Norwood 4-5 too late for Finasteride+minoxidil?

[Moz5x]

Generally speaking, you won’t know which one is working when you start multiple treatments at the same time. If you respond well then you will be stuck taking all of them. If you pick the wrong one to drop then you will lose ground uncessarily. It’s not an efficient way to proceed. You need about 6 months due to the nature of how hair cycles work. Unless you have super aggressive hairloss and are starting treatment late in the game it’s a better approach to start this way.

The recent studies of the last 5 years on low dose oral minoxidil all show a good safety profile. Doctors in the west are now slowly changing their attitudes towards OM because of this. There are doctors in SE Asia and Australia that have been prescribing LDOM for 10-20yrs.

One study on LDOM from Thailand in 2020 also monitored cardiovascular effects and showed no significant adverse effects:

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Once Daily in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label and Global Photographic Assessment - Dermatology and Therapy

Introduction Oral minoxidil is an antihypertensive vasodilator known to stimulate hair growth. The use of low-dose oral minoxidil for the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (Androgenetic Alopecia) is receiving increasing attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral...

link.springer.com

See 19:50

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

People are afraid of OM, but will have no problem taking hormone altering drugs that could possibly impact your sex life lol it's amazing. Their argument is "OM could kill you!" Well the last time I checked I know of ZERO studies or people who died from OM. There's a lot more reports of problems on hormonal drugs. Not saying some people shouldn't be cautious with OM, but it gets way more fear mongering than it deserves. The overwhelming majority of people should be able to tolerate at least a low dose. And the benefits are way beyond topical.

 

[ONE DRC]

Generally speaking, you won’t know which one is working when you start multiple treatments at the same time. If you respond well then you will be stuck taking all of them. If you pick the wrong one to drop then you will lose ground uncessarily. It’s not an efficient way to proceed. You need about 6 months due to the nature of how hair cycles work. Unless you have super aggressive hairloss and are starting treatment late in the game it’s a better approach to start this way.

The recent studies of the last 5 years on low dose oral minoxidil all show a good safety profile. Doctors in the west are now slowly changing their attitudes towards OM because of this. There are doctors in SE Asia and Australia that have been prescribing LDOM for 10-20yrs.

One study on LDOM from Thailand in 2020 also monitored cardiovascular effects and showed no significant adverse effects:

Efficacy and Safety of Oral Minoxidil 5 mg Once Daily in the Treatment of Male Patients with Androgenetic Alopecia: An Open-Label and Global Photographic Assessment - Dermatology and Therapy

Introduction Oral minoxidil is an antihypertensive vasodilator known to stimulate hair growth. The use of low-dose oral minoxidil for the treatment of male androgenetic alopecia (Androgenetic Alopecia) is receiving increasing attention. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral...

link.springer.com

See 19:50

So what's your theory if the first product doesn't work, now you waisted months on something that doesn't work.
I'm happy with the results I've gotten then wean off one at a time if a person wants, at least I didn't waist months and months hoping @ age 69 I don't have the time to spend on using possible useless products.
After 8 months my hair is finally filling in pretty good, if I did what you suggest I'd still be hairless.
I've already had 2 haircuts over the last 8 months, getting ready for another one.

 

[Moz5x]

If the first treatment does not work then you know 100% that it doesn’t work and you can move on to something else . My argument is that rarely is male pattern baldness so aggressive that 6 months makes a huge difference.

69 is not that old and I would like to believe you still have plenty of days ahead of you. For what it’s worth I’m glad you are happy with your situation. I hope it continues to work for you.

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

6 months is definitely a sure bet with anything, you'll know if it works by then. But if you make a change and have to wait another 6 months, and if it is the wrong change, then you could potentially waste an entire year and lose noticeable ground. I would say 3-4 months is still enough to know if a treatment is working. Most people at least see SOME results on finasteride/minoxidil by then (even if it is only maintenance). And if your hair is worse by then you really ought to consider other treatments.

 

[losingbattle88]

People are afraid of OM, but will have no problem taking hormone altering drugs that could possibly impact your sex life lol it's amazing. Their argument is "OM could kill you!" Well the last time I checked I know of ZERO studies or people who died from OM. There's a lot more reports of problems on hormonal drugs. Not saying some people shouldn't be cautious with OM, but it gets way more fear mongering than it deserves. The overwhelming majority of people should be able to tolerate at least a low dose. And the benefits are way beyond topical.

Oral min recarnated my dead mother thats how safe it is.

 

[Mr. Slap Head]

Oral min recarnated my dead mother thats how safe it is.

oral min resurrected my ancestors' dead follicles that's how potent it is

 

[ONE DRC]

That’s why you hit the issue from all sides with everything I mentioned enough time has been waisted wondering on what to do.
Who’s advice should I listen to, certainly not wait and see trial and error.

 

[BurningCoals]

Oral minoxidil solved world hunger