My Experience and Unwanted Finasteride

[Jamind]

The below is all added to my profile and comprises a synopsis of my hairloss experiences/treatments. My current profile photo is of my hairline 3.5 months after the following transplant:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/161087-my-experiences-2146-fu-strip-transplant-dr-feller.html#post2267827'>http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/161087-my-experiences-2146-fu-strip-transplant-dr-feller.html#post2267827'>http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/161087-my-experiences-2146-fu-strip-transplant-dr-feller.html#post2267827'>http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/161087-my-experiences-2146-fu-strip-transplant-dr-feller.html#post2267827

 

My goal throughout the past ten years has always been to regrow my hairline naturally whilst maintaining elsewhere. Hair loss greatly affected my confidence, but I tried to focus on building my confidence regarding my physical appearance in other ways, such as keeping fit in the gym (aerobic and weights), dressing "well", attempting to fulfill life aspirations and, ultimately, trying not lose sight of the whole. That said, there were many occasions when I obsessed over hairloss forums seeking answers. I tried many treatments, including snake oils out of desperation, but none were successful in regrowing anything that significantly changed the appearance of my hairline. Whilst certain proven treatments strengthened my hairline and perhaps brought it foward slightly, I continued to style my hair in such a way (essentially, short curtains with a quiff held in place by hair spray/gel spray) so as to minimise the appearance of my greatly receded hairline and thus any cosmetic results I achieved remained hidden. Strong winds were, however, my enemy! I also went through a phase of more often than not wearing a hat socially, but that makes matters worse as it is more evident that one is trying to hide something.

 

On 21st Feb. I had a 2146 FU (strip) transplant done by Dr Alan Feller in NY. A wonderful experience, a fantastic doctor/team, and after three months the fine hairs are currently covering the transplant zone and slowly maturing. I now wonder why it took my so long to make this decision. Basically, I couldn't come to terms with doing something "unnatural"; and this is despite having had numerous operations in the past for other (non-cosmetic) reasons. I took advice from various people, including Spex, before embarking on this journey.

 

Prior to my transplant, all my hairloss treatment experiments had always been done in a very methodical manner and after much research. I am a Dr of chemistry (PhD), so have plenty of experience in scientific research. In my early twenties, my frontal recession was pronounced and the hair on top my head felt very fine and limp, but with no obvious thinning to the eye. My hairloss (and perhaps thinning) was accompanied by soreness and itching, a bed full of hairs, and a deluge of hairs falling out every time I rubbed my head. It has always been evident to me when a treatment is working as these things stop or are less apparent.

 

Amongst others, the oral/topical treatments I have previously tried include:

 

Xandrox 5% and 15% - Some regrowth, perhaps, but unquestionably affected my heart (I would describe it as a very heavy beat, not necessarily rapid, and not linked to stress/adrenalin). I used these morning/evening during a number of months, and then the 15 % alone once per day during a number of months (total time spanning almost a year).

 

Generic Finasteride (Finalo and Finax) - Maintained hair, and individual hairs are thicker than without, but not as dramatic as with Dutasteride. Possibly a greater frontal recession than with Dutasteride, which suggests the latter regrew some frontal hair. I have been on this for most of the past 7/8 years, apart from the 8 months on Dutasteride and 6 months with nothing (with the exception of Dr Lee's regrowth shampoo). I have since stopped as, now armed with my new hairline, I am no longer willing to endure the reduced libido that I have always suffered whilst on this drug. Maca (a Peruvian root vegetable and powerful aphrodisiac/adaptogen) previously helped with this to a certain extent.

 

Generic Dutasteride - My fine hair appeared fuller within a few days, due to dilation of individual hair shafts, and thus thicker. Slightly different side effects to Finasteride, but a pronounced decrease in libido nonetheless. I took this for 8 months.

 

Old Revivogen formula - Didn't really give it a chance, before returning to Finasteride. Horrible stuff.

 

New Revivogen formula - Only 3 months after quitting Finasteride (again), hair still feels full/healthy after daily use of Revivogen. I have also always been a sceptic, but it may give me some extra time before another transplant and/or more advanced/less side effect prone treatments are available. The published research behind Revivogen (which the company paid for), in which topical Finasteride, Dutasteride and Revivogen are compared, is very questionable (and unprofessional), would not stand-up to any kind of peer-review, and is pointless since it is a comparison to oral finasteride in humans that we are more interested in. My scalp has been irritated, but this irritation is different to the sore and tingling sensations I experienced pre-hairloss treatments and at times after stopping all treatments. Moreover, my head has always itched unless I wash it every day as I have oily skin. I have reduced my Revivogen application to 5 times a week and the irritation has become less noticeable. After 6 - 9 months I should know whether Revivogen is really working for me.

 

Dr Lee's Treatment Shampoo - Soon to be discontinued as Minoxidil.com has been closed by the FDA. Does it slow down my hairloss? I honestly don't know, but I use it because there is strong research behind it and 2% Ketoconazole (Nizoral) offers me a brief respite from DHT/oil induced irritation after each application. I use this twice a week; using it more often is counterproductive, leaves my scalp dry and irritated, and makes my hair look less healthy. Every three days doesn't work in a weekly routine, so I use it every Wednesday and Sunday mornings and leave it in for 5 min. whilst showering. I will continue doing this, but instead with a generic 1 or 2% Ketoconazole shampoo.

 

If anyone has any questions/comments I will endeavour to respond. Please post any responses regarding my hair transplant here:

 

http://www.hairrestorationnetwork.com/eve/161087-my-experiences-2146-fu-strip-transplant-dr-feller.html#post2267827

 

I will also aim to post updates and perhaps transplant hairline photos in the future. In addition, I have 200 unwanted Finalo (generic Finasteride) tablets that I purchased at the beginning of this year. The use-by-date is March 2013. If anyone is interested in these, then perhaps we could come to some agreement as to a small amount of compensation (I am UK based).

Edited June 17, 2011 by Jamind
Typos

[RCWest]

I would like to welcome you to the forums! And thank you for sharing your story. Congratulations on your transplant. You picked a world class surgeon. How many grafts did you have done?

[Jamind]

I had 2146 done; this included the frontal, temporal and lateral zones. I grew my hair long, so with the exception of immediately after the transplant, it covered the transplant areas. Immediately after the transplant I had no choice, but to parade my transplant zone to all who past me in Great Neck (I caught a taxi back to the hotel). After years of trying to hide my receding hairline I felt strangely proud as I stood chatting to the bell-boy before hibernating in my room the following day during my post-op blues.

 

After three months, the donor and transplant areas still feel abnormal (slightly numb and sore in places), but this is slowly fading. Great experience, felt very meant, and also had a few days to enjoy Manhattan and Great Neck, Long Island.

 

I respect your regime - My physiology cannot cope with any one of the "big two" (ignoring Nizoral) without side-effects!

Edited June 2, 2011 by Jamind

[Sigildark]

Hi Jamind,

 

I'm interested in your experience with Minox. How did those symptoms impact you? Just a higher BPM? Did that manifest itself in other ways?

 

Reason i ask is that I started up Rogain Foam 5% and shortly after i felt very different. Very minor chest pains and an extreme feeling of stress at least once a day (which i'm told could be due to an increased heart rate) for a not so neglible amount of time. After stopping, both symptoms went away fairly rapidly. I'm going to try Foam again and see if the same thing happens again but i have a feeling that i'm suceptible to sides more commonly found in the oral version due to systematic absorbtion which is essentially what i presume was happening to you and what may be happening to me.

Edited June 3, 2011 by Sigildark

[Jamind]

The problem is that when using/taking a drug or topical and can, at times, be hard to determine whether a systematic side effect is actually being experienced, whether a heightened awareness of a certain part of the body due to the knowledge that a side effect might occur is being experienced, whether anxiety is contributing, or a combination of all the above.

 

I tend to be a less anxious person (than some in forums) about side effects and don't jump to conclusions. I was very aware of a more pronounced heart beat during the night when resting/trying to sleep. My heart felt extremely heavy and uncomfortable. I put-up with this for some time, then stopped using minoxidil and it went away. I do occasionally experience episodes like this, when my heart feels heavy and/or rapid (as we all do), but this is normally when I have had a particularly stressful day and my body is full of adrenalin. On minoxidil this effect seemed to be constant. Bear in mind that I was using 15 %/5 % Xandrox and previously 5 % Regaine alone with Retin A cream.

 

Other than the "heaviness" described above, which is undesirable alone, I experienced no other side effects.

Edited June 3, 2011 by Jamind

[meaina]

Hi

this is very effective and nice article. that is useful info in the post so thanks for sharing this info. I will be use this info.

[Jamind]

Thanks Meaina,

 

Glad you found my post informative - This is what this forum is for: sharing in a constructive manner. I will add updates as and when appropriate.

 

Good luck.

[tom84]

Hi Jamind,

 

Thanks for the useful information. I am curious to know your progress on revivogen. Are you still on it? Did it work.

 

Tom

[Jamind]

I am due a 6 month update during the next few weeks on both my hair transplant and Revivogen regime.

 

In brief now, however, as you have asked: I am still using Revivogen five times a week, and a generic 2% Ketoconazole shampoo twice a week (e.g., Nizoral). These remain my only hair loss treatments. To date (nearly six months), there has been no discernible change in the appearance of my hair from that whilst taking Finasteride 1.0mg daily, including directly behind the transplant zones and at the crown (where I have a double crown). It is difficult to draw any definitive conclusions yet as to the effectiveness of Revivogen for me. If my hair remains the same for another six months, I will be able to say quite confidently that, based on 8-9 years of experience with all of the above treatments, Revivogen is working for me.

 

My transplant is filling in and looking good, which will afford me a cosmetic line defense if the fall-out begins - This will hopefully be sufficient until something like CB-03-01 (Google it) becomes available.

Edited August 8, 2011 by Jamind

[tom84]

Hi Jamind,

 

I am hoping you transplant has made you hair much better. I myself started revivogen a couple of months back. I was wondering if revivogen has helped you maintain hair. Any updates would be helpful.

Let me know.

 

-Tom

[gasto]

I will follow you as I have stopped Finasteride ingestion, so I want to know how well you preserve your hair with the alternative medication and the transplant.