Please Help

[S_man_9]

So Ive been on the big 3 for about 8 months now and everything seemed to be going ok until about 3 weeks ago when I noticed a lump a hair above my left nipple out of nowhere. Its pretty tender and in the last couple weeks seemed to get a little worse. I went to the doctor today and he said it was gyno and it SHOULD go away on its own after 4-6 months. I am a natural competitive bodybuilder and this is hard for me to deal with. I need to know what my options are. My questions are....

If I stop propecia but continue the other 2 will I still be ok or will I experience extreme hairloss?

If I stop propecia is there any alternative that could take its place?

Is there anything that can help with the gyno issue and still stay on Propecia?

I did quite a bit of research but cant find a definite answer. Id appreciate any input. Thanks

 

[S_man_9]

any input would be greatly appreciated guys.

 

[Mew]

If I stop propecia but continue the other 2 will I still be ok or will I experience extreme hairloss?

Nobody can predict the future. Loss will likely be slower than if you were using nothing.

If I stop propecia is there any alternative that could take its place?

Hair transplant instead of messing with your hormones.

Is there anything that can help with the gyno issue and still stay on Propecia?

No. Unless you want to take other prescription meds like Arimidex to lower Estrogen, however such drugs also have their own side effects and you are adding extra stress on your endocrine system by blocking not just 1, but 2 pathways (5AR2 via finasteride, and Aromatase via Arimidex). The other medication which may assist with nipple puffiness is Tamoxifen (for breast cancer), however again it has its own side effects and mechanisms of action.

Honestly, you are playing with fire by messing with your hormones to save some hair, as you are now finding out. Gyno is a listed side effect of Finasteride since Testosterone that would normally convert to DHT cannot, so aromatizes to Estrogen.

If you don't like the cosmetic appearance of gyno, get surgery to have it removed. However, if you continue to block DHT, it will likely continue unabated. Your choice to decide what you value more... cosmetic appearance, or health.

 

[S_man_9]

do u know what the chances are that the gyno will go down if I discontinue the use of propecia?

 

[Mew]

do u know what the chances are that the gyno will go down if I discontinue the use of propecia?

May, or may not resolve. Only way to know is to discontinue use. In my case, it did not resolve.

 

[S_man_9]

Think its better to drop it cold turkey or slowly decrease dosage like takie it every other day?

 

[Mew]

Think its better to drop it cold turkey or slowly decrease dosage like takie it every other day?

Dosage makes no difference due to near flat dose response of drug, meaning even if you reduce to 0.2mg, you'll still inhibit nearly as much DHT as 1mg, or 5mg.

http://www.physics.upenn.edu/facultyinf ... peciafda2/

As well, it takes at least 7 days for DHT to return to baseline after a single dose. Knowing this, if you want to ween off, start spacing out the days between dosages.

After 8 months on the drug, I'd try and ween off over next few weeks if possible... just realize that its impossible to ween other than spacing out dosage due to near flat dose response, effectively making whenever you quit, "cold turkey" at that point.

 

[S_man_9]

so there would be no difference to taper? I was thinking of stopping and seeing if theres a difference after a week or 2.

 

[Mew]

so there would be no difference to taper? I was thinking of stopping and seeing if theres a difference after a week or 2.

It's hard to say, but based on what I said previously, spacing out doses might make a small difference in terms of giving your body a break from the everyday 5AR2 inhibition. However, each time you take the drug again you inhibit 5AR2 all over again... so, whenever your last dose is will make it "cold turkey" at that point.

Anyway, your choice to do whatever you wish. Good luck.

 

[S_man_9]

I appreciate all the responses Mew. Thanks

 

[Ende]

Andractim will take care of the lumps in no time. I recommend blood work to reveal your estrogen level, and then use an aromatase inhibitor like arimidex to control it. You need to do regular blood work until the level is stable, when using an AI. Your other option is to quit finasteride and lose your hair. As opposite to Mew, I think the side effects are managable and reversible.

 

[S_man_9]

The only problem is that Im a natural bodybuilder and aromatase inhibitors are on the banned substance list. If I completely drop the finasteride Ill definately lose my hair? Is there any natural supplements that will have a similar effects of an AI?

 

[Ende]

The only problem is that Im a natural bodybuilder and aromatase inhibitors are on the banned substance list. If I completely drop the finasteride Ill definately lose my hair? Is there any natural supplements that will have a similar effects of an AI?

Isn't finasteride on the list too? Finasteride is usually a part of the success, but who knows. Maybe you'll find something else to maintain the hair. Noone knows if you'll lose what you got. Zink is a natural AI. Try 50-100 mg a day.