Hello all :)
I've been on HRT for about half a month, being prescribed Progynova (Estradol valerate) a day and Androcur a day...
A couple of years prior, due to alopecia I got hair micro-implants and was prescribed Finasteride a day...
Here's my question:
I've heard of the benefits of taking Finasteride daily and am curious of raising the dosage... Mainly for two reasons:
a.) The doctor who prescribed did not keep my 'situation' in mind, alas... I'm assuming I'm taking the bare minimum for hair-loss, and ...
b.) It could greatly help my transition, by what I've read online.. Therefore seeing as I'm already prescribed, I could increase the dosage easily... It's really annoying to keep cutting the pills into quarters, especially when outdoors..
What do you think?
PS: I know the most accurate answer would be to ask my endocrinologist, but if you saw my intro post you'll probably gather why it really is THAT MUCH of an effort.. An apointment can take months to come...
Thank you! :D
PS PS: I've read the sticky regarding doses... As stated, I will try to talk to my endo as soon as possible, and will not to anything crazy :) Just want to settle the question in my head, is all.
mod/edit out dosages. TOS #8 =https://www.susans.org/forums/index.php/topic,2.0.html]Site Terms of Service and rules to live by
I came across a study which showed no significant difference in terms of DHT reduction in scalp at VERY low doses compared to regular and even higher doses prescribed so I personally wouldn't see the benefit. Just my 2 cents...your best bet would be to wait and ask your doc.
Quote from: KayXo on August 24, 2014, 12:41:08 PM
I came across a study which showed no significant difference in terms of DHT reduction in scalp at VERY low doses compared to regular and even higher doses prescribed so I personally wouldn't see the benefit. Just my 2 cents...your best bet would be to wait and ask your doc.
I had heard the same. I had been taking Finasteride (the dosage for hair loss) about 3 months prior to starting HRT (about a year ago) through a dermatologist. My prescription lasted for one year and my HRT doctor told me to just stay on it and she could write me a new one once that runs out. At my 7 month checkup with my HRT doctor mentioned my testosterone was still high for the female range, but well bellow the male range. She didn't want to increase my Spiro, but instead she
upped my estrogen by 1/3 and my finasteride by 5 times as much (to prostate shrinking dosage.) Although I've made excellent progress and even having my head hair being more full, she believed this would be best for me as these changes would decrease testosterone further and have my body be less affected by the testosterone in my body.
So even though increasing you Finasteride isn't going change your hair, it will still lower the DHT levels (the most powerful part of testosterone). This would not be recommended for a cis-male, but can certainly help a transgender woman.
I'm now at month 8 1/2 and my hair stylist (who I saw last weekend) did notice a huge difference in my hair and face and my body hair has seem to almost all disappeared now. This combination seems to work really well for me.
I am on finasteride. I also take Estradiol, spironolactone and progesterone. My Total T was 24 ng/dl last time checked. I can not disclose my dose but it is high. Here is a link:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%2F10495374&ei=90T7U7n2HtGzyASK0YHoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHfZYhTQbv4FZpaRjKNNIR075zmgQ (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CCAQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fpubmed%2F10495374&ei=90T7U7n2HtGzyASK0YHoDQ&usg=AFQjCNHfZYhTQbv4FZpaRjKNNIR075zmgQ)
Caution should be and it is really important to talk to your doctor. Finasteride has some really nasty side effects such as it may cause suicidal idolation, concentration loss and the effects can last a very long time if you are one of the unlucky who has these side effects. If you are depressed and suicide has been an issue you really must let the endo know. The doc my gradually increase the med but may not because there really may not be a DHT reduction benefit.
I am not a doctor and you should never self med, just saying.
I personally had weird side effects from this med that weren't that apparent until I quit taking it. The side effects ramped up slowly over time as to not be that obvious it was happening. Best I can describe it was I just felt -dull- most of the time and things seemed to be foggy, including my color vision. A few days after I quit, I immediately noticed what had been going on and I'll never take this stuff again. It probably was a mild for of depression but I also noticed colors seemed much brighter after I quit.
Just a warning, pay close attention to how you feel while on this stuff, the side effects it can cause in some people aren't worth the benefits and as I said, they ramped up so slowly, it wasn't obvious they were happening till months later I just knew something wasn't right.
I was one of the small percentage that Finesteraide really killed my Libido. Not pleased about that and... I had gone off it for 3 months and libido didn't return.
Yes it did help keep my hair from falling out but the price was very steep in terms of side affects.
Thank you so much for all of your replies :) Alas, I will admit that I have had a history of depression... But I have learned to control it, I have self-harmed (up until not that long ago..) Though I know for fact I shall never even try suicide, it's just not in me :) I do find this interesting however as I actually never harmed myself up until I started with Finasteride all so long ago..
Honestly I was more scared of biological effects (blood clots, blood pressure, liver failure... etc.) But I shall keep the psychological ones in mind, even though I'm quite certain I could deal with whatever comes my way in that department.
I've got an appointment with my GP in a couple of weeks time and I'll ask if she could direct me to an endo (Not the one who's supervising my therapy as it can take years, literally for an appointment with him...) or / and an dermatologist, as I'm guessing they could give me some more insight and let you know if I find anything interesting... I'm rather looking forward to giving it a go if I'm honest. :)