hi guys,

i'm a healthy 22 yo male who noticed the early stages of thinning at around 19. i was put on propecia about 6 months ago, after my derm told me it was the most effective route of treatment.

started off with the standard 1mg tablet daily, but found this too much (loss of libido, slight gynecomastia) so dropped back to a quarter tablet. this has worked well over the last 6 months in terms of side effects (it's difficult for me to gauge effectiveness in terms of hair loss, i'm fair-haired and shaved no.1 all over), until recently, say the last month or so, as i begin to recognise the same side-effects as experienced on the higher dosage. i have experienced a heightened level of sensitivity to drugs most of my life - nothing serious, just something i've noticed.

basically i'm not happy on propecia anymore (i haven't really seen any results, either - maybe a slowing at best so far, but again, it's only been 6 odd months), and just weighing up my options. i'm in australia, and not sure that i have many options outside of propecia and minoxidil.

so, minoxidil 5% seems like it may be my next step. unless somebody could point me in the direction of a better route?

also, is it worth weening myself off propecia as i introduce minoxidil?

many thanks.

oh, and what is the general consensus about minoxidil around here? i've given up hope of having a thick head of hair again, but if i can severely slow/halt any loss i'd be a very satisfied man.

i know of the many propecia side-effects (i suffer a few), but minoxidil is far less by comparison, yes?

and finally, how long do you think it will take for my body to return to normal levels of hormones/etc. after discontinuing the propecia?

thanks, once more.

any one? no one?

thanks again!

I took finasteride (1.25mg) and got side effects, so I stopped. Took me around a month to return to normal. I think most people are 2-6 weeks recovering. I haven't re-tried it, but I may do, one day.

I'm using Rogaine now, I'm pretty happy with the results, but at around the 5 month mark I started getting a really itchy head. Revita shampoo helped a little (I ordered it off the internet, but I think you have other ketaconazole options in Australia).
It also started itching when I switched back to the liquid after a month on the foam. I think I'll still stick with the liquid though, I really didn't like the foam.

Another guy here said the laser comb helped reduce irritation, and that his hair count improved when he started using it along side finasteride and minoxidil, too.

Hope this helps.

I am 26 and no side effects with finasteride but I get headache with rogaine