Easing Into A Drastic Regimen. Please Help!

[Pixie]

Hello everyone, I would really appreciate a little guidance:

I currently take 1mg of finasteride ED and use Nizoral 2x weekly. I've been on this regimen for 5 months and a few days. My results are mixed. My front hairline and left temple lost ground (maybe a cm) and density while my right actually regrew a very modest amount of hair. (Left temple is nw3 right is nw2. Age 23 btw)

I'm afraid that finasteride may not be enough to give me the results I desire due to my family history of harsh male pattern baldness. After seeing bridgeburns epic recovery, I decided that I want to do a similar regimen. I want to TRY to be as minimalist as possible for athletic performance and price reasons, however, in the end: "Hair is life."

My questions are:

1. How much longer should I be on finasteride to truly gauge it's full effect on me, and then add to my regimen?

2. What AA should I stack with finasteride? Im split on duta 2x week and spironolactone 50mg Ed. Is either even enough?

3. Is estrogen necassary for regrowth? I plan to use it topically on my hairline if it is.

4. How much shedding should I expect?

Thanks in advance!

 

[InvaderZim]

I don't think oral spironolactone 50 mg ED is effective for your hair, but you can try.

 

[Pixie]

I notice that you do 200mg Ed in your regimen. How is your experience with that? Did you get any regrowth?

 

[InvaderZim]

I notice that you do 200mg Ed in your regimen. How is your experience with that? Did you get any regrowth?

I just started today.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

50mg spironolactone is too weak, that's the standard dose for Acne. If you want to use it for male pattern baldness you need at LEAST 150mg. Preferably 200mg. Even then I don't recommend it ( for male pattern baldness )

 

[Kornel]

50mg spironolactone is too weak, that's the standard dose for Acne. If you want to use it for male pattern baldness you need at LEAST 150mg. Preferably 200mg. Even then I don't recommend it ( for male pattern baldness )

Why don't you recommend it?

 

[AnxiousAndy]

Why don't you recommend it?

Because even at sufficient dosage spironolactone is a weak Anti androgen.

 

[real kombo]

Because even at sufficient dosage spironolactone is a weak Anti androgen.

Then why do people take it to transition along with estrogen?

 

[Pixie]

Alright, well then I'll probably hop on 200mg spironolactone to start. Very scared of CPA and bica is waaaay too expensive for me to maintain.

Would love to hear from anyone who's in spironolactone. Progress? Sides? Anything!

 

[mojojuju224]

Why do you want to jump on all of this stuff? You haven't even given finasteride time to work...You're supposed to wait a year at least to gauge how finasteride is working for you. Hair doesn't magically grow overnight; it takes a long time for hair to minaturize so it can take just as long to grow back. You're being impatient and talking about jumping on off-label drugs like spironolactone, which is not prescribed to men with Androgenetic Alopecia for a reason. If after a year you are still unsatisfied (which you assuredly will be based on this post), think about adding Minoxidil. Just continue doing what you are doing, dude.

 

[AnxiousAndy]

Then why do people take it to transition along with estrogen?

Because CPA is illegal in the states. In the UK they use CPA.

 

[real kombo]

Why do you want to jump on all of this stuff? You haven't even given finasteride time to work...You're supposed to wait a year at least to gauge how finasteride is working for you. Hair doesn't magically grow overnight; it takes a long time for hair to minaturize so it can take just as long to grow back. You're being impatient and talking about jumping on off-label drugs like spironolactone, which is not prescribed to men with Androgenetic Alopecia for a reason. If after a year you are still unsatisfied (which you assuredly will be based on this post), think about adding Minoxidil. Just continue doing what you are doing, dude.

I agree with the spironolactone bit, but I don't see an issue with him using minoxidil jointly with finasteride.

 

[itsjustsimon]

Dude,

1st line of attack: Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dermaroller, Nizoral, do it for 1 year, if not working try:
2nd line of attack: Dutasteride, RU/CB, Dermaroller, Minoxidil, Nizoral, do it for 1 year, if not working try:
3rd line of attack: Dutasteride, Darolutamide, Dermaroller, Minoxidil/Oral minoxidil, Seti/Fevi or PGE2.

Oral spironolactone is somewhere in the 4-5th ( and to be honest I think it's a shitty drug for Androgenetic Alopecia anyway ) and you haven't even started with the 1st yet.

Patience man.

 

[Pixie]

Why do you want to jump on all of this stuff? You haven't even given finasteride time to work...You're supposed to wait a year at least to gauge how finasteride is working for you. Hair doesn't magically grow overnight; it takes a long time for hair to minaturize so it can take just as long to grow back. You're being impatient and talking about jumping on off-label drugs like spironolactone, which is not prescribed to men with Androgenetic Alopecia for a reason. If after a year you are still unsatisfied (which you assuredly will be based on this post), think about adding Minoxidil. Just continue doing what you are doing, dude.

Dude,

1st line of attack: Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dermaroller, Nizoral, do it for 1 year, if not working try:
2nd line of attack: Dutasteride, RU/CB, Dermaroller, Minoxidil, Nizoral, do it for 1 year, if not working try:
3rd line of attack: Dutasteride, Darolutamide, Dermaroller, Minoxidil/Oral minoxidil, Seti/Fevi or PGE2.

Oral spironolactone is somewhere in the 4-5th ( and to be honest I think it's a shitty drug for Androgenetic Alopecia anyway ) and you haven't even started with the 1st yet.

Patience man.

I really appreciate this input from you guys. I guess I am getting impatient. I'm just afraid of being NW4+, and it being too late by the time I get to an effective treatment.

Even before I started receding I loved my hair more than anything!

 

[Manochoice]

Since you've decided to go for for the Finasteride, you should probably stick to it, its regimen and its expectations. Give one year to Fina, Minoxidil and Nizoral and then assess your results and see what's next. In the mean time save some liver for your later days.

 

[Pixie]

Since you've decided to for for the Finasteride, you should probably stick to it, its regimen and it expectations. Give one year to Fina, Minoxidil and Nizoral and then assess your results and see what's next. In the mean time save some liver for your later days.

Thanks for the response! I have decided to take the advice ITT about being patient and waiting out a year to see how well the finasteride works!

I will however add loniten since minoxidil is the only thing I'm missing from the big 3.

 

[Manochoice]

You should probably also have a photo journal. It might help you better then trying to remember how your hair looked months ago. This way you might be able to compare and observe and results.

 

[Pixie]

Truthfully, I hate looking at my hairline, it's a source of great anxiety and shame for me, but for the sake of gauging progress, it seems essential! I think I'll take your suggestion and keep a personal log. Thanks again!