Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Community Conversation => Transitioning => Topic started by: Megan. on January 14, 2016, 02:39:57 PM

Title: Was I accidentally self-medding?
Post by: Megan. on January 14, 2016, 02:39:57 PM
*mods, feel free to remove if this post breaks rules.
So I'm pre-everything, but have been using finasteride (and minoxidil) for around a year to try and improve my shiny bonce. To save some money I got a private prescription from my GP instead of using internet suppliers, but the prescription was for Proscar, which contains a far larger dose per pill. The pills are small, shaped funny, and as I'm lazy, I was only cutting them in half not quarters which I should have. So after doing this for 6 weeks, I reckon the skin on my face was getting softer and was also feeling great mentally. I know Finasteride is sometimes used as a blocker, and a whole pill would (from what I can find) be a full transition dose (plus E ofc). It's probably all in my mind, and I've now cut back my dosage again, but is it possible for a half dose of blocker to have any real effect on it's own?
Title: Re: Was I accidentally self-medding?
Post by: Lagertha on January 14, 2016, 02:49:32 PM
Quote from: meganjames2 on January 14, 2016, 02:39:57 PM
..but is it possible for a half dose of blocker to have any real effect on it's own?

It does have real effect on hair loss prevention, with blocking DHT conversion. But it doesnt (shouldnt) have any other effects, except for possible adverse effects that can happen on smaller percentage of patients. It is used as additional anti-androgen, but not as primary anti-androgen on its own. It doesnt have any testosterone blocking properties. 
Spliting pill only in half instead of quarters shouldnt do any harm.. Propecia dossage is very conservative.

If this indeed brakes any forum rules about doses, please edit accordingly.
Title: Re: Was I accidentally self-medding?
Post by: Megan. on January 14, 2016, 04:02:39 PM
Lagertha, thanks for your thoughts, and glad to hear them. I think HRT is where I'll end up, but I always intend to do it with the correct medical guidance!
Title: Re: Was I accidentally self-medding?
Post by: Ms Grace on January 14, 2016, 04:51:12 PM
You will want to be very careful about how you use this medication, like any drug it can be dangerous if used in a way that's not appropriate to you. Plenty of genetic cis men who use finasteride have reported numerous unwanted side effects. You should probably have a chat with your prescribing doc about how best to use these pills if they're larger than those prescribed.
Title: Re: Was I accidentally self-medding?
Post by: Megan. on January 14, 2016, 05:30:48 PM
Ms Grace, I totally agree, it was a pretty stupid thing to do. I'm planning to check with my GP.