Hi
Hair meds come with a definite learning curve and both Finasteride and Minoxidil have potential side effects, which is seems you are aware of. I can give you the benefit of my experience but obviously it could all be different for you.
I commenced taking meds on 1st January 2022 and I do feel they have helped me achieve some gains. I started using Regaine foam (Minoxidil) twice daily and 1mg Finasteride daily. I had zero negative reaction to Minoxidil and initially thought I was fine with Finasteride, but then started to worry I was seeing side effects so reduced to 1mg 3x per week. In the end I was sufficiently concerned that I switched to using a Finasteride+Minoxidil combined topical formula and I’ve been very happy since then that it causes zero side effects. I’ve also added in 1.25mg of oral Minoxidil daily and have zero side effects from that too.
Everything I’ve heard suggests that oral meds are likely to give a stronger effect, but are also likely to bring with them a greater chance of side effects. I’m very keen to get the best outcomes so am very tempted to give oral Finasteride another chance, but am wary of side effects. I’m still not sure if they were causing any or whether it is the fear of them that is the problem. Like I say though, I definitely experience no sides from the topical version.
I’m not a medical practitioner and don’t know if you have reasons to suspect that topical Finasteride will cause particular issues for you, such as the depression you mentioned? If you have a history of depression and you worry that this will cause it, then I guess you’re in a similar situation to me, in that just the thought that you might experience the sides you’re fearful of might well induce them. For me a key difference is that sides from oral Finasteride are fairly widely reported, whereas I’ve not really seen any posts from people experiencing sides from topical Finasteride? The sample size for topical isn’t great though for sure so there’s definitely little in the way of conclusive evidence.
I think the stark truth is, from what I’ve seen at least, is that the impact of any of these meds is going to be to a degree unpredictable and there’s nothing I nor anyone else can do to guarantee a certain outcome, either positive with hair regrowth or negative in terms of sides. It’s definitely a bit of a test and learn approach for everyone. On that basis the only way to know if you’ll get sides is to give them a go. The biggest bit of known information is how you are as a person and you know better than anyone how you might respond emotionally to taking meds, ie is simply the fact of taking them likely to lead to depression or some other emotional impact? If you don’t think that is an issue and you’re concerned only with them directly causing you sides, then I’d suggest giving them a go as that’s the only way you’ll know, but I am not a doctor so take that for what it is! All I’d say is that I’ve read around a lot on topical Finasteride and have seen little to no feedback on side effects, unlike oral Finasteride, so that’s about as much reassurance as you are likely to find on the subject.
Good luck