21 Year Old Male with Hair Medication Questions

Dear Doctor,
I just recently stumbled across your site while doing research. I’m glad that I can actually speak with a doctor, as opposed to self-proclaimed hair loss zealots on forums and other sites. Here is my current situation.

I’m 21 and about four months, and I do believe that my hairloss started when I was just turning 19, maybe even as early as 18. All my hairloss practically is from the crown area. It started with a quarter sized essential bald spot, and its spreading to either side of my crown. My hair was always thick, and it has thinned somewhat, but still remains pretty thick. I have little to no signs of a receeding hairline. I tried finasteride (finpecia, www.unitedpharmacies.com) for six months, and tried generic mixodil 5% for a little over a month. Currently I am taking nothing, and it seems to be getting somewhat worse. I am a college student, so once I get enough money I intend to take finasteride again.

I have the following questions…

1. Is the generic finasteride I found on unitedpharmacies.com legitimate?
2. Should I definitely use Minoxidil in conjuction with finasteride?
3. Are there any shampoos/conditioners, that will help my situation?
4. I’ve heard that in Canada hair transplants are much cheaper than in America
5. Is Hair cloning going to be legal in any time in the near future?
6. Maintaining hair is one thing, but I would really like to regrow. Is there anything besides the above mentioned treatments that may help my cause?

1. Please be aware that finasteride is covered by a series of U.S. Patents held by Merck (drug company), one of which I believe is about to expire shortly. I am not in the drug manufacturing business so I can not state with any certainty that someone will be able to manufacture and sell a ‘generic’ Propecia in the United States anytime soon. Any generic finasteride you purchase, may or may not actually be finasteride — there is no way for you to easily be sure.
2. You do not need to use Minoxidil while being on Finasteride, especially considering that you are college student without much money, but crown hair loss (your pattern) is most impacted to finasteride, so that would be my drug of choice here. If you want to be sure and knock down the price, then some people will purchase Merck’s Proscar (5 mgs of finasteride) and cut it into quarters — though it is available by doctor’s prescription only. I can not advise that you do this, but I know that it is done. I believe in Propecia/Proscar/finasteride use in all genetically balding young men.
3. I don’t believe one brand of shampoo/conditioner is better than the other in saving your hair.
4. See my blog entry titled The Truth About Cheap Hair Transplants and draw your own conclusions. Buyer beware.
5. See the Hair Cloning category, but don’t hold your breath.
6. Not that I can endorse.