Susan's Place Transgender Resources

Hello new member here, just looking for some extra insight from my sisters on taking spiro vs finasteride, I've just started transitioning and instead of spiro my doctor had proscribed me to take finasteride daily along with E injections every two weeks. I understand that the finasteride aids in blocking DHT and helps support hair retention and hair regrowth over time...It was also brought to my intention that finasteride also raises T levels??? I'm confused as to how effective taking finasteride is over spiro and would love some insight and advice

Thank you




*No Dosages Please*

Thank you

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Quote from: Zombae on May 12, 2017, 07:35:59 PMjust looking for some extra insight from my sisters on taking spiro vs finasteride

Spiro reduces T levels, I think more so at higher doses, partially blocks all androgens from binding to receptors and these include T and DHT, increases metabolic clearance of androgens and slightly raises E levels.

Finasteride only reduces conversion of T to DHT. In doing so, a little more T is available and this T can convert to E, slightly increasing E levels too.

Those are the differences between both. Spironolactone is a more potent anti-androgen as it acts on many fronts while finasteride is a complement to spiro, usually. Finasteride is not an appropriate substitute for spiro BUT...

Quotealong with E injections every two weeks

injections alone may suppress T levels sufficiently, down to castrate levels so spiro may not be needed at all and side-effects associated with this medication can be avoided (dry skin, dizziness, very low blood pressure, waking up to pee at night, hyperkalemia, etc.)

If you are injecting E. Valerate, you may discover that 2 weeks is too long of an interval and experience negative symptoms (PMS) at around days 7-14. It is quickly metabolized and levels drop quite rapidly. Time will tell. Usually, injections are done every 5-10 days, depending on the individual.

If, on the other hand, you are injecting E. Cypionate, 2 weeks may be alright.

I believe my doc ups my E dosage a bit, but I'll come back to this topic when I know all the details due to the good points that I've gotten from you all

Thank you

Did your doc give a reason for not using spiro? 

I am actually on both

Quote from: LShipley on May 13, 2017, 11:54:41 AM
I am actually on both

I'm on both too. I started finasteride after 8 months on HRT (Spiro and E). I thought, what the heck, let's see what it does. 4 months later I still can't tell you what it did for me. My blood tests show zero difference from the addition (proscar) and if it's growing any scalp hair?....well I can't find where they may be hiding. If the stuff wasn't dirt cheap,  I would have already dropped it. It really seems for me at least, absolutely pointless. Makes me wonder how well it works for males that are taking it for MPB. Hope can make you see a lot of results that may not exist. I'm sure it's not total snake oil, but couldn't prove it by me.

For what it is worth, I was on finasteride for about 5 years before starting spiro and estradiol patches.  Finasteride did seem to halt the hair loss and I had a little regrowth in areas where it had recently been lost.  I also developed gynecomastia, not a bad thing in my case.

After starting Spiro/estradiol HRT I have had more obvious hair regrowth on my scalp, to the point that I might be able to go the hair graft route after FFS and lose the wigs.  There's a huge cost/benefit thing there I will have to work through, though.

Quote from: Zombae on May 12, 2017, 07:35:59 PM
Hello new member here, just looking for some extra insight from my sisters on taking spiro vs finasteride, I've just started transitioning and instead of spiro my doctor had proscribed me to take finasteride daily along with E injections every two weeks. I understand that the finasteride aids in blocking DHT and helps support hair retention and hair regrowth over time...It was also brought to my intention that finasteride also raises T levels??? I'm confused as to how effective taking finasteride is over spiro and would love some insight and advice

Thank you




*No Dosages Please*

Finasteride is redundant, and not powerful enough to be taken on its own unless you've been transitioning for awhile.

Spiro is the way to go, because drops in testosterone imply drops in DHT. :)