developing a puffy nipple on finasteride- what to do?

[bojangles]

Well, looks like I'm officially one of the "2%". Here's my story: I'm 28 and about a NW2.5. I've also had a somewhat mild case of gyno for at least ten years. I started taking finasteride in mid October....I was prescribed Proscar and would cut the pills up into 1.25mg quarters and take them three times a week, for an average daily dosage of 0.54mg.

Around mid January I started taking them every other day. Now maybe that has no relevance, but about a week and a half ago I noticed what felt like a little lump under my right nipple, and it kind of hurt to squeeze or move it around. Early this week I cut my quarter Proscar pieces into eighths and have been taking 0.625mg every other day. The soreness has subsided a bit since then and the lump feels about the same, but the areola area does protrude a bit more than it used to, and more than the other side.

So, wtf should I do? Should I see my regular doctor or a endocrinologist and get my blood tested and ask for a prescrip for Evista or something? Or just go in and ask for a prescription asap?

Is it likely that upping my dosage caused this puffy nipple or is it just a coincidence? Would lowering my dosage by half (.625 every other day, or three days a week) be worth it or am I pretty much screwed and should drop finasteride altogether and start stocking up on hats?

I haven't noticed any other serious sides btw, aside from my libido going up the first couple of weeks, and a bit more liquidly semen for a while.

 

[dougfunny]

It sounds very probable that increasing the dose is what made it worsen. The logical thing to do would be to discontinue finasteride until it goes away, and then if you like you can try again at a lower dose.

Seeing your doctor would be a good idea. An endocrinologist is preferable but depending on your insurance you might have to see your regular Doctor to get a referral.

Treating with something like Evista would increase the probability of it going away or at least speed up the process, but chances are if it is mild it will go away on its own. You would probably need an endocrinologist to prescribe it, most primary docs do not. Blood clots are a side effect of Evista and similar drugs so that is something to consider as well.


I had the same thing happen to me from dutasteride about 3 weeks ago. Still has not gone away. My primary care Doctor would not do anything about it, so I have an appointment with a endocrinologist and have been treating it myself (being a moron) for a week and have not seen much improvement yet.

 

[let-it-grow]

I agree with dougfunny, discontinue finasteride and when the gyno is gone try a much lower dose, maybe 0.25. It doesn't worth it to get breasts just to slow hair loss.

 

[bojangles]

So I've since stopped finasteride and the pain in that lump is pretty much non-existent now. I hope that's a good sign. Could that mean that it might reduce in size on its own, or should I still go on Evista?

 

[Hairforever]

I had gyno from finasteride and had to have liposuction to get rid of it. I don't believe this 2 per cent have sides claim by Merk. I don't believe I'm one of the 2 in every 100 men on finasteride who have sides. I think the figure has to be much higher and that many men put up with or turn a blind eye to the sides as they are desperate to keep their hair at any cost. I know this forum may attract a disproportionately high number of men who have sides but finasteride is a potent drug and wiping out dht in the body can only result in sides, albeit these will be more severe in some than others.

 

[xxenergyxx]

How is it possible tha you just need a liposuction with a real gyno?
The true gyno need a surgery to remove completely or partially the gland, if the gyno isn't true so it means that it is fat and a liposuction should be enought to remove.

Maybe I'm wrong but this is what I heard till now...

 

[Hairforever]

Ok then it was breast fat caused by the finasteride (change in hormone levels). Liposuction was the only way to remove it - it was localised breast enlargement caused by taking finasteride over 5 years. And I had sore puffy nipples in the beginning but foolishly ignored the signs. If I had have come across this website at the time I would have taken action earlier.

 

[rrayy]

It looks like I'm developing signs of a puffy nipple as well. Small lump in my left pec, none in the right. I seem to be making some progress as my temples are coming back but it doesn't seem worth it if i'm gonna get gyno in the process. I was on 1mg of merck finasteride perscribed by my doctor so I'm gonna go see him tomorrow and see what he says. Maybe I can drop the dosage to .25mg a day, he might tell me to drop it completely. Sigh... man boobs or hair, this world is too cruel.

I'm not even overweight, 5'5" 137 lbs so it can happen to anyone.