I chose the topical route to minimize any side effects. I took Finasteride orally for about two days before making the switch. I don't know if reading all those horror-stories imprinted something in my mind... but it made me hyper aware of any changes going on in my body.
Either way, I am terrible when it comes to remembering to take my pills. So combining as many routines together as I can is better for my long term consistency.
Making Your Own Topical Finasteride
Finasteride pills are very easy to crush, I simply used a small bowl with a metal spoon, at first. Later I hit Amazon for a more official tool to do the job.
Combining Finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor; with Minoxidil, a vasodilator, is a strategy some people consider more effective at combating hair loss. Finasteride works by reducing the production of dihydrotestosterone, while minoxidil works by widening blood vessels in the scalp. The idea behind combining these two medications is to hit hair loss from two different angles at the same time.
However, creating a homemade topical solution by combining these two medications involves significant considerations regarding dosage, solubility, efficacy, safety, and legality. Of course, we are making it for ourselves. So the main thing you need to be aware of is how much Finasteride we are mixing together.
Understanding The Ingredients
- Finasteride: A prescription medication primarily used to treat male pattern baldness and benign prostatic hyperplasia at the oral dose. It inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, responsible for converting testosterone to DHT.
- Minoxidil: An over-the-counter medication used to treat hair loss, which promotes hair growth by widening blood vessels in the scalp and increasing blood flow to hair follicles.
Thoughts About Combining Finasteride With Minoxidil
- Dosage and concentration: Determining the correct dosage of each medication for topical use is challenging. Too little may be ineffective, while too much could increase the risk of side effects.
- Solubility: Finasteride and Minoxidil have different solubility profiles, which can complicate the creation of a stable solution.
- Efficacy: While each medication has proven efficacy on its own, the effectiveness of a combined topical solution is less mainstream and understood. So results will vary depending on a multitude of factors, which you may or may not know.
- Safety: The risk of systemic absorption and side effects may be altered when these medications are applied topically, especially in a homemade mixture. While safe, you are still taking a risk that you must accept.
Steps To Making Your Own Finasteride + Minoxidil Solution
1. Consultation with a Healthcare Professional
It's crucial to discuss any plans with a healthcare provider, if you want to go about this in a way which is as close to 100% safe as possible. They can provide guidance on the safety, potential effectiveness, and legal aspects of using prescription medication in this way.
2. Acquiring the Ingredients
Finasteride is a prescription medication, and using it without a prescription is illegal in many jurisdictions. But getting a prescription is so easy, you don't even need to leave the house! Here is a post where I describe in detail how I got my Finasteride prescription at home. They come as tiny white 1mg tablets, with the official dosage being one pill a day.
Minoxidil is available over the counter in various concentrations, I got mine from Amazon because I was lazy. I chose the Kirkland Signature brand because I automatically trust anything from Costco, but there are many brands to choose from. They all come pretty much the same way, in little 60ml bottles with a dropper that dispenses in 1ml increments. The bottle says to apply it twice a day, but I do it just once.
3. Preparation
Finasteride tablets need to be crushed, then dissolved in a suitable solvent such as Minoxidil. Though more "official" sources will tell you to melt the Finasteride in a separate solvent first, then mix THAT into your bottle of Minoxidil. But I just toss it straight in with the Minoxidil.
Now the big question is, how many pills do I throw in this bad boi? During my initial experiment I mixed 30 pills into a 60ml bottle, then on my next bottle, I lowered that to 15 pills. I noticed the same if not better results, so I continued with that lower concentration.
4. Application
A dropper or another applicator can be used to apply the solution to the scalp. It's important to apply it consistently as part of your daily routine. Remember to give it time to absorb before doing anything that could wash or rub it away.
Conclusion
While the prospect of combining Finasteride and Minoxidil into a single topical treatment for hair loss might seem appealing, it's fraught with challenges and risks. At the end of the day, we are still using a medication in a way it wasn't intended. Like how Minoxidil was only meant for the crown, but people use it all over the place, like your face. Overall, my personal experiences are just that, my own experience. But if you decide to give it a shot, just be aware your results are not guaranteed.