Hi, 28 year old, lack of hair on crown

[2020]

2020, Propecia's website has been taken down and a link to notify the FDA about side effects has been added.

so what? As I said: propecia is an old drug and their patent is about to expire so there is no reason for Merck to market it anymore.... why keep the website alive when there won't be Propecia in 2013??

Of course they're encouraging you to report side effects to FDA... I'm pretty sure every drug BY LAW has to do that.

You believe this is because their patent will run out in over a year's time? On what basis?

believe? That's a fact. Do you know how patents work? They can't hold on to it forever...



yeah yeah FDA made some mistakes in the past but for the most part they're doing a good job.
You think Merck bribed FDA in order to approve Propecia??

[chrisis]

2020, I don't think it's worth discussing this anymore with you because you don't even understand my arguments - you're just too biased and as bad or worse than anyone you criticise.

At least those in the "anti-finasteride" camp are trying to look out for other people. You're just recklessly endangering other people's health.

[chrisis]

But its conflicting.. You also said You don't think Merck's percentages reflect reality.. and truly so, I agree - both Boston and Washington studies dispute Merck's claims and put out much greater percentages.

It's not conflicting. I think people should be told about the availability of finasteride and its effectiveness, BUT they should also be told that the extent of the side effects are currently unknown.

Why can't anyone else see that this is the reality of the situation?

You were lucky in the sense that Your side effects weren't permanent, but thats sadly wasn't the outcome with all people who tried this drug..

I don't know if my side effects are permanent yet. So far nothing's changed since I stopped the drug, almost a week ago.

[2020]

2020, I don't think it's worth discussing this anymore with you because you don't even understand my arguments - you're just too biased and as bad or worse than anyone you criticise.

how am I biased? It's true - their patent runs out in 2013 so it seems logical that they would stop marketing it.... Why would you market a product for which you're no longer have exclusive rights?

The fact that Propecia.com website is no longer available means nothing!

[chrisis]

Just because a company does not have exclusive rights, it doesn't mean they will stop promoting and selling a money-spinning product, especially a year before the patent expires.

Merck will make as much money as they can from Propecia until they can't make anymore. That's how business works.

Nobody except Merck and their representatives will know why the website was taken down, but it's definitely suspicious. If they are preparing to defend themselves in court, then you'd think they'd be supporting the product in every way possible.

Moves such as this suggest guilt or an attempt to reduce liability.

[StressedToTheBald]

I don't know if my side effects are permanent yet. So far nothing's changed since I stopped the drug, almost a week ago.

I didn't know, hope everything get backs to normal.

[StressedToTheBald]

Nobody except Merck and their representatives will know why the website was taken down, but it's definitely suspicious. If they are preparing to defend themselves in court, then you'd think they'd be supporting the product in every way possible.

Moves such as this suggest guilt or an attempt to reduce liability.

I think whatever they had on the website - including the claims of low risks and underestemated side effects - it all can be used as evidence in the court of law. They're trying to reduce responsibility.. but I don't think pulling down the website will help them much..

Also, I strongly believe their website must have been flooded with complaints of damaged people - also something they couldn't hide or deal with.

[2020]

I think whatever they had on the website - including the claims of low risks and underestemated side effects - it all can be used as evidence in the court of law. They're trying to reduce responsibility.. but I don't think pulling down the website will help them much..

Also, I strongly believe their website must have been flooded with complaints of damaged people - also something they couldn't hide or deal with.

go **** yourself

[mnx]

Hey all. Figured I'd give an update. Managed to take my mind off my hair for a few days and it felt good.

I scheduled a consultation with a specialist on friday. I've pretty much talked myself into going for propecia(along with the others) if that is what the doctor recommends.

Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction. I'll continue to give updates through the process.

[mnx]

Just got back from specialist. He looked at my hair for about 5 seconds, took a couple pictures, and sold me some Propecia.

Not really the attentiveness and information I was hoping for, but whatever.

[chrisis]

Not really the attentiveness and information I was hoping for, but whatever.

Sadly even the medical industry don't take hair loss very seriously. That's why this forum exists, I guess.

Good luck

[mnx]

Sadly even the medical industry don't take hair loss very seriously. That's why this forum exists, I guess.

Good luck

Thanks.

I feel ok, at the end of the day, I got a proven medicine and I'm catching this thing pretty early on. So my outlook is good, just going to hope those dreaded side effects don't hit me.

[keepingmyhair]

Just got back from specialist. He looked at my hair for about 5 seconds, took a couple pictures, and sold me some Propecia.

Not really the attentiveness and information I was hoping for, but whatever.

See, I think that's crap. I don't understand physicians anymore. These days I think about becoming one just so there's at least one person that seems to care more. Was there any discussion? Did they care or notice your anxiety levels about your hair?

No mention of any tests whatsoever, or even inform you those options exist if you feel that you'd like as much information as possible? I don't know about the rest of you but I'm so detail oriented when it comes to my body I want every blood, urine, hair, and technology test available that I can afford. The fact that they aren't even discussing miniaturization tests with either you or me during our specialist visits is pissing me off. I shouldn't have to learn what that test is through a forum, the hair specialist should let you know that exists for the sake of your full knowledge and the best possible diagnoses. There's literally millions of symptoms that correlate to just about every medical illness imaginable, and hair loss is a symptom of probably 500,000 of them. So yeah, maybe a few tests should be in order other than just a quick glance for '5 seconds' before diagnosing someone with a permanent health issue (be it physical or mental or in hair loss...both).

In any case, if you've decided to go forth with propecia mnx, i'm looking forward to seeing how it goes and wish you NO side effects because god knows I'm so sick of side effects from my meds.

[mnx]

Tell me about it, felt very disappointed with the appointment.

Thanks for the good wishes, I'll keep some updates going. All things said, I feel like I'm doing my best to address this problem and I am optimistic that things will improve.

It's a matter of perspective. Now when I look at my hair, I see it as something that will be improving not getting worse, and since it is early on, it helps ease the mind a lot.

If you go ahead with your second opinion with an expert as I think you should, hopefully he shows a little more concern and attentiveness to your situation. Also, whichever path you end up taking, I hope it works well for you also.

Feel free to message me anytime you want to talk about it. Otherwise I may be on here a little less as I am trying really hard to be positive, and I cannot do that thinking about my hair all the time.

[25 going on 65]

keepingmyhair and mnx, can I ask you guys what doctors you saw?