Maxxy

In Propecia and other generic forms it comes in 1mg doses. Proscar comes in 5mg. People buy it to save money because you can cut it into 4 pieces. You're not going get exactly 1.25mg every day, but it's not that important to be exact. Some people get a 5ml medicine syringe and dissolve the tablet in vodka or whiskey and take 1ml per day, storing the rest in cool place. Shedding is seen as a good sign mate, if it's not to excessive then try ride it out. (the hair should come back stronger)

When I say together, I mean as part of a regime - not literally using all 3 at the same time of the day. The Proscar you want is 1-1.25mg per day, depending on what form you buy it in. You will need to put Rogaine on twice per day. For Nizoral I apply the 1% version 3 times a week.

Hey SpringsteenfanUK, Welcome to the site, may I ask who you went with in the uk?

Yes mate, I think it would be the advice of everyone on this forum to try Proscar, Rogaine and maybe Nizoral before taking the step to have a transplant. I am currently using all 3 and did for sometime before my transplant. I would personally go on all 3 together. The problem with that is, you dont know which product is working (but hey, if you get good results - who cares?). Rogaine is mainly thought to help grow hair and proscar to keep what you have got.

It wont just switch off no, you will need to give both drugs time to get out your system. But yes clinical studies suggest that is the case, however, some have claimed the side effects remained after stopping. If this is the case I don't know, maybe it is all in their mind?

No Mikey79, Proscar and Propecia are both brand names of Merck - the active ingredient in both is Finasteride. Proscar has 5mg of Finasteride in it, while Propecia only has 1 mg. They are the same drug, just different amounts.

It will not be on the market by 2010 mate, they gave that as an earliest date but they have been delayed all the way through. I also believe if/when it's realeased, it is going be used to thicken up transplants and not offered as a stand alone treatment. I have also read they have done a deal with Bosley - so in other words, you'll need to risk getting butchered by having a transplant from those pigs in order to benifit from it. The last I read they were coming to an end of the phase 2 trials, that being the case - it will not be on the market for 2010.

Mikey79, You can get Minoxidil in tablet form. I believe that is how it was found to effect hair growth (as a side effect), however, the results in tablet form again - "I believe" are very poor when it comes to hairloss and bring with them more common side effects. As a topical (applied to the scalp) - where it is believed to work best for hair loss, it needs some form of delivery... be it by solution, cream or foam (as now available).

I am only 5 weeks post-op, but have read posts of growth upto 18 month.

Your post may get a better responce in the "Shampoos, sprays, and concealers" forum. The companies that claim their shampoo will get rid of DHT on the scalp are scams mate; they will do what they claim - that is wash the DHT off your scalp, but so will any cheap shampoo. It's just a marketing tool. I recommend Nizoral.

Haha, no worries pal. The amount of times I have had to edit my posts due to miseading is unreal, lol.

I have just checked my box... It states: "store below 30c (86F)" - nothing about an above temp. so I wouldn't be overly worried.

Lol starman, Eman, states in his post it's $50 at Costco for the Foam

Yeah, I have also seen some amazing mature scars (or haven't seen them ;p)in the early months post-op while the scar is still red. I have read a 3 guard is around the lowest most can achive, maybe that is what Mikey79 was refering to?

Hairthere, Could I ask who told you 8 days, was it Dr. Feller?

Libido = Sex drive M8 P.S. I'm not sure if you understand this or not Mikey, but Minoxidil is Rogaine. Minoxidil is the active ingredient, by that I mean it's the Minoxidil in Rogaine that grows hair.

It is something you can only find out by trying, every case is different.

Rogaine does not cause shedding in every case, but shedding is seen as a good sign. The problem I had with the foam was that the amount shedded was unacceptable. There was an area with hair which went completely bald, but as stated has returned since. I have only ever used 5% rogaine and as far I am aware, minoxidil has no effect on "sexual" issues. Proscar does come with the possibilty of "sexual" side effects, however, they are rare and in most cases short-lived (even with continued use). There are very few (if any) medications in the world that come with no chances of side effects, hairloss meds included. Both Proscar and Rogaine are usually very well tolerated and any side effects diminish if you stop taking them. Sadly, the only way to see how you will react is to try.

Yeah, I should add that I can't be 100% sure the libido is down to the Proscar, however, it is one side effect of proscar that has be observed in many clinical trials including those where the patients were in blind trials and didn't know what they were taking or for what purpose. As for the Rogaine foam, that definitely cause a massive shed with me, which I have never had with the solution and have not had since going back on the solution.

Like many others I had a massive shed on the Rogaine foam, it actually caused an area of hair-bearing scalp to become completely bald - it's coming back now though. Proscar. My libido has decreased somewhat, but that hasn't effected me much - just calmed me down , lol.

People have been having hair transplant in whatever form since the 50's/60's, the hairs still grow, however, the results were of course very poor.

Mikey79, A lot of the transplants from 10 years ago used old techniques, be careful when using these as a comparison (By that I mean, a lot of transplants from 10 years ago may look thin - if touch up work hasn't been done, but it wont be due to age).

I disagree with your age and loss limitations, Fallenstar. I also agree that he would be crazy to have a transplant, but not for the reasons you have given. Surely an individual's personal circumstances come into play? Like myself [i am now 27 (today actually )], I first visited my GP at 16 when I noticed my hairline had receded. I have not lost much if any more hair since the age of 23, I have tried and also still use Proscar, Rogaine and Nizoral - as well as some vitamins. I was classed as a Nw 3/3A frontal loss only and had my transplant 5 weeks ago. I don't feel I should have suffered another 10 or so years and/or waited until I receded further to a Nw 5.

Mikey79, A hair transplant is not the end of it, it is not going stop future loss. Your transplanted hair won't bald, but you native hair has every chance of thinning later on, even if your hairloss has stabilised.

I think the meds will really do the job for you. Stay on the Proscar, get on rogaine and Nizoral. In a years time, god willing you might restore what you have lost. (which isnt much) Think about the hair cut. (bringing the hair forward) Welcome to the war ;-)