Opening Statement:

By coming forward I hope everyone can gain insight as to what to expect from RU58841, if it ever becomes commercially available. I don't recommend that anyone uses it or attempts to get it. There has been so much debate and anguish over this treatment that I felt compelled to share my experiences.

I'm not here to sell anything or convince you that RU58841 is the answer. All that I want is for people who post online to know what my experiences have been. Losing hair has been difficult for me as it has been for all of you. It's impacted my self-esteem and I sympathize with anyone who has been affected.

I wish all of you good health and success with whatever your treatment routine is.

Cheers,

"John"

Questions & Answers

For the record I had my head shaved for the entirety of this past summer. On and off I've done this because it's convenient and I don't look all that "bad" with it shaved. This just happened to coincide with when I started using the RU58841. It allowed me for several weeks to easily & evenly apply the treatment to the affected frontal areas. It also gives everyone an idea of where and how much hair I'd lost. Personally I think it will help everyone to make an independent judgment of whether or not RU has worked for me.

To answer you question I've only been on RU58841 for a very short time. What I have noticed has been more subtle than anything else. I did not expect nor do I expect to have a dramatic change in terms of changing what Norwood scale I am.

As you can tell I'm somewhere about a Norwood 2 with diffuse thinning on the top. I have been this way for over 8 years since I started losing hair in my very early 20's. I am 29 years old now. Minoxidil had helped me stay at that stage until the other treatments became commercially available. My hope if to be a fuller Norwood 2 by using RU58841 and not to go back and have a "normal" hair line or move down to a Norwood 1 or better.

The subtle changes I've noticed I think have added up and given me a cosmetic improvement to myself and others. For starters I have less "bad" hair days where I have to comb my hair just right in the front so the recession is covered up as best as it can be. Secondly when I step out of the shower and look in the mirror my mid/frontal scalp appears to be covered by more hair. Thirdly, where I used to rely on growing my hair longer in the front to "cover up" I can now rely on the density/thickness of the hair to do that.

This is a tough question. Hair growth is very slow to begin with (~1/2 inch per month). Although my hair has always seemed to grow pretty fast. I would guess I've gained, either through thickening existing hairs or actual regrowth, 5% of the hair I'd lost in the front/hairline. In the mid-anterior region I'd estimate that I've regrowth 15% of the hair I'd lost. The crown is essentially the same as I haven't bothered to apply any there and don't need to.

I attribute this regrowth specifically to adding the RU58841. See below for a more detailed description of why I attribute it to adding this to my treatment regime.

I've been on all of the treatments you mention for a while now. They have certainly helped me in regards to regrowing a mild amount of hair and holding me very steady over the years. I've also used "home made" 5-10% topical Spironolactone cream, oral Saw Palmetto, Viviscal etc. and have never gotten any significant regrowth.

I don't think the regrowth simply "kicked in" because I had been on these treatments for years without achieving that level of success. I really believe it's the combination of therapies that work. Obviously the Finasteride & RU55841 are synergistic in reducing androgen levels in and around the hair papilla/follicle. The other treatments used as stimulants are made stronger by using powerful anti-androgens.

I think it's important to use things like SODases as a precursor to using a treatment like this. It lays the groundwork for using RU58841 by reversing the fibrosis/scarring correlated with the process of balding. The literature does support the notion that fibrosis can be reversed by using a combination androgen receptor blockers & 5 AR inhibitors (see study) through increasing VEGF. However I'd like to think that addressing the fibrosis issue first is the best way to go.

Finasteride - January 1998

10-15% Minoxidil - September 1997

Prox-N & Nano Shampoo - January 2001

L-Arginine & Nizoral - January 2001

In terms of application, how often do you apply the RU? Once daily, twice daily, and at what times of the day?

How much RU 58841 are you using, i.e. 1.25 grams of RU per month?

What is the vehicle used with the RU 58841?

I have used a liposomic vehicle to deliver the RU58841. After reading the literature there is no doubt that RU58841 can be put into a liposomic vehicle and is more effective at penetrating to the deeper levels of the skin. There is a study available that describes the process for having RU58841 put into a liposomal cream base. The study shows that a standard hydro-alcoholic vehicle does not result in as much RU58841 making it to the dermis (and therefore the hair root & papilla). Instead it remains localized in the uppermost levels of the skin (i.e. the stratum corneum) where it wouldn't help at all.

I use a liposome base because the literature supports it and because it lessens the need for me to use the full amount cited in the stumptailed macaque studies. Admittedly the studies done utilized a 5% hydro-alcoholic solution were promising and showed that this type of vehicle worked. I just happened to be convinced that more of the drug can be delivered to the dermis level of the skin with a liposome and by hydrating the scalp.

It was not very expensive to have done and cosmetically has been a major plus. I do have a small amount in a standard vehicle but don't use it very much at all. Once the RU58841 has penetrated it will circulate to other areas in the scalp. I'm sure that it works for me further back on my head even though I don't apply it there.

If you are using say 1.25 grams of RU per month, how much ml of a vehicle are you using with the 1.25 grams? And also, how much of the overall solution are you applying daily (i.e. 1 ml twice daily)?

I think I answered this question above. You shouldn't get caught up in how many milliliters are applied but rather how much in terms of milligrams is being applied. I apply between 60-100 milligrams per day. This is the equivalent to a 3-5% 1-milliliter solution two times per day.

In terms of application, would you recommend applying RU prior to minoxidil, topical spiro etc., or following minoxidil, topical spiro etc.?

I definitely apply the RU58841 first and everything else afterwards. I let the RU sit for at least 45 minutes before I apply anything else. I don't apply very much of anything else to the exact same areas in case there is a unknown chemical reaction between the two.

Have you experienced any side effects?

I haven't experienced any sexual or health side effects that I am aware of. I function in my normal daily routine as I had prior to starting using RU58841. If anything comes up I will let everyone know.

How did you obtain the RU and how do you know it's legit?

Unfortunately I cannot reveal exactly where or how I got it. If I could I certainly would but since no more will be made I don't see why that would be necessary. I don't know the legalities of having it made or using it but have decided to keep all parties involved anonymous, including myself.

The source was very legitimate and had experience with custom chemical synthesis. I had it tested by a company who specialized in validating chemical identities. I didn't have a full CoA (Certificate of Analysis) done because of the expense. Instead 2 NMR tests were done to validate that the structure of the molecule matched Dr. Battman's original research. An additional mass spectrum analysis was done and again it further validated that what I had was in fact RU58841

The results clearly showed that what I had was indeed RU58841. It was an exact match to what was used in the clinical trials by Roussell Uclaf. The owner of this site has seen the report and can speak to its validity.

With Dutasteride coming out do you feel its worthwhile investing in RU 58841?