I wanted to start this thread both out of personal concern and as a way to collate some information that is hard to gather in all of the specifically finasteride/gyno-related threads.
About me: Started finasteride a week ago, 1 mg ED. My biggest paranoia about the drug is gyno rather than erectile dysfunction, since, from what I've read, the dysfunction is pretty nearly always reversible anyway. Gyno, however, seems to be a different beast.
Now for the questions:
1) What, if any, are the warning signs of oncoming gyno?
From most of the threads I've read, it's mainly guys who either already have or think they might have gyno, based on visuals, who are posting and asking questions. What I want to know is: what are the early symptoms of its onset, before you look and think, "I have breasts"? Or, is this an impossible question to answer since such symptoms are too easily confounded with things like weight gain and, say, initial bodily adjustments to the new hormone regime?
On a personal level, I ask because the only side effect I seem to have, after a week on finasteride, is something I can only describe as diffuse sharp pains and soreness - almost exactly like one would feel after doing bench presses for the first time in ten years - in my breasts (if that's the right word for them). There's also a kind of dull heaviness there. Could this be an "early warning sign"? And if so, is it really possible to get gyno symptoms that fast?
I'm fully aware that I've never paid any attention to my "breasts" before. I've never had gyno, and I'm fairly skinny (5'9, 150 lbs.). But now, what with the paranoia and all, I'm focused on every passing sensation. I started feeling around the nipples and outer areas today and I realized I have no idea what "normal" is, since I have no basis for comparison. So, the result is: "Is this hardness? Are these lumps?" - you get the picture. I'm not being alarmist; I just want some info here to try to sort out what is likely real and what is likely in my head. At least some probabilities, given my "symptoms."
2) Aside from anti-estrogens, is there any less potent and dangerous way to *potentially* combat the gyno-causing estrogen increase?
This is a big one. I've seen a couple threads posing this question that never went anywhere. I've seen zinc suggested, and if that's accurate I'd like more specifics on that. How would it work in theory? At what dosage/how many times per week? Are there other options aside from zinc?
3) If one is worried specifically about gyno, would lowering the dosage from, say, 1mg to 0.5mg make a difference?
I'm not aware of this being studied, but I'm no expert. I ask this question because I read a reply on another gyno thread where someone said that if gyno is the problem, a lower dosage wouldn't make an appreciable difference. Perhaps that's balderdash; I have no clue.
Thanks ahead of time for your replies.
About me: Started finasteride a week ago, 1 mg ED. My biggest paranoia about the drug is gyno rather than erectile dysfunction, since, from what I've read, the dysfunction is pretty nearly always reversible anyway. Gyno, however, seems to be a different beast.
Now for the questions:
1) What, if any, are the warning signs of oncoming gyno?
From most of the threads I've read, it's mainly guys who either already have or think they might have gyno, based on visuals, who are posting and asking questions. What I want to know is: what are the early symptoms of its onset, before you look and think, "I have breasts"? Or, is this an impossible question to answer since such symptoms are too easily confounded with things like weight gain and, say, initial bodily adjustments to the new hormone regime?
On a personal level, I ask because the only side effect I seem to have, after a week on finasteride, is something I can only describe as diffuse sharp pains and soreness - almost exactly like one would feel after doing bench presses for the first time in ten years - in my breasts (if that's the right word for them). There's also a kind of dull heaviness there. Could this be an "early warning sign"? And if so, is it really possible to get gyno symptoms that fast?
I'm fully aware that I've never paid any attention to my "breasts" before. I've never had gyno, and I'm fairly skinny (5'9, 150 lbs.). But now, what with the paranoia and all, I'm focused on every passing sensation. I started feeling around the nipples and outer areas today and I realized I have no idea what "normal" is, since I have no basis for comparison. So, the result is: "Is this hardness? Are these lumps?" - you get the picture. I'm not being alarmist; I just want some info here to try to sort out what is likely real and what is likely in my head. At least some probabilities, given my "symptoms."
2) Aside from anti-estrogens, is there any less potent and dangerous way to *potentially* combat the gyno-causing estrogen increase?
This is a big one. I've seen a couple threads posing this question that never went anywhere. I've seen zinc suggested, and if that's accurate I'd like more specifics on that. How would it work in theory? At what dosage/how many times per week? Are there other options aside from zinc?
3) If one is worried specifically about gyno, would lowering the dosage from, say, 1mg to 0.5mg make a difference?
I'm not aware of this being studied, but I'm no expert. I ask this question because I read a reply on another gyno thread where someone said that if gyno is the problem, a lower dosage wouldn't make an appreciable difference. Perhaps that's balderdash; I have no clue.
Thanks ahead of time for your replies.