Finasteride. Anyone experienced side effects taking 1mg, 3 times a week?

Macbooky

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Had a routine blood test a couple of months ago. My liver markers were off the scale, so they booked me in for abdominal ultrasound. Had the results and have been diagnosed with fatty liver disease. I'm not overweight and I rarely drink. Granted, my diet isn't the most healthy, but I do wonder if finasteride had something to do with it.
Have you ever been tested for Gilbert’s Syndrome? I’ve got it and read on a forum recently that people with that condition can get a fatty liver taking finasteride. Thats why I’m starting on 1mg at only 3 times a week.
 

Unlucky93

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Have you ever been tested for Gilbert’s Syndrome? I’ve got it and read on a forum recently that people with that condition can get a fatty liver taking finasteride. Thats why I’m starting on 1mg at only 3 times a week.
I don't think I've been tested for it, but my bilirubin levels were normal (if that rules out Gilbert's Syndrome). It was my Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Serum ALT levels that were ridiculously high.
 

losingbattle88

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Just started taking finasteride today. I was going to micro dose to start with (Monday, Wednesday, Friday) to see if I had any side effects and then up the dosage after a few weeks.
I did that for maybe 2 weeks then daily 0.25mg and now staying at 0.5mg daily. To reduce sides and save lots of money.
 

Macbooky

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I don't think I've been tested for it, but my bilirubin levels were normal (if that rules out Gilbert's Syndrome). It was my Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Serum ALT levels that were ridiculously high.
How long were you taking finasteride before you got your liver checked?
 

Unlucky93

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How long were you taking finasteride before you got your liver checked?
Maybe like 5 years, but I was pretty inconsistent taking it. Would often forget/go through periods of not taking it. Like I say, I'm not attributing finasteride with my NAFLD - just thought I'd put it out there as there are instances where it has harmed people's livers.
 

Macbooky

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Maybe like 5 years, but I was pretty inconsistent taking it. Would often forget/go through periods of not taking it. Like I say, I'm not attributing finasteride with my NAFLD - just thought I'd put it out there as there are instances where it has harmed people's livers.
Yeah noted. I’m well aware of the potential dangerous side effects so thats why I’m taking it slow. Any signs of anything harmful happening to me then I’m stopping and going bald. ‍
 

Elithair

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The concern is understandable and it's a question that comes up a lot.

The honest answer is that taking it three times a week will still suppress DHT meaningfully. Finasteride has a half life of around six hours, but the DHT suppression effect lasts significantly longer, up to several days after a single dose. So alternate or reduced dosing does still work to a degree.

Whether it meaningfully reduces side effect risk is less clear. The available data suggests DHT suppression is still substantial even on reduced dosing schedules. Some people do report better tolerance on every other day or three times a week dosing, but this is largely anecdotal rather than well studied.

At 53 the hormonal context is also different from a younger patient. DHT plays a role in various physiological processes, and the impact of suppression can vary with age.

If side effects are the primary concern, topical finasteride is worth discussing with whoever prescribed it. Systemic absorption is significantly lower than oral and many patients who are worried about sides find it a more manageable starting point.

Starting low and slow is not unreasonable. Just go in with realistic expectations about what reduced dosing will and won't change.
 

Macbooky

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The concern is understandable and it's a question that comes up a lot.

The honest answer is that taking it three times a week will still suppress DHT meaningfully. Finasteride has a half life of around six hours, but the DHT suppression effect lasts significantly longer, up to several days after a single dose. So alternate or reduced dosing does still work to a degree.

Whether it meaningfully reduces side effect risk is less clear. The available data suggests DHT suppression is still substantial even on reduced dosing schedules. Some people do report better tolerance on every other day or three times a week dosing, but this is largely anecdotal rather than well studied.

At 53 the hormonal context is also different from a younger patient. DHT plays a role in various physiological processes, and the impact of suppression can vary with age.

If side effects are the primary concern, topical finasteride is worth discussing with whoever prescribed it. Systemic absorption is significantly lower than oral and many patients who are worried about sides find it a more manageable starting point.

Starting low and slow is not unreasonable. Just go in with realistic expectations about what reduced dosing will and won't change.
Thank you so much for your thorough reply. I took Finasteride for 6 weeks and decided to stop for the moment. I was experiencing side effects such as pain in the testicles and other issues down there. Depression was also a concern as a side effect. At the moment I’m thinking that it’s not worth the risk. I will do some more research into topical Finasteride. Not sure if it’s available in UK though. Thank you again for your thoughtful reply.
 
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