Proscar/Propecia and Testosterone Supplement

[banony]

Hi,

I took Proscar for about 4-5 years and I it did significantly slow down my hairloss, but I recently discovered it was messing up my hormone levels - ie. my DHT level was at 14 (between 25- 75) and I'm 25 years old. That's basically the level of an 85 year old man. So needless to say I stopped taking it in January so it's been about 6 months now.

My questions is, my hairloss is increasing in the temple areas and I wanted to know if there is any way to take Proscar (or Propecia) and Testosterone Supplements at the same time?

I just want to be able to have a lot of energy and libido while keeping my hair.

Thanks

 

[Londo]

Isn't low DHT what you want? Or did you mean your testosterone is 14? Did you mean normal for your age is between 25-75?

 

[Pondle]

Yeah as Londo says DHT reduction is the whole point of finasteride! And finasteride wouldn't lower your T level... that gets upregulated by 10-20%, the body's way of compensating for the lack of DHT.

 

[beaner]

This guy is absolutely serious. Look at his regimen where he mentions his "alarmingly low" DHT levels. Dude, were you actually taking Propecia without a clue as to how it worked to stop hairloss? Maybe he is joking. I really hope so.

 

[banony]

Hi,

I started taking Proscar when I noticed the early stages of a receding hairline and and I really had no idea how it worked. I admit, I should have done a lot more research before taking it. But my Dr. said it was fine. I knew it was FDA approved and thought it was harmless.

I don't think the average person knows about the problems it causes. That 2% side effects disclaimer is crap, it lowers DHT in everyone that takes it.

DHT is an enzyme in testosterone that is responsible for energy levels, sex drive, confidence, muscle mass, male characteristics etc... so if you have low DHT all of those things will be low.

Or is there a way to have low DHT levels and high testosterone levels and if so, will the high testosterone levels offset all the problems that low DHT causes?

 

[RaginDemon]

are you talking about your T level or DHT level?

 

[beaner]

Hi,

...... it lowers DHT in everyone that takes it.

EXACTLY!!! That is what it is supposed to do!! DHT is why your hair is falling out!!!

 

[banony]

Yeah, but is there any way to increase testosterone while your DHT is kept low?

And if you can, because I'm assuming you can, will increasing your testosterone levels offset some of the problems that low DHT causes (ie. low energy level, low libio, loss of muscle mass etc..)?

 

[Pondle]

Yeah, but is there any way to increase testosterone while your DHT is kept low?

And if you can, because I'm assuming you can, will increasing your testosterone levels offset some of the problems that low DHT causes (ie. low energy level, low libio, loss of muscle mass etc..)?

Like I told you man, your T levels will increase by 10-20% while taking finasteride. DHT has nothing to do with muscle mass - T is the active androgen in muscle. Your body doesn't really 'need' DHT for masculinity or muscle development or anything after 18. There are men with natural DHT deficiency (the pseudohermaphrodites) who live quite happily without it.

DHT is important in your childhood development, but after that its main impact is to make your hair follicles miniaturise and (in later life) your prostate grow so that you have trouble urinating. The one good thing about DHT is its inhibition of estrogen. But estrogen appears to be 'good' for hair even if it can make you develop gyno.

 

[banony]

I really don't think you know what you're talking about bro.

I went to a top UCLA specialist and he told me that my low DHT was responsible for low bone mass, low libido, low energy levels etc... He said DHT is specifically responsible for this.

 

[Pondle]

I really don't think you know what you're talking about bro.

I went to a top UCLA specialist and he told me that my low DHT was responsible for low bone mass, low libido, low energy levels etc... He said DHT is specifically responsible for this.

I'm not an expert in biochemistry, but I read the prescribing information and my GF is a hospital pharmacist.

The UCLA "specialist" is plain wrong about bone mineral density. Read this study. He's also overstating the case about libido - check this study out.

As for low energy levels... come on. :roll: The incidence of fatigue in the dutasteride trials was the same in the both treatment and placebo groups (despite dutasteride knocking out far more DHT than finasteride). Ergo, 5ARI drugs do NOT make you tired. And if DHT is so important to energy, how come women do fine with 2% of men's DHT levels? How come chronic fatigue was never identified in the pseudohermaphrodites who are naturally deficient in 5AR2?

 

[banony]

So if DHT isn't responsible for libido, energy levels, bone density etc... then what is?

There are countless people on this forum who experience low libido as a result of taking finasteride. The evidence is overwhelming. I'm not saying everyone does, but there is a huge % who have screwed up hormones.

All I know it's been 6 months since I took Proscar and my DHT, Testosterone, and FT levels have all gone up significantly. I have more energy and higher libido.

 

[Pondle]

So if DHT isn't responsible for libido, energy levels, bone density etc... then what is?

Testosterone maintains bone density in the absence of DHT, as the article says. Testosterone can also maintain libido in most men, although clearly some benefit from DHT... maybe simply because it is a estrogen antagonist?

There are countless people on this forum who experience low libido as a result of taking finasteride.

No disagreement with you there. But there are also more guys who are fine, and they are probably less likely to post on forums.

All I know it's been 6 months since I took Proscar and my DHT, Testosterone, and FT levels have all gone up significantly. I have more energy and higher libido.

Well your DHT levels will definitely go up when you stop taking Proscar! 8)