Don't Know Whether To Take Finasteride, Help

[fixthis]

I'm 21 and approaching norwood 3, this whole ordeal has seriously depressed me. I've been losing my hair since the age of 18 I've known about this drug for a while but the side effects put me off but the scientific studies say that it's safe. I've been using rogaine for half a year but not much has come out of it. I'm also 5'6

 

[Rudiger]

but the side effects put me off but the scientific studies say that it's safe.

I think you've answered your own question and need a few others to validate it.

It may not be completely 100% safe for absolutely everyone, however permanent sides are incredibly rare to my knowledge. If you get sides then jump off it, and don't let yourself get bogged down by the sides either, that's what can cause them in the first place.

So jump on finasteride, give yourself a chance of having something to maintain for the inevitable hair transplant (assuming at age 21 you don't have the money to get one yet).

Past NW3 and it's practically end game.

 

[shookwun]

I think you've answered your own question and need a few others to validate it.

It may not be completely 100% safe for absolutely everyone, however permanent sides are incredibly rare to my knowledge. If you get sides then jump off it, and don't let yourself get bogged down by the sides either, that's what can cause them in the first place.

So jump on finasteride, give yourself a chance of having something to maintain for the inevitable hair transplant (assuming at age 21 you don't have the money to get one yet).

Past NW3 and it's practically end game.

After NW3 it's game over. Start going into denial, and panicking into treatment regardless of the pseudo side effects imagined.

A lot of people do this. Are content, then panick into treatment when there hair is to far gone.


As I like to say, the side effects of being bald are worse then those imagined, and minor ones that could potentially happened while on finasteride.

 

[fixthis]

I think you've answered your own question and need a few others to validate it.

It may not be completely 100% safe for absolutely everyone, however permanent sides are incredibly rare to my knowledge. If you get sides then jump off it, and don't let yourself get bogged down by the sides either, that's what can cause them in the first place.

So jump on finasteride, give yourself a chance of having something to maintain for the inevitable hair transplant (assuming at age 21 you don't have the money to get one yet).

Past NW3 and it's practically end game.

Thanks, I'll try and get an online prescription. Like the fact my doctor was sympathetic about it when i went today he didn't say something like 'shave it off bro' maybe because he was a guy. I'm hoping to take it for a few years until something better comes out, I think that's a fairly realistic view with the recent news of the treatments that will be coming out. Also do you think it will affect gym progress?

 

[fixthis]

After NW3 it's game over. Start going into denial, and panicking into treatment regardless of the pseudo side effects imagined.

A lot of people do this. Are content, then panick into treatment when there hair is to far gone.


As I like to say, the side effects of being bald are worse then those imagined, and minor ones that could potentially happened while on finasteride.

Are both of you guys on finasteride? If so how has it been in terms of hair progress and sides

 

[Rudiger]

Thanks, I'll try and get an online prescription. Like the fact my doctor was sympathetic about it when i went today he didn't say something like 'shave it off bro' maybe because he was a guy. I'm hoping to take it for a few years until something better comes out, I think that's a fairly realistic view with the recent news of the treatments that will be coming out. Also do you think it will affect gym progress?

Are both of you guys on finasteride? If so how has it been in terms of hair progress and sides

I'm on finasteride for about a year and a half nearly, maintained my diffusing hair around the crown and generally top area, the receding "island" fringe formation has shown significant re-growth, even if small hairs, that's been highly positive and given the impression of a hair line when it was disappearing.

I was 24 when NW2 and jumped on regaine, got some re-growth for a few years until it eventually plateau'd and then diffused, age 28 on propecia (continuing finasteride, joined nizoral in the mix if that makes any difference now) and 30 now.

So although I've had a better story than most people on minoxidil and finasteride, I think there's a huge difference between someone who's NW2 at 24, and someone who's NW3 in their early 20's. I don't know why I responded well (and nobody does) but my gut feeling is that it's a big expectation to feel that genetically you can get anything more than maintaining. Just as a heads-up.

As for the gym, no it should have no impact whatsoever. Do you use any stronger supplements for working out? Steroids can be crippling, there's even lots of rumours and insistence from fitness youtubers that creatine can speed up male pattern baldness for those who naturally have it (so not necessarily create baldness, but speed up the process for those who already have it genetically) which is why my monohydrate will sit untouched in my cupboard, definitely until after a hair transplant, and most likely forever.

 

[fixthis]

I'm on finasteride for about a year and a half nearly, maintained my diffusing hair around the crown and generally top area, the receding "island" fringe formation has shown significant re-growth, even if small hairs, that's been highly positive and given the impression of a hair line when it was disappearing.

I was 24 when NW2 and jumped on regaine, got some re-growth for a few years until it eventually plateau'd and then diffused, age 28 on propecia (continuing finasteride, joined nizoral in the mix if that makes any difference now) and 30 now.

So although I've had a better story than most people on minoxidil and finasteride, I think there's a huge difference between someone who's NW2 at 24, and someone who's NW3 in their early 20's. I don't know why I responded well (and nobody does) but my gut feeling is that it's a big expectation to feel that genetically you can get anything more than maintaining. Just as a heads-up.

As for the gym, no it should have no impact whatsoever. Do you use any stronger supplements for working out? Steroids can be crippling, there's even lots of rumours and insistence from fitness youtubers that creatine can speed up male pattern baldness for those who naturally have it (so not necessarily create baldness, but speed up the process for those who already have it genetically) which is why my monohydrate will sit untouched in my cupboard, definitely until after a hair transplant, and most likely forever.

Yeah sounds like you responded well, What about the side effects have you noticed any? Also no I've not touched any of that stuff, just lifting and trying to cut my weight a bit.

 

[Rudiger]

Only "side effect" was increased libido (yes I'm a c***).

 

[fixthis]

Only "side effect" was increased libido (yes I'm a c***).

That's a side effect many would not mind having lol

 

[Rudiger]

I've seen others say they've had it as well, for me it lasted 2 or maybe 3 months at most. But it's still a concern, you don't want this stuff messing with your hormones whatsoever, there's a worry that once the initial increase wears off there may be a general decline, which luckily never happened.

But yes that was pretty much it, if there was anything such as "brain fog" (which is a common bullshit "side" that I hear) then I'd just choose to ignore that sh*t, I mean c'mon, this is your hair.

I've seen people write sh*t like "I tried finasteride for a whole month but I didn't feel as clear, I'd walk into a room and forget why" as if that doesn't happen to people all the time, but suddenly now they're on finasteride it's a huge concern.

I'd basically have to feel like I have dementia, and can't remember my best friends name, before you could get me off a drug that could maintain my hair.

 

[Baldingat188]

I think propecia is worth a try but it depends how much you value your hair. I am also short and would not look good without hair so I'm trying very hard to keep it

I've been on it for a month and no noticeable sides *knock on wood* . All we can do is hope

 

[fixthis]

I've seen others say they've had it as well, for me it lasted 2 or maybe 3 months at most. But it's still a concern, you don't want this stuff messing with your hormones whatsoever, there's a worry that once the initial increase wears off there may be a general decline, which luckily never happened.

But yes that was pretty much it, if there was anything such as "brain fog" (which is a common bullshit "side" that I hear) then I'd just choose to ignore that sh*t, I mean c'mon, this is your hair.

I've seen people write sh*t like "I tried finasteride for a whole month but I didn't feel as clear, I'd walk into a room and forget why" as if that doesn't happen to people all the time, but suddenly now they're on finasteride it's a huge concern.

I'd basically have to feel like I have dementia, and can't remember my best friends name, before you could get me off a drug that could maintain my hair.

Yeah like I've had my balls ache bad a few weeks ago and I realised that had I been on finasteride I would've attributed it to that or similarly a few weeks back my nipple area became inflamed I think it was because I shaved my chest. The only thing I can say for sure is hairloss has caused me an extreme amount of stress and depression and I don't say that lightly. The only good thing form this is that there's better treatments in the near future which I'm hopeful on like shesido and tsuji

 

[Guzam]

I'm 21 and approaching norwood 3, this whole ordeal has seriously depressed me. I've been losing my hair since the age of 18 I've known about this drug for a while but the side effects put me off but the scientific studies say that it's safe. I've been using rogaine for half a year but not much has come out of it. I'm also 5'6

Take it. You are like me. Same situation, same age, same pattern, but different height.

I jumped on fina and I obtained some peace of mind: hair loss was destroying me and I had self harm/panic episodes.

You have to give yourself a chance. Sides are very rare and everything (except maybe 1%) on the internet is fear mongering, nocebo or hypochondria.

As @h.l. and @shookwun said, above NW3 it's youth over regardless of age. f*****g do it.

 

[fixthis]

Take it. You are like me. Same situation, same age, same pattern, but different height.

I jumped on fina and I obtained some peace of mind: hair loss was destroying me and I had self harm/panic episodes.

You have to give yourself a chance. Sides are very rare and everything (except maybe 1%) on the internet is fear mongering, nocebo or hypochondria.

As @h.l. and @shookwun said, above NW3 it's youth over regardless of age. f*****g do it.

I think when you're very young such as 21 it's worse than being bald at 30 that isn't to say going bald at any age is fun but early 20's are brutal. My brother was telling me there's someone on his course that's full blown nw6 like full on bald and the guy's only 19.

The only good thing about being bald at a very young age today is that there's a lot more optimism about future treatments.

 

[Baldingat188]

I think when you're very young such as 21 it's worse than being bald at 30 that isn't to say going bald at any age is fun but early 20's are brutal. My brother was telling me there's someone on his course that's full blown nw6 like full on bald and the guy's only 19.

The only good thing about being bald at a very young age today is that there's a lot more optimism about future treatments.

Man it is brutal. Sometimes it feels unreal , I feel like an old man. And there's no where you can Talk about balding because It's "disgusting " and"shameful". At least for people who are gay are something they get support . Baldness is just like lol.

 

[davesmith420]

A finasteride pill a day helps to keep the ugliness away

 

[Patrick_Bateman]

Get on finasteride asap. You should also be using a ketoconazole shampoo, they aren't particularily expensive and it's scientifically proven to regrow hair. There's no reason not to, you have to buy a shampoo anyways, right?

I started finasteride at 20 I'm 22 now, and I have experienced no sides whatsoever apart from slight ball ache the first 5 days or so. Definitely worth trying.

In my opinion you should try everything to avoid being a short bald man in your early twenties.

On a different note, is there any scientific research showing that creatine speeds up your hairloss? I recently started taking it, but if it speeds up hairloss I'll have to stop. Vaguely recall @David_MPN used creatine in the past? @shookwun you probably know more about creatine and hairloss.
Would really like if someone could shed some light on this as I don't want to use it if it accelerates hairloss.

 

[Baldingat188]

Get on finasteride asap. You should also be using a ketoconazole shampoo, they aren't particularily expensive and it's scientifically proven to regrow hair. There's no reason not to, you have to buy a shampoo anyways, right?

I started finasteride at 20 I'm 22 now, and I have experienced no sides whatsoever apart from slight ball ache the first 5 days or so. Definitely worth trying.

In my opinion you should try everything to avoid being a short bald man in your early twenties.

On a different note, is there any scientific research showing that creatine speeds up your hairloss? I recently started taking it, but if it speeds up hairloss I'll have to stop. Vaguely recall @David_MPN used creatine in the past? @shookwun you probably know more about creatine and hairloss.
Would really like if someone could shed some light on this as I don't want to use it if it accelerates hairloss.

Without knowing much about it , I wouldn't take creatine. Maybe it's just me but risking being balder for slightly better workout doesn't sound good

Did you maintain on finasteride ? Regrow ?

 

[Afro_Vacancy]

Get on finasteride asap. You should also be using a ketoconazole shampoo, they aren't particularily expensive and it's scientifically proven to regrow hair. There's no reason not to, you have to buy a shampoo anyways, right?

I started finasteride at 20 I'm 22 now, and I have experienced no sides whatsoever apart from slight ball ache the first 5 days or so. Definitely worth trying.

In my opinion you should try everything to avoid being a short bald man in your early twenties.

On a different note, is there any scientific research showing that creatine speeds up your hairloss? I recently started taking it, but if it speeds up hairloss I'll have to stop. Vaguely recall @David_MPN used creatine in the past? @shookwun you probably know more about creatine and hairloss.
Would really like if someone could shed some light on this as I don't want to use it if it accelerates hairloss.

There's one scientific reference associating creatine use with increased serum DHT levels.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19741313

If you're on finasteride you obviously won't get the increase, as there's no five-alpha reductase in your system to make the DHT in the first place. Second, it's a single study and it's well that you shouldn't change your life based on a single study -- they're often flukes.

 

[fixthis]

Man it is brutal. Sometimes it feels unreal , I feel like an old man. And there's no where you can Talk about balding because It's "disgusting " and"shameful". At least for people who are gay are something they get support . Baldness is just like lol.

I opened up to my friend about it a few weeks ago, he was supportive. Even my doctor was and he's an NW1. What I will say is that baldness isn't bad on everyone like in my gym there's a few guys that pull it off nicely but that's not the rule. The only good thing is that my head shape isn't sh*t and I don't have pale skin, but I'd still rather not go bald.

Also this is an honest question and anyone's welcome to answer it, over the past few years I've become more negative because of being short and bald. I was saying this to my mum, that anyone would be like this in my circumstances, it's not that I'm a negative person by nature but my circumstances have pushed me to this point. Do you think it's fair that I'm this way? I mean wouldn't most people be, if the answer is yes then there's not much wrong with me mentally. I do suffer from depression mainly because of the hairloss but also because of the weather. It's just after a few years the mental pain builds up and it hurts pretty bad as weak as that sounds