Guys,
From 1998 to 2007 (age 18 to 28), I used several hairloss drugs and had significant success. From 1998 until 2002 I used Proscar and 5% rogaine. Then in 2002, I obtained a prescription for Avodart right when it came onto the market. At that point, I also upped the ante and added a 5% spironolactone topical and 30% minoxidil topical cream. I also rotated several shampoos, including revivogen, Nano, Nizoral 2%, T-Gel, T-Sal, etc.
I had unbelievable success and I was thrilled with my treatments. Since this thread is mainly addressing anxiety issues however, I must say that from 2003 until 2007, I was prescribed to Adderall IR (instant release) tablets, which peaked to 30 mg a day around 2006.
Then in late 2007, I had what at the time I thought was a heart attack, but in reality was just a HUGE panic attack. These panic attacks continued through the first 3 months of 2008, and I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder without agoraphobia. Now I must disclose, for about 1.5 years prior to my first panic attack, I was abusing (not taking as prescribed) the adderall. Most of the time I would finish my entire month's prescription of adderall within 2 weeks. Very unhealthy and dangerous. Furthermore, around the time of the panic attack, work was crazy for me and I was in a serious relationship and contemplating marriage (I ended up getting engaged this past August).
Anyways, as soon as I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder, I immediately quit taking the Avodart, Minoxidil cream, and spironolactone topical. For lack of a better way to describe my thought process at that time, I wanted to completely purge my body of all the medications. I quit the adderral cold turkey after my second panic attack.
With cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise (especially yoga), healthy eating and sleeping habits, I managed to get my Panic disorder under control without anti-anxiety medication. I was thrilled. Unfortunately, after I relocated to a different city for work, the panic and anxiety came back even worse to the point where it was interfering with my ability to function on a daily basis. Not wanting to lose my job, I finally opted for anti-anxiety medication. I currently take 20 mg of Paxil and 1 mg of Xanax XR each day as treatment, the former in the morning and the latter at bedtime.
So as I write today, I am fast approaching my one-year anniversary of being completely "clean" from hairloss drugs (avodart, minoxidil, spironolactone). The only treatments I continue to use, which I am sure are of little impact, are the above-mentioned shampoos and their corresponding conditioners.
Needless to say, and to my dismay, my hairloss as nature originally intended is getting back on track. I am a diffuse thinner and the loss is primarily on the top of my head, which I know is not good insofar as the future of my hair is concerned.
I know that I am "out of the game" now that I am engaged, and I am thankful for what the treatments did for me during the decade I used them. But the truth is, I still would like to maintain a good head of hair...but I WILL NOT do so at the expense of my mental health. My anxiety situation is much better and I believe that my current drug regimen, in addition to therapy and healthy lifestyle habits, are responsible for this success.
And this is where the link between my anxiety issues and hair loss comes into play...I have been doing some hard thinking about at least getting back on proscar, if not Avodart. BUT...I have done some research on the web, and have found several scientific articles suggesting that DHT has an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect in the male brain. This got me thinking, I wonder if the nears of DHT inhibition may have led to my anxiety issues? Furthermore, if I were to get back on Proscar and Avodart, would I be compromising my mental health? Below is a link to one of the scientific studies I read, and you can find more if you google around:
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17978246
Wow this post ended up being long. For those of you who took the time to read it, I am truly grateful. I would love to hear any of you guys thoughts on the matter.
Best,
BigAL
From 1998 to 2007 (age 18 to 28), I used several hairloss drugs and had significant success. From 1998 until 2002 I used Proscar and 5% rogaine. Then in 2002, I obtained a prescription for Avodart right when it came onto the market. At that point, I also upped the ante and added a 5% spironolactone topical and 30% minoxidil topical cream. I also rotated several shampoos, including revivogen, Nano, Nizoral 2%, T-Gel, T-Sal, etc.
I had unbelievable success and I was thrilled with my treatments. Since this thread is mainly addressing anxiety issues however, I must say that from 2003 until 2007, I was prescribed to Adderall IR (instant release) tablets, which peaked to 30 mg a day around 2006.
Then in late 2007, I had what at the time I thought was a heart attack, but in reality was just a HUGE panic attack. These panic attacks continued through the first 3 months of 2008, and I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder without agoraphobia. Now I must disclose, for about 1.5 years prior to my first panic attack, I was abusing (not taking as prescribed) the adderall. Most of the time I would finish my entire month's prescription of adderall within 2 weeks. Very unhealthy and dangerous. Furthermore, around the time of the panic attack, work was crazy for me and I was in a serious relationship and contemplating marriage (I ended up getting engaged this past August).
Anyways, as soon as I was diagnosed with Panic Disorder, I immediately quit taking the Avodart, Minoxidil cream, and spironolactone topical. For lack of a better way to describe my thought process at that time, I wanted to completely purge my body of all the medications. I quit the adderral cold turkey after my second panic attack.
With cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise (especially yoga), healthy eating and sleeping habits, I managed to get my Panic disorder under control without anti-anxiety medication. I was thrilled. Unfortunately, after I relocated to a different city for work, the panic and anxiety came back even worse to the point where it was interfering with my ability to function on a daily basis. Not wanting to lose my job, I finally opted for anti-anxiety medication. I currently take 20 mg of Paxil and 1 mg of Xanax XR each day as treatment, the former in the morning and the latter at bedtime.
So as I write today, I am fast approaching my one-year anniversary of being completely "clean" from hairloss drugs (avodart, minoxidil, spironolactone). The only treatments I continue to use, which I am sure are of little impact, are the above-mentioned shampoos and their corresponding conditioners.
Needless to say, and to my dismay, my hairloss as nature originally intended is getting back on track. I am a diffuse thinner and the loss is primarily on the top of my head, which I know is not good insofar as the future of my hair is concerned.
I know that I am "out of the game" now that I am engaged, and I am thankful for what the treatments did for me during the decade I used them. But the truth is, I still would like to maintain a good head of hair...but I WILL NOT do so at the expense of my mental health. My anxiety situation is much better and I believe that my current drug regimen, in addition to therapy and healthy lifestyle habits, are responsible for this success.
And this is where the link between my anxiety issues and hair loss comes into play...I have been doing some hard thinking about at least getting back on proscar, if not Avodart. BUT...I have done some research on the web, and have found several scientific articles suggesting that DHT has an anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) effect in the male brain. This got me thinking, I wonder if the nears of DHT inhibition may have led to my anxiety issues? Furthermore, if I were to get back on Proscar and Avodart, would I be compromising my mental health? Below is a link to one of the scientific studies I read, and you can find more if you google around:
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=17978246
Wow this post ended up being long. For those of you who took the time to read it, I am truly grateful. I would love to hear any of you guys thoughts on the matter.
Best,
BigAL
