I’m a 48 yr old male. I need some informative real talk, from patient and helpful people, please. I really hope to not get a little 3-word replies, I’m really incredibly depressed (lost my sister and father in recent years in horrible ways), am single, not thriving in a career so kinda poor, am struggling with other medications, and this is one problem I’d really like to figure out so I can focus on the other 5 things that are ruining my life.
Okay so I started noticing I was really losing my hairline about 3 years ago, tons of thinning at the front and some crown. I hadn’t really noticed because I (ironically) started shaving my head during COVID. Now my hair is long, past my shoulders (never had, it’s curly and great, wish I’d done it long ago), and while growing it out it became incredibly apparent I was losing my forehead hairline and some of my crown.
I bought some Rogaine foam and hated applying it, found it super difficult to keep applying it, especially twice a day (I would after a shower, then nearly always forget in the evening because I work evenings). I hated how it made my hair feel, and never got results.
So I got Dutasteride prescribed 0.5mg capsules, took them for 4-5 months and saw no difference, talked to my doctor and she prescribed Finesteride and I stopped Dut. Been taking Finasteride 1mg since March and I’m still emptying out a handful of hair from my hairbrush once a week now in nearly August.
Went to Hims and Locklabs, filled out the stuff, and stopped before buying the Min/Fin/Biotin combo pills because I figured I’d bring it up to my doctor, maybe I could get it cheaper with my (horrible) insurance.
So I go to my PCP doctor for ADHD med consultation again the other day, brought up my hair and she prescribed Spironolactone 25mg to take. Got it filled for $35 after insurance for 90 days. Got home and started reading about it and I’m freaking out about it being used for transitioning M->F and that it’s primarily for women, etc. Seems very, very wrong.
Had to stop reading because I was panicking. There’s just too much information, kinds of meds, dosages, topical, pills, opinions, and all that, and that’s before I spazz over potential side effects.
I need a pill/pills. The topical thing twice daily is never going to work for me, for like, the rest of my life.
Can anyone patiently and clearly explain what I should do here to get the best results? I can’t afford surgery and wouldn’t even know where to start. I read and read in this forum and on sites and it’s just a huge jumble of what to do. I already started taking Biotin supplements a month ago. Get combo pills from Hims? Locklab? Can pills can also be bought OTC now? From another country? This is all so confusing. Please help.