Hello

Im 23, noticed my hair thinning late last year but didnt really know about it until I saw a photo of the back of my head in late janaury this year. I was kinda shocked and had all these plans to see medical hair centres but im paranoid they will use scare tactics on me to make me sign up to expensive treatments that you can do yourself, for far cheaper.

Anyway, I went to see a doctor here and he agreed im showing signs of alopecia and prescribed me a blood test to make sure nothing was wrong with regards to deficiencies, and minoxidil. After a few days of reading I went back and asked him why he didnt prescribe propecia, since it seems to be very popular according to forums such as these. He said that he would rather have me on minoxidil for 6 months, then if that doesnt work, go on finasteride, since its entirely possible minoxidil will be all I need. being my paranoid self, i went on about how propecia and minoxidil is a sort of 'cover all your options' approach and that i really wanted to go on it from what I read, and he quite reluctantly gave me the prescription, warning me of all the side effects and stuff.

so i went and bought some but im really hesitant on using it. I dont know if i should stay with minoxidil only like the doctor suggested, since that runs the risk of the loss simply continuing at a slower rate and being harder to reverse, but finasteride has these potential side effects which have me quite worried, not helped in the least by the manufacturers website removed pending a class action lawsuit against them...

I just dont know, I was 100% focused on getting on the finasteride but now im questioning whether I should just go with the minoxidil only and wait it out to see what happens, with 0 risk of side effects.

I would certainly do both!! Get aggressive with it!!

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Newhairplease!!
Dr Rahal in January 19, 2012
4808 FUT grafts- 941 singles, 2809 doubles, 1031 triples, 27 quads

My Hairloss Website

Heres the deal....Im a HUGE believer in taking both!!! Also, Im a huge believer in using NIzoral shampoo two or three times a week( its an anti fungal shampoo that has some DHT blocking properties in it)...most everyone on here is gonna give you the same advice..

Heres where I agree with your doctor...if you take rogaine for 6-12 months without using propecia, well then you will know if it worked or didn't work..if you start both at the same time, and you see an improvement then you want know which drug is doing the improvement...thats why some people stagger start the drugs....however, after saying all that, If it were me...I would start them both and get really aggressive with treating my hair loss!!!

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Newhairplease!!
Dr Rahal in January 19, 2012
4808 FUT grafts- 941 singles, 2809 doubles, 1031 triples, 27 quads

My Hairloss Website

I am still using propecia but think Rogaine works better for me

I think hes asking mainly about the side effects of Finasteride. I didnt know about taking any drug at all when I'd decided on FUT (still waiting on price from Dr.Feriduni) and now when i calculate the risk factor and "possible" side effects from Finasteride, it just made my heart sink.

Frommy own research over the last 36 hours, it seems that people taking the 5mg Finasteride tables in the studies had more of the side effects we hear about. On the 1MG cases, the percentage is around the 1-3% mark and thats not taking into account the patients who were given placebos who were also very close to 1-3% with side effects.

To me, thats worth taking the chance but from what i hear the effects (should they become an issue) are reversible. As you're so young too, they say you have to wear protection during intercourse to protect your partner and to stop using the drug a few months before you plan to have a kid.

Other than that, I'm going for the 5 month dose of 5mg Fin adn cutting it up into 0.8 chunks.

ps..i also heard that between 0.2mg and 1mg of Fin, there was little to no added affect and also i read a few places that you only have to take it two or three times per week and not every day as most people say. I'm still unsure about this (but I've read 3 independant reviews onit so far) and will continue to look into it because I'd rather take less drug, less often for less side effects.

littlemink how in the world are you cutting you 5mg finasteride tabs into .8mg chunks?? You're cutting one pill into 6 pieces? I cut the 5mg tabs into 1.25mg quarters and one quarter of a tab is teeny tiny!!

I don't have the tablets yet but the advice was from someone who answered a post the other day. I'm not sure yet how to measure or cut these things into specific mg but I live in a town full of drug dealers so getting advice on accurately cutting up pills is on my doorstep

You're not going to be able to cut them into sixths. You'll end up with crumbs and dust but give it a try, nothing like firsthand experience. You've mentioned some studies that you said indicated that a 3 times a week regiment was found to be nearly as effective as the daily dose. Can you provide a link? I would like to read them as I have just started Finasteride and the side effect potential is creeping me out.

Its 3:30am but I found this link on another forum.
Hair Loss Help Forums - 0.2mg fin every third day as effevtive as 1mg daily??

I'll try and back it up with legitimate research tomorrow

Ok, sO far I have these links for you to look at.

Plasma DHT levels 7 days after various Finasteride dosages • PROPECIAHELP: Persistent Finasteride Propecia Proscar side effects info & discussion forum

And this link has a few guys who have DHT levels taken between days...

Hair Loss Help Forums - Taking finasteride every day than everyother more effective?

Hope this helps.