reduce finasteride dose = reduce sides ?

[sore loser]

So there have been studies done that show that 0.5 mg of finasteride reduces serum DHT almost as much as 1.0 mg. The references are kicking around this forum somewhere - but I remember reading about them here.

At the same time, many users recommend cutting back from 1.0 mg to 0.5 mg (or less) if you are experiencing sides.

My question is this - what is the origin of side effects on finasteride? Reduced DHT? In other words, are the sides manifestations of having reduced levels of DHT in your system, or are the sides from some other interaction that finasteride has with the body?

The difference is that if the former were true (which I personally believe is most likely the case), then cutting back from 1.0 mg to 0.5 mg of finasteride would not really do much to fix your sides, since they inhibit approximately the same amount of DHT production (according to the studies I have looked at).

If the latter is true, then lowering your daily finasteride dose probably would have a positive effect on fixing sides.

Does anyone have input on this?

 

[Rage]

finasteride is known only to interact with the 5AR enzyme. So the reduction in side effects is due to reduced DHT levels. It may be possible that the slight differences on DHT levels between 1mg vs 0.5mg may be all that's required for some people to start having side effects. Then of course, you run the risk of finasteride not doing anything at all!

 

[Felk]

So there have been studies done that show that 0.5 mg of finasteride reduces serum DHT almost as much as 1.0 mg. The references are kicking around this forum somewhere - but I remember reading about them here.

At the same time, many users recommend cutting back from 1.0 mg to 0.5 mg (or less) if you are experiencing sides.

My question is this - what is the origin of side effects on finasteride? Reduced DHT? In other words, are the sides manifestations of having reduced levels of DHT in your system, or are the sides from some other interaction that finasteride has with the body?

The difference is that if the former were true (which I personally believe is most likely the case), then cutting back from 1.0 mg to 0.5 mg of finasteride would not really do much to fix your sides, since they inhibit approximately the same amount of DHT production (according to the studies I have looked at).

If the latter is true, then lowering your daily finasteride dose probably would have a positive effect on fixing sides.

Does anyone have input on this?

A very good post. I too would like to know more about this, however I think we'll probably just get speculation