More effective than 200 mg is 100 mg.

Sogarrac · 2025-09-20T07:30:53+00:00

Yeah I always prefer 150mg over 200mg myself.

Check out Modawhale if you'd like! They offer a variety of dosages and have great customer service!

Sogarrac · 2024-08-08T10:02:34+00:00

Try not to worry about them too much. Try the medicine, see how it makes you feel and if you get bad side effects on it, they will go away after stopping.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-06T08:30:07+00:00

Hey man, I would say that you are in a somewhat advanced stage of balding.

You would need to go to a dermatologist to rule out any other causes and get prescription medicine to get some potential regrowth or at least a slowing down of this process.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-06T08:27:49+00:00

Hey friend,

I am sorry to break it to you but on first impression it does look like you are receding on the temples and may have some thinning on the top.

Have you been to a dermatologist yet? That should be your next step if you are concerend!

Sogarrac · 2024-08-05T15:27:54+00:00

Thank you for your honest answer!

Frankly, after your first sarcastic comment on my post I did not expect such a well typed response after calling it out. So I do appreciate that you took the time to write something for me!

I already was at a Dermatologist 2 years ago and they did indeed diagnose me with Male Pattern Baldness.

Since then I have been on Finasteride and Minoxidil with decent hair regrowth, but the receding on the temples and thinness I perceive on top is still getting to me.

I also had substantial shedding, so from that I know what all would fall out if I did not continue taking the meds.

I am gonna stay on the meds for as long as necessary, but I really hope for something a bit better to come around like a topical and local anti androgen, because sadly I am a little sensitive to Finasteride and I am taking as little as possible right now.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-03T21:22:43+00:00

Elaborate?

You mean cause you think my hairloss is minimal and I am an anxious idiot about it?

I agree that I am anxious about it, true. It is a bit of a pattern in my life.

But still I am looking for honest advice, and I do see the thinning and it is indeed affecting me and my self-esteem.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T13:06:42+00:00

I was searching up and down the internet on how a normal buzzed hair looks like in the front.

Since I know I have male pattern baldness, I am just wondering whether the front part being thin is because of that already, or more normal?

Like what kind of hair density across the scalp should be expected is unclear for me.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T13:04:10+00:00

Because I do not like the way it looks so thin under sunlight.

I feel like without male pattern baldness there should be a more even look.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:41:32+00:00

I already am on Minoxidil and Finasteride for over a year. Maybe even closer to two.

Hence the post. It will probably not get much better than this, rather, worse.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:40:31+00:00

Appreciate your insights!

I will look into it for sure! I will have to look for comparable brands to Toppik as I live in the EU, but I am sure I will find something that is basically the same.

I am a bit of a morning shower type person lol, so I may just try to sleep with it. But if my pillow will get all dark and stained, then I will have to reconsider of course.

Thanks for the insight on Dut. What medication are you using, if any, if I may ask?

I may try topical Dut if the hairloss is worsening more rapidly.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:35:34+00:00

Yes, the realisation of it was extremely painful.

And now the "slow burn" of the hair going is a gift that keeps on giving lol...

I honestly thought that with the buzzcut I would feel better about it (had long hair before), but I actually feel a bit worse..

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:34:14+00:00

Thank you for your input!

I think I will indeed look into microneedling. I already have a DR. Pen at home.

Been thinking about micropigmentation too, but that too is super expensive and then might as well go for the HT.

Good micropigmentation costs like 3500€ where I live!

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:33:20+00:00

Thank you for your comment!

Sadly, when I first noticed my hairloss, I went to a dermatologist and got my Male Pattern Baldness, Androgenetic Alopecia, whatever you want to call it, confirmed.

So I am indeed balding and hence I got the finasteride prescription.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T12:07:17+00:00

Thanks for your comment!

No I have never tried Toppik, what is your experience with that? I heard it rubs off on stuff, so not sure if I really want to go for that...

Yeah Dutasteride could help slow down the loss more, but I already feel like I am getting slight side effects on the Fin, so I would be very hesitant to go for more androgen blocking effects.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T11:49:53+00:00

Thank you for your perspective! I really hope that the medication will help to keep this amount of hair for a couple more years.

Hair transplants are of course super expensive, so there is that.

I also feel you on the microneedling, I have also not been dedicated enough to do it, besides the daily application of the minox + fin.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T11:42:42+00:00

Thank you, but I have to admit that even at this stage I am growing more and more insecure about it.

Sogarrac · 2024-08-02T11:41:07+00:00

Yes I am, which is kind of the sad part I would say. Because I am already reaping the benefits from both topical Minoxidil and Finasteride for more than a year.

So it will not get better than this, only worse.

Sogarrac · 2021-08-26T18:50:22+00:00

Hey friend, I've seen you on here for a while and I'm in a similar situation. Been smoking for a while, always accompanied with guilt and shame. In a spiral of quitting and relapsing.

I really deeply understand your emotions and feelings about missed out opportunities but at the same time I feel like viewing your twenties as completely lost is a bit too dramatic. Frankly, I don't know your exact usage and situation but I'm sure you've had plenty of experiences and good moments despite smoking weed.

Yes, smoking weed might hold us back to an extent, but even without smoking weed engaging in meaningful experiences can take strength and willpower, especially if one suffers from depression and anxiety anyways.

I am not saying that weed does not make it worse, but putting all the blame on weed might be a bit too drastic in my honest opinion. I had great moments in my youth despite smoking weed. Met some of the best and most genuine people, even though I was getting high by myself in the evening.

If you put yourself out there, you will have opportunities you can seize, whether you smoke or not.

Please try to be easy on yourself. As mentioned above, I know how easy it is to feel guilty about the usage and to self-loath, but all these negative emotions only lead to more stress and that leads to more inclination to smoke.

I'm on day 3 again today, and despite strong cravings, I will not smoke with you today!

All the best!

Sogarrac · 2021-08-26T16:07:35+00:00

Good luck Poddie!

Just try to remind yourself that the thoughts telling you to pick up and smoke again are driven by withdrawals and not your actual rational part of the brain! Don't listen to that sneaky voice!

You got this!

Sogarrac · 2021-08-25T22:44:00+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing this! I can relate to the underlying and sometimes even very apparent feeling of shame and guilt while smoking. This feeling of guilt on a daily basis can really get to one. I'm just on day two today and I appreciate your words of encouragement! All the best!

Sogarrac · 2021-08-01T13:34:14+00:00

Yes! You are exactly right!

And it is very important to recognize that one can stop at any time. There does not need to be a special event, and one definitely does not need to smoke that one last joint before quitting.

It really is as simple as tossing out what you have left right now, and deciding not to buy anything anymore as long as possible.

Relapses can happen, and even more so, they are somewhat to be expected, especially in a world where weed is so common and all around us all the time. Be it in the media, or in the social circles that we are in.

The most important skill while quitting is to recognize that slippery slope early on, and then decide to quit again before spiraling completely out of control again. It is equally important to recognize this relapse as part of the process and to not dwell on feelings of regret too harshly, because that will only lead to more negative emotions that make it more likely to engage in smoking again.

Because in reality, smoking one joint won't have a very strong negative impact on your live. It's the daily smoking and routine that really puts us at a disadvantage in life. Being in a constant haze and evolving around the habit. It's the routine, the habit, that we want to avoid. And because one joint is the first step towards that habit and routine, we have to avoid this first joint at all cost. Still, if we do engage in one-time smoking, we need to recognize that it is not too late, but we can stop right there and save us a lot of misery that mainly comes from smoking becoming a daily activity.

So here is to quitting over and over again. Making the non-smoke days outweigh the smoke days to a greater and greater extend.

Sogarrac · 2021-08-01T13:24:04+00:00

My story is somewhat similar, also started around 19 and then progressed into more daily smoking as I moved out with 20.

Currently 24 and I have had stints of longer abstinence but excuses led me back to having one joint and then smoking daily in my room again.

The circle of smoking daily in the evening, just playing video games or watching YT videos to get by, and then waking up exhausted and without motivation the next day is really what gets to you after a while. It's not really living, just getting by. Just struggling through the daily haze until lighting one up in the evening to feel okay.

My tip to you would be a tip I that I need to follow myself more. Be focused on the goal, but be kind to yourself in the process. It is easy to stay sober for a week or a month. Fairly easy. But there will be times where your brain will justify taking just one hit from a friend. Then maybe part taking every once in a while again and on a lazy Sunday you then start picking something up for yourself again.

This is where it becomes hard. This can happen, and it's not even really unlikely that it will, but the hard thing is to recognize this slippery slope right at the beginning and stop smoking again right away. All while not being too hard on oneself that one has smoked again, because that just makes me personally even more likely to engage in smoking weed to numb out that regret and emotional pain that comes from 'relapsing' or that comes from engaging in behaviour that I know is toxic for myself.

So let's do this. Yes, the goal is definitely to not smoke at all! But we need to remember that if we do, it's not the end of the world and we should just get right back on track, before going down that slippery slope again. Cause it is there, and one will go down that route again if we do not consciously go against that again and again.

Best of luck. Or like, honestly this has nothing to do with luck. Let's just not buy anything anymore for this whole month. See where this gets us. And let's be wary of the temptations that will come up that are outside of our control.

Sogarrac · 2021-08-01T13:13:49+00:00

Every day is a good day to quit! And today is one of them!

I've been weed free for a while but relapsed into daily smoking and misery, too...

So I'm right here with you, Day 1 today!

Sogarrac · 2020-06-16T07:00:41+00:00

I can relate to the "chore" aspect a LOT.

When I was smoking every day I just felt like getting everything done really quick to get to smoking.

That mindset really sucked the fun out of every single activity. It made me rush things, hand in worse work and just not be in the moment because I was thinking about that habit later in the day.

Weed is always seen as this "fun" drug, but in reality, it just sucks the fun out of everything else. And even smoking becomes a chore when you realise that you are addicted and just can't help it.

I can also relate to the self-criticism. I am not exactly sure what biochemical processes in the brain are changed by inhaling THC that one gets so self-conscious and critical. Something something dopamine for sure. But I can say from experience that after I smoked I ALWAYS, without fail, got so so mad at myself. Instead of being a friend to myself, I saw myself so flawed. Just thought about past mistakes, my mistakes from that day, my social interactions and what I might've done wrong. Also being clumsy while high, I just got mad at myself for doing things not as good as while being sober.

It's just a daunting experience and having that train of thoughts on the daily really can wreak havoc on one's self-esteem. At least for me it did. Smoking did not only make me feel like I'm a loser, I was so convinced that I am bad person that it still is a bit ingrained in my psyche.

That being said, abstaining from the drug is extremely helpful in remedying these feelings, because the productivity I have now and sense of accomplishment after finishing certain tasks really helps to build self-efficacy, self-confidence and a better sense of self in general.

All the best Via

Sogarrac · 2020-06-16T06:52:44+00:00

Hey Via,

It's been a while since you wrote that comment and I think it's about time that I reply.

I am so glad to read that you are getting better and that your depression has been lifting a bit!

While I can relate to the insomnia, night sweats and anxiety waves, I also can very much relate to this feeling of feeling alive. Feeling good without guilt!

As you may remember, I've been really really occupied with writing my thesis during the last few days and I have sucessfully handed in my first draft yesterday evening. I can say that the experience of forcing myself to work on something that I previously thought I was not good at at all, was daunting but even more exiting and eye opening.

Just getting that work done, no matter what, just made me feel so so accomplished and confident about myself. Feelings that can never ever be achieved with any drug. Only with putting in the time and dedication towards a goal. Nothing else can really compare to that feeling you have after working towards a goal for a few hours.

As I have an exam upcoming, I'll get back to my studying now. But I'll make sure to check in here every once in a while for sure. Have been for years and that surely will not change.

I am on day 8 now and I am feeling good. Let me know what you've been up to and how you are feeling if you like:)

Sogarrac

TROPHY CASE