Aplunk1
Senior Member
- Reaction score
- 9
The content of my progress is split into seven sections.
I. Introduction and Regimen
II. History
III. Expectations
IV. Progress (Photographic Assessment)
V. Side effects
VI. Evaluation
VII. Forum Opinion & Future Expectations
I. Introduction and Regimen
Hi,
I'm Aplunk1, and I've been a member of these boards for over a year. I've visited these boards long before I became a member. (For all the guests reading this, I strongly urge you to register and join the forums.) Since joining these boards, I have documented my year-long progress with Avodart & Rogaine as a treatment for my hairloss. I am a Norwood 2 on the Norwood-Hamilton Scale, and most of my problems now are just
in the hairline region.
My regimen, fundamentally, consists of:
Avodart
1 capsule daily.I take it with coffee or green tea on an empty stomache.
Rogaine (foam & liquid)
I apply it over the front, temples, mid-scalp, and crown, twice daily. Rogaine has proved to be perhaps the most crucial component of my hairloss regimen. The Rogaine liquid, which is now being pushed out of my regimen, causes lots of dandruff. It's being phased out now, and the foam is now being used.
Copper Peptides
2 times daily. Although I've used many brands of copper peptides, I only recommend Tricomin or American Crew Revitalize. I
personally prefer the American Crew Revitalize for its smell and added anti-hairloss components. (As well as the price!)
3x Nizoral or Head & Shoulders During the Week
Keeps the liquid Rogaine itching down, and helps to regrow hair. These shampoos really compliment a hairloss sufferer's regimen.
3-6 Grams of MSM
Keeps hairs in the growing phase longer, grows hairs longer and darker. Excellent for achieving faster results.
The regimen used during the first 6 months of treatment, which yielded the BEST results, but was very time consuming:
1x Avodart
2x Rogaine
2x Topical spironolactone Lotion (5%)
1x Topical spironolactone Liquid (2%)
3x weekly Nizoral and Nioxin Shampoo (#2)
5-8 Grams of MSM
1-2 L-Lysine Tablets (500mg I believe?)
2-3 grams of L-Arginine
2x Tricomin Follicle Therapy Spray
II. History
Prior to joining these boards and my treatment with Avodart (dutasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), I was prescribed Propecia.
I was 19 years old at the time, and used Propecia for 10 and a half months, somewhat inconsistently (meaning I skipped a few days every month) I had a quarter-sized baldspot on the back of my head, and the density of my hair on top was cut in half. Propecia did very little for me,
except that is helped to regrow the baldspot... Yet, my hair still thinned. I was a Norwood 1/1.5 when I began Propecia, and I maintined the same coverage area, except that it hair became thinner and density decreased... Sort of like diffuse thinning.
This is my Norwood, according to the new Armani Hairloss Scale:
The sexual side effects from Propecia were VERY evident. I had impotence, severely decreased libido, nervousness, anxiety, and depression. I really feel that the psychological effects were directly related to my use of Propecia.
I had about quit everything until I made the excellent decision to use Avodart, in conjunction with Rogaine. Supposedly, these two medications will greatly help hault further hairloss, and provide moderate to good regrowth.
Well, an entire year has passed rather quickly, and it seems that the results are still coming. You will see the photos below.
This is a pic of my hair in May, 2005:
and in June, 2005:
III. Expectations
My expectations with Propecia, simply, were a hault of all further hairloss, regrowth, and more density. That never happened within those 10 and a half months.
Before beginning Avodart OR Propecia, I told myself that I wouldn't care if I had a receding hairline, so long as the hair atop was still thick.
IV. Progress (Photo Assessment)
Monthly photos can be found at my hairloss journal ( http://www.hairlosshelp.com/websites/aplunk1/ ) I am only displaying a few here so that the page can load quicker.
Avodart, Day 1:
Avodart, 5.5 Months (Months 1-6, the Kitchen Sink Approach):
Avodart, 10 Months:
Avodart, 1 Year:
Granted, I knowI have quite a bit of dandruff in these pictures. It's not actually dandruff, but PPG, from liquid minoxidil. Unable to afford the foam the last few months, I've been using generic minoxidil to substitute. I'm never, EVER doing back to liquid minoxidil after seeing these pictures. Luckily, I just got my new three-month supply of Rogaine Foam.
Sorry about the quality of the pictures. I will provide better pics within the week.
V. Side Effects
Though I had severe side effects with Propecia, my side effects with dutasteride are NOTHING in comparison.
During the first 4-6 months of use, I noticed absolutely NO side effects.
There are a few things I now notice, and they include:
Decrease in Libido
This wasn't a problem the first 6 months, but it has gradually come and gone. It hasn't been bothering me lately, and I can still easily get it up... Nothing compared to the loss of libido on Propecia.
Decreased Focus/Brain Fog
Unfortunately, I've found that Avodart has made me often feel slightly light-headed, as if dehydrated, 1-3 hours after taking it. It gradually goes away. I, of course, take it on an empty stomache, which could be causing this.
Disappearance of ACNE
All gone... All of it. It's wonderful Finasteride, on the other hand, increased the acne on my body. Fortunately, the Avodart has cleared it up VERY well.
Increased Belly and Chest Fat
This is a serious problem for me, because I've noticed some serious gains in chest fat. They're not a problem right now, but they may be symptomatic of gynocomastia.
Infreqeuent Headaches
Goes hand-in-hand with the brain fog.
Decrease in Body Hair
Decrease in arm and leg hair. I like it.
Slight Abdominal Pain
In the lower right side of my body. It could be my liver-- I should have blood tests taken.
Monthly Hair-Shedding Cycles
Every few weeks, or about once a month, I'll routinely go through large amount of hairloss, which hardly make a visible impact. The hair regrows, usually thicker and better-looking.
VI. Evaluation
During the course of 1 year of Avodart therapy, I've come to the conclusion that Avodart is a superior drug compared to Propecia. The side effects, for me,
are significantly less, manifest in less ways, and has the potential to regrow and maintain much more hair.
VII. Forum Opinion & Future Expectations
Members of the HairLossTalk.com forum, I ask for your opinions on the future course of my treatment. I feel that I have yielded excellent results on Avodart, but cost is an issue for this poor college student.
I'm considering switching to generic dutasteride, while maintaining the other treatments in my regimen. But, I'm also tempted to try Proscar, 1.25 mg of finasteride, in hopes that it will cut down on the cost,
and that the side effects might not return.
I hope to maintain a NW2-3 status for my 20's, and possibly 30's.
That's it for now. I'm rather exhausted.
Please feel free to leave questions, comments, or suggestions. I'm all ears.
I. Introduction and Regimen
II. History
III. Expectations
IV. Progress (Photographic Assessment)
V. Side effects
VI. Evaluation
VII. Forum Opinion & Future Expectations
I. Introduction and Regimen
Hi,
I'm Aplunk1, and I've been a member of these boards for over a year. I've visited these boards long before I became a member. (For all the guests reading this, I strongly urge you to register and join the forums.) Since joining these boards, I have documented my year-long progress with Avodart & Rogaine as a treatment for my hairloss. I am a Norwood 2 on the Norwood-Hamilton Scale, and most of my problems now are just
in the hairline region.
My regimen, fundamentally, consists of:
Avodart
1 capsule daily.I take it with coffee or green tea on an empty stomache.
Rogaine (foam & liquid)
I apply it over the front, temples, mid-scalp, and crown, twice daily. Rogaine has proved to be perhaps the most crucial component of my hairloss regimen. The Rogaine liquid, which is now being pushed out of my regimen, causes lots of dandruff. It's being phased out now, and the foam is now being used.
Copper Peptides
2 times daily. Although I've used many brands of copper peptides, I only recommend Tricomin or American Crew Revitalize. I
personally prefer the American Crew Revitalize for its smell and added anti-hairloss components. (As well as the price!)
3x Nizoral or Head & Shoulders During the Week
Keeps the liquid Rogaine itching down, and helps to regrow hair. These shampoos really compliment a hairloss sufferer's regimen.
3-6 Grams of MSM
Keeps hairs in the growing phase longer, grows hairs longer and darker. Excellent for achieving faster results.
The regimen used during the first 6 months of treatment, which yielded the BEST results, but was very time consuming:
1x Avodart
2x Rogaine
2x Topical spironolactone Lotion (5%)
1x Topical spironolactone Liquid (2%)
3x weekly Nizoral and Nioxin Shampoo (#2)
5-8 Grams of MSM
1-2 L-Lysine Tablets (500mg I believe?)
2-3 grams of L-Arginine
2x Tricomin Follicle Therapy Spray
II. History
Prior to joining these boards and my treatment with Avodart (dutasteride) and Rogaine (minoxidil), I was prescribed Propecia.
I was 19 years old at the time, and used Propecia for 10 and a half months, somewhat inconsistently (meaning I skipped a few days every month) I had a quarter-sized baldspot on the back of my head, and the density of my hair on top was cut in half. Propecia did very little for me,
except that is helped to regrow the baldspot... Yet, my hair still thinned. I was a Norwood 1/1.5 when I began Propecia, and I maintined the same coverage area, except that it hair became thinner and density decreased... Sort of like diffuse thinning.
This is my Norwood, according to the new Armani Hairloss Scale:
The sexual side effects from Propecia were VERY evident. I had impotence, severely decreased libido, nervousness, anxiety, and depression. I really feel that the psychological effects were directly related to my use of Propecia.
I had about quit everything until I made the excellent decision to use Avodart, in conjunction with Rogaine. Supposedly, these two medications will greatly help hault further hairloss, and provide moderate to good regrowth.
Well, an entire year has passed rather quickly, and it seems that the results are still coming. You will see the photos below.
This is a pic of my hair in May, 2005:
and in June, 2005:
III. Expectations
My expectations with Propecia, simply, were a hault of all further hairloss, regrowth, and more density. That never happened within those 10 and a half months.
Before beginning Avodart OR Propecia, I told myself that I wouldn't care if I had a receding hairline, so long as the hair atop was still thick.
IV. Progress (Photo Assessment)
Monthly photos can be found at my hairloss journal ( http://www.hairlosshelp.com/websites/aplunk1/ ) I am only displaying a few here so that the page can load quicker.
Avodart, Day 1:
Avodart, 5.5 Months (Months 1-6, the Kitchen Sink Approach):
Avodart, 10 Months:
Avodart, 1 Year:
Granted, I knowI have quite a bit of dandruff in these pictures. It's not actually dandruff, but PPG, from liquid minoxidil. Unable to afford the foam the last few months, I've been using generic minoxidil to substitute. I'm never, EVER doing back to liquid minoxidil after seeing these pictures. Luckily, I just got my new three-month supply of Rogaine Foam.
Sorry about the quality of the pictures. I will provide better pics within the week.
V. Side Effects
Though I had severe side effects with Propecia, my side effects with dutasteride are NOTHING in comparison.
During the first 4-6 months of use, I noticed absolutely NO side effects.
There are a few things I now notice, and they include:
Decrease in Libido
This wasn't a problem the first 6 months, but it has gradually come and gone. It hasn't been bothering me lately, and I can still easily get it up... Nothing compared to the loss of libido on Propecia.
Decreased Focus/Brain Fog
Unfortunately, I've found that Avodart has made me often feel slightly light-headed, as if dehydrated, 1-3 hours after taking it. It gradually goes away. I, of course, take it on an empty stomache, which could be causing this.
Disappearance of ACNE
All gone... All of it. It's wonderful
Finasteride, on the other hand, increased the acne on my body. Fortunately, the Avodart has cleared it up VERY well.Increased Belly and Chest Fat
This is a serious problem for me, because I've noticed some serious gains in chest fat. They're not a problem right now, but they may be symptomatic of gynocomastia.
Infreqeuent Headaches
Goes hand-in-hand with the brain fog.
Decrease in Body Hair
Decrease in arm and leg hair. I like it.
Slight Abdominal Pain
In the lower right side of my body. It could be my liver-- I should have blood tests taken.
Monthly Hair-Shedding Cycles
Every few weeks, or about once a month, I'll routinely go through large amount of hairloss, which hardly make a visible impact. The hair regrows, usually thicker and better-looking.
VI. Evaluation
During the course of 1 year of Avodart therapy, I've come to the conclusion that Avodart is a superior drug compared to Propecia. The side effects, for me,
are significantly less, manifest in less ways, and has the potential to regrow and maintain much more hair.
VII. Forum Opinion & Future Expectations
Members of the HairLossTalk.com forum, I ask for your opinions on the future course of my treatment. I feel that I have yielded excellent results on Avodart, but cost is an issue for this poor college student.
I'm considering switching to generic dutasteride, while maintaining the other treatments in my regimen. But, I'm also tempted to try Proscar, 1.25 mg of finasteride, in hopes that it will cut down on the cost,
and that the side effects might not return.
I hope to maintain a NW2-3 status for my 20's, and possibly 30's.
That's it for now. I'm rather exhausted.
Please feel free to leave questions, comments, or suggestions. I'm all ears.
