Thinking of quitting finasteride, advice please...

[Prop]

I recently drove my estrogen level too low with only 0.25 mg a WEEK.

just curious

what do you use to dose the arimedex?
pills cutter?

if u manage to take less than 0,25 i suppose u have to dusterize pills and use a precision balance

 

[Ende]

I'm using a pill cutter. It was one drop only. My estrogen level was slightly on the low side, obviously. Brought me right back to cracking/aching joints, reduced libido and ED, which means that it's potent as hell. I strongly recommend using large doses of zinc when dealing with sexual side effects. The first time, it took me 2 or 3 weeks. I used 1 mg a week if a remember correctly. It improved the symptoms at first, but the estrogen level dropped way below the sweet spot in no time. It's only advisable to use Arimidex when dealing with gynecomastia, as it means that your estrogen level is severly elevated, and you're at high risk of developing secondary hypogonadism. It may take several weeks, and even months before the estrogen level recover after use of Arimidex. I'm going to cheat with an estradiol patch and Andractim.

 

[Mens Rea]

I'm using a pill cutter. It was one drop only. My estrogen level was slightly on the low side, obviously. Brought me right back to cracking/aching joints, reduced libido and ED, which means that it's potent as hell. I strongly recommend using large doses of zinc when dealing with sexual side effects. The first time, it took me 2 or 3 weeks. I used 1 mg a week if a remember correctly. It improved the symptoms at first, but the estrogen level dropped way below the sweet spot in no time. It's only advisable to use Arimidex when dealing with gynecomastia, as it means that your estrogen level is severly elevated, and you're at high risk of developing secondary hypogonadism. It may take several weeks, and even months before the estrogen level recover after use of Arimidex. I'm going to cheat with an estradiol patch and Andractim.

You used 1mg a week mate.

I duno, i reckon if you dose very carefully ud be fine

Another thing alot of people dont realise on forums like these: People assume if you cut a 5mg tablet in 5 you have 5 tablets which are 1mg. This is rarely correct. Every tablet will have its concentration distributed differently, so one half of a tablet could contain 80% of the ingredient.

I reckon arimidex used very carefully is okay. Very carefully.

 

[Ende]

I duno, i reckon if you dose very carefully ud be fine
I reckon arimidex used very carefully is okay. Very carefully.

No, trust me, don't... Large doses of zinc is the way to go. It's effective, easy to manage and available OTC.

 

[Mens Rea]

I duno, i reckon if you dose very carefully ud be fine
I reckon arimidex used very carefully is okay. Very carefully.

No, trust me, don't... Large doses of zinc is the way to go. It's effective, easy to manage and available OTC.

Enden - i need to push my e2 levels down and reset my current raising levels.

Ive taken 50mg of zinc daily for ages, even 100mg of zinc for several consecutive days last week. Nothing. It's only useful up until a point.

 

[Ende]

Well, your estrogen level was very high if I remember correctly. Wasn't it above the range? I'm suprised you don't show any signs of gynecomastia if that's the case. Anyway, monitor your blood levels closely if you decide to use Arimidex.

Still, why don't you use 100 mg zinc a day for a couple of weeks and see, first? 100 is a lot more than 50.

 

[Mens Rea]

Well, your estrogen level was very high if I remember correctly. Wasn't it above the range? I'm suprised you don't show any signs of gynecomastia if that's the case. Anyway, monitor your blood levels closely if you decide to use Arimidex.

Still, why don't you use 100 mg zinc a day for a couple of weeks and see, first? 100 is a lot more than 50.

I have been taking a lot but i just dont think zinc is anywhere near potent enough for my issues

Yes im out of range. No gyno, i guess because ive (well had) high T levels too.


Yes id look to bi-weekly blood tests, maybe even weekly - depending on how i feel really.

THe other problem is taking 100mg of zinc a day, even 50mg a day for any sustained period is bad - this stuff can be toxic in larger doses unfortunately.

 

[Ende]

That's true. Very high doses are toxic, but that's a lot more than 50-100 mg. Anyway, I agree, when your estrogen level is above the range, and you're struggling to supress it. That's gynecomastia territory.

 

[Mens Rea]

That's true. Very high doses are toxic, but that's a lot more than 50-100 mg. Anyway, I agree, when your estrogen level is above the range, and you're struggling to supress it. That's gynecomastia territory.

I think there are other factors here too, though.

For me it appears as my E2 increases, my androgens continue to be surpressed and the androgen depriviation effects me sexually.

Seriously, f*** finasteride.

 

[Ende]

That's gynecomastia territory.

For me it appears as my E2 increases, my androgens continue to be surpressed and the androgen depriviation effects me sexually.

It's an interresting observation, that your estrogen level is above the range, and you're not showing any signs of gyno, but it's no wonder you have sexual problems when your estrogen- and prolactin level are so high.

Anyway, I've an idea, if you're a lean guy - low body fat %; the estrogen receptors around your chest are usually well stimulated when the estrogen level reaches a certain point, but the DHT level is important too. Body builders for instance; when they're on testosterone cycle, their hormone levels are very high. It's all about balance, ratios. Think of it as hormones activating/deactivating the tissue. Small amount of body fat, is a favorable enviroment for DHT, and local DHT activity may be high, regardless of low serum concentration according to the DHT/estrogen ratio.

 

[Ende]

[Another thing alot of people dont realise on forums like these: People assume if you cut a 5mg tablet in 5 you have 5 tablets which are 1mg. This is rarely correct. Every tablet will have its concentration distributed differently, so one half of a tablet could contain 80% of the ingredient.

I asked an experienced pharmacist about this one time, and he said that as long as the bits are equal size, they contain equal amounts of the drug. If what you said were true, no pills would be cuttable. A lot of pills comes with a dividing line.

 

[Mens Rea]

[Another thing alot of people dont realise on forums like these: People assume if you cut a 5mg tablet in 5 you have 5 tablets which are 1mg. This is rarely correct. Every tablet will have its concentration distributed differently, so one half of a tablet could contain 80% of the ingredient.

I asked an experienced pharmacist about this one time, and he said that as long as the bits are equal size, they contain equal amounts of the drug. If what you said were true, no pills would be cuttable. A lot of pills comes with a dividing line.

Yeah maybe i exaggerated

But i do believe what ive said applies very much especially to generic drugs that are likely not 100% pure.

 

[Ende]

[Another thing alot of people dont realise on forums like these: People assume if you cut a 5mg tablet in 5 you have 5 tablets which are 1mg. This is rarely correct. Every tablet will have its concentration distributed differently, so one half of a tablet could contain 80% of the ingredient.

I asked an experienced pharmacist about this one time, and he said that as long as the bits are equal size, they contain equal amounts of the drug. If what you said were true, no pills would be cuttable. A lot of pills comes with a dividing line.

Yeah maybe i exaggerated

But i do believe what ive said applies very much especially to generic drugs that are likely not 100% pure.

That has nothing to do with it. Only the actual amount of drug has. I don't see the issue as long as the manufacturer is operating legally, and is well-known. They're not stupid enough to cut the drug to save money. Generic drugs are just as good as the originals, provided that they contains the same ingredients and amounts. Here in Norway, generics are preferred due to less cost. The state won't pay for anything else, if a generic version is available.

You only risk getting sick if the drug is contaminated.

 

[Mens Rea]

Ok i digress maybe im wrong on the topic i shouldn't have spoke about things im not entirely knowledgable about.

Anyway - on a different note; check your emails enden

 

[Ende]

That's what discussions are about. Sharing and correcting.

I'll do!

Edit:
Seems like you're the one who's not updated. I responded to that e-mail one hour ago

 

[Thisisme373]

Hey Enden just wondering if you could give us some advice please, I have been taking Solgar Zinc 50mg tablets twice daily for about 3 weeks along with Prelox tablets which are supposed to help Sex drive for about a week and so far theres been no change really i still feel like i need to watch p**rn or have sexual intercourse to be aroused i don't just randomly think of sex or get erections like i used to or have erections through the night and more rare in the mornings, what should i do just keep taking the zinc and prelox or add something? this won't be permanent will it? also as i asked before IF i did manage to bring my sex drive back could i be on finasteride with zinc and other tablets to combat the sides as i do love my hair? thanks for the help Enden you really are helping me our big time dude and Merry christmas ppl

 

[Ende]

Is it zinc picolinate? You should use that. You could try 25 g creatine monohydrate a day for a week. It'll increase your DHT level by 50% without affecting the testosterone level. Read more about it in my thread. Low libido may be related to elevated prolactin level/suppressed dopamine level. It's two ways to lower prolactin; keep suppressing estrogen or use Dostinex. Your estrogen level is still too high if you don't have solid morning erections, and this affects your libido too.

Yes, it should be possible to use finasteride and control the sexual side effects with zinc. Read Chris87's story. Whatever you do, keep using zinc, and you're on the path of recovery.

 

[Thisisme373]

is this the creatine you are talking about? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CREATINE-MONOHYDR ... 1563wt_814 and do i have to keep using this after the week or will it fix the problem? here is the zinc i am using http://www.solgar.co.uk/product/zinc-50 ... E3720.html cheers enden and i will read those threads

 

[Mens Rea]

is this the creatine you are talking about? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CREATINE-MONOHYDR ... 1563wt_814 and do i have to keep using this after the week or will it fix the problem? here is the zinc i am using http://www.solgar.co.uk/product/zinc-50 ... E3720.html cheers enden and i will read those threads

You will want to buy the pure powder. Unless you want to take like 30 tablets a day.

I bought some in holland and barret.

No, week one is loading up phase (4-5 teaspoons of creatine), its 1 tea spoon daily after htat for 3 weeks. THen go from there and see if this influx of DHT will have helped rebalnace your system naturally.

It's not an exact science tbh.

 

[Ende]

You're using zinc gluconate. Buy picolinate, and creatine powder as Colin suggest. Each of those pills contains only 750 mg, and you need 25000 mg a day. The experiment which we're referring to had a loading phase, and a maintenance phase. I recommend doing only 7 days with 25 g a day (which were the loading phase), wait a couple of weeks and repeat if you don't notice any improvement.