to 2% with less PG until I can figure things out.

Thanks for your responses..

Shedding is an indication that the medicine was working. The lack of shedding is an indication that what you were using before was not working.

There is no way to avoid shedding and treat your hair loss at the same time.

Rogaine Foam

Tracy, I can tell you before the 5% formula was available I started on the 2%. I had no shed. I had no regrowth I was aware of but I had no loss either. Never a shed. But it was working. It maintained.
The Derm who prescribed Propecia says he doesn't see shedding in his practice. I saw no shed on propecia..though I started slow.. a quarter of a pill and slowly increased. So I should take the no shed as an indication the Propecia isn't working?
2 Specialists I saw both said they don't see shedding from treatments in their practice either but they have people on their practice's website forums complain about it. Otherwise they don't see it.
Some doctors I've read on the Internet say a shed is common.. but I've never seen one say it there's no noticeable shed stop treatment because its not working.
If you can direct to me to studies or specialists who have determined that unless you have a noticeable shed your treatment's not working, I would find it very helpful. Because I think that's an important piece of knowledge.

Thanks

Frank,

It would be a good idea for you to take the time to learn about these medications. Here are some links to help you.







No honest doctor can tell you that none of their patients experience shedding. That would be a complete lie. Though some people do not experience noticeable shedding, most people will - because it is part of the process. The hairs from the damaged follicles need to shed out of the way as those damaged follicles are being repaired. The hair that sheds out usually grows back. When it does it will be thicker than the hairs that had shed out. This gradual thickening will continue over time and hair cycles if you continue to use the medicine.

Starting slow on Propecia is a good idea. I also think it is a good idea to start slow on Rogaine (either foam or liquid) as well. Doing so may indeed reduce the perceived degree of shedding. It is very likely that you did in fact shed while using Propecia, but since you started slow, it could be a lot less noticeable. This is also possible with Rogaine. It seems to be much better to start slowly and taper up to the full twice a day dose rather than to start right away with twice a day. It is a very bad idea to stop using the medication abruptly. Stopping the medication abruptly can induce a massive shed. One should only stop abruptly if they find that they are allergic to the medicine. If you feel you need to stop using it, aside from allergic reactions, it is best to taper off of it slowly.

Rogine Foam

Thanks for the links Tracy. I had already read them. In fact I've probably read too much over the years. I've even corresponded with Dr. Bernstien when I wanted to go off the 2% for another treatment years ago. I've read a a lot of material and received advice from Bernstein's colleague, Dr Rassmen who is one of the doctors who really doesn't see a lot of shedding from treatments in his practice. Though he says it can happen. I don't think he's lying. I've read so many doctors experiences with these meds I see no reason to believe the ones who say they don't experience much massive shedding are lying.
I've read enough studies on lasers to doubt their true effectiveness. But that's me. Some docs believe and I would say to anyone it's worth a try.

I've studied the hair cycle and totally understand the "theory" behind the shedding process. And any honest doctor will tell you its just a theory of how it works and the process that's going on. You're explanation correctly follows the current theory.
I agree all these meds should be started slowly. Especially to avoid a synchronized shed. Because that synchronized shed could continue off an on as their cycle is reset for the entire time they use minoxidil and its effective.
Based again on the current theory of how it works. (I don't think enough users are made aware of this)
But that's not how these meds are prescribed or suggested by doctors.
I saw one the the top Docs in LA (not Rassmen) and he kept telling me just to just get on the full dose of Propecia already. He had no concern about shedding. But I kept it slow.
And yes I agree that its really important that people don't stop these drugs unless they have to for side effects, because they'll be sorry. Even if they don't think it's working there's a chance its slowing it down.. and when it comes to hair it's worth taking that chance it might be having some effect.
I don't think that message is out there enough. And I was glad to see you promote it.

We really don't disagree on much, except that switching brands and going from maintaining to a massive shed is that the previous treatment didn't work is a possible explanation but not necessarily the unreputable fact you present. There are enough post by people all over the internet who say they notice a shed every time they switch brands. Whether that's fact or perception I can't say.
But again going from maintaining to a massive shed upon switching brands in a few days is not a common occurrence.
The more you study anything the more you realize how much you still don't know.. Especially in medicine. And also how little doctors really don't know.

Again thanks for the input, I've talked to a few specialists in the last week and got the best info I'm going to get. And that is no one knows.. that many factors could be involved. One Pharm offered to test the old brand for me, but is aware of the brand and believes it's probably ok.

Thanks Again..

Rogaine foam

Frank

A follow up to my post. I talked to McNEIL and they told me to discontinue the Foam, because this was not a normal reaction. On the other hand my Dermatologist said minox never causes permanent hair loss and continue with the Foam. Which after such a drastic shed I'm not sure. He also says he doesn't see much shedding with starting the drug, or any switching brands however he sees it when people stop the med. But I have to agree with Tracy, if you're starting with 5% it's hard to believe there's no shedding. I didn't "notice" a shed at 2%.

I just want to say again to start all these meds slow. I wish I started Propecia before minoxidil, but once you start minox you can't stop. Personally I believe Propecia is the best first line treatment. But read all you can about it before you decide. Best to see a doctor like a HT doc who prescribes the drug a lot and more familiar with it.
Unfortunately I was scared off trying it for years from some posts I read. Only to find after I educated myself further side effects actually aren't that common and reversible. Took me a long time to accept that. (Though some users disagree) I've never had any and wish I started it sooner and never started minoxidil.

Good Luck

Rogaine Foam

Tracy

Like to get your thoughts. You seem to have experience with both the foam and the liquid. What do you think about slowing down on the foam after starting? I quit after 10 days after such a terrible shed and went back to what I had left of the the liquid I had been using. Damn If I'm not still shedding from the foam. I was thinking of going back on the foam to once every other day for a while using the liquid in between.. (even though I used it twice a day for 10 days).. then get to once a day.. and eventually twice a day over a stretched period of time. On the possibility it would cut down on shedding so much at once giving other hair a chance to start growing if indeed the shed meant the med was working.

The shed was so drastic.. from a full head of hair with slight diffuse thinning that only I could recognize because my hair is so thick to visible thinning in days is still a shock. And so many posts of guys who claim they lost with the foam and never grew it back makes it difficult to think logically.

Thanks

Hi Frank,

It is difficult to think logically. One thing you need to keep in mind is that you are far more likely to read negative information about anything and everything than you are to read positive information about those very same things. The reason is because those who are happy with whatever it is generally don't complain about it. So you need to keep reminding yourself that those complaints you are reading online are most likely not a representation of the majority who use the product.

I've been there and done that. I chose to ride out the shedding and continue using the medicine. The hair that shed out did grow back and when it grew back it was thicker than it was before. I am an advocate for tapering into changes rather than making sudden changes. I use both men's Rogaine foam and generic women's liquid Minoxidil. I use the foam in the morning and the liquid in the evening. Though I did taper into that routine over time, if I had known then what I know now, I would have done so more slowly than I did.

Roagaine foam

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for your reply. Yeah, I've always referred to the internet as the misinformation highway. And that's in general. When it comes to medicine it's almost all anecdotal.. no definitive cause and effect. I understand that better than anyone.. until I look in the mirror, then reason takes a back seat. 3 weeks ago I was looking at my hairline thinking how lucky I've been to keep all this hair and then a week later wondering where it all went. Quite the shock.. Then have the company tell me any shedding over 2 weeks is a bad response and to quit the product. More confusion.

Sounds like you went through a bad shed. That had to be twice as tough for a woman. I don't know how a woman can even use the foam. I tried in the past but had so much hair it just got in my hair not the scalp.. had to be really tough with long hair. I unfortunately figured out how to keep the foam from melting and then getting it into my scalp. Figured it out too well apparently.
Were you already on the 2% for a while before adding the foam? Or did you start both about the same time? Did your shedding start after just a few days also and then accelerate?

I'm glad to hear it came back better for you. Had to be a rough 6 to 12 months. Main concern about starting the foam again is that it'll continue to shed the hairline which most men don't grow back even if the minoxidil works elsewhere.
Ironically I don't see a lot of shed hairs in the sink or in my fingers. Just see less on my head. Just seems to disappear.
Thanks again for your reply.