12 Years On Finasteride, Having A Month Break – Seborrheic Dermatitis, Result And Blod Tests

[Manochoice]

I had a doctor appointment.

After examining me, he said I don't gave gyno.

My mammography a few years ago said – I have "minimally prominent glands" in left 1,2x0,6cm and 1x0,2cm in right.

But I guess it's no big deal?

I guess I could loose a bit of weight and see how it is. I'm naturally with a bit muscular build and I have gained a few pounds, so I could try to get my body % percentage down to minimum and see what's up. (pun intended) That of course doesn't explain why I have felt pain there now and then. Doctor thought some of the things might be psychosomatic. I don't deny that reading about possible finasteride side effects doesn't do me or anyone any good and could bring on additional psychosomatic symptoms or nocebo effect.

Looking at my tests, what the doctors said, they thought it's kinda a weird and unusual is that I have unusually high free testosterone. And has been for some years already when they have measured it. I guess this can be good and bad. And it could affect other hormones

Anyone else here with unusually high free testosterone levels?

Could it be that when I have blocked testosterone to be converted to DHT, then I have just ended up with so much extra free testosterone?

Maybe some of if has been converted to estradiol but not crazy amount as he said my estradiol levels were totally fine.

He said same for prolactin levels.

He of course seems to look at these things simply from medical/pathologic perspective. Like either something is completely off the charts or not. No middle ground that could be improved. He doesn't seem to be concerned what would be the best or optimal levels for a person my age and activity, it seems to me.

He didn't think much of my low DHT levels (measured 3 weeks after stopping or having a break in finasteride).
1) He thought it can take a much longer time for DHT to come back up after stopping finasteride (especially after long term usage).
2) He thought it could be a possibility I have low DHT levels to begin with as a characteristics and genetics (unfortunately I don't have baseline tests taken before getting on finasteride). I could still have hair loss even with low DHT levels, it all depends on receptors and sensitivity etc.
He said we don't know that much about the receptor activities, they said he will publish a paper soon about it but there's still a lot that's in the dark.
3) He didn't think DHT test is a very good test, as the numbers are so small and it can often be very inaccurate. he said he prefers DHEAS test.

He of course didn't deny the fact that when I'm having now morning erections, better libido and no need for Cialis, then I should consider not going back on finasteride. At least stay off for longer and see how I am. If not completely stay off it and accept my genetics in terms of hair loss.

He said they have tried a lower dose (0,5mg daily) with some men but didn't have much records to say how effective it is or how would the possible sides be.

I have already tried 0,5mg daily too on some periods.

The doctor is the most reputable andrologists in my country, a pioneer and founder of the field in my country. It does feel to me as he has prescribed finasteride for years, he is quite pro-finasteride. But at least he knows about it and can be talked with.
None of the other doctors I have seen over the years (andrologist, endocrinologists, urologists etc) haven't had almost any knowledge about finasteride.

So what's your next approach?

 

[memoryboy]

Thanks for engaging manochoice.

I really don't know yet and haven't decided. I have been thinking to try lower dose of finasteride but have been postponing to get back on it and see how I feel. Maybe do another blood test in month.

Actually the doctor said he has been doing some breaks for patients who have been on finasteride for a long time.

As an update, I probably don't have seborrheic dermatitis but a mild case of psoriasis. This is common to occur on hairline and behind ears. But usually the lost hair grows back for the hairline, in my case I guess as I have AA going on as well, then my hair loss there seems to be permanent.

Looking back to it, that's how I first noticed my hair loss starting in 2006.

I tried to use minoxidil again but I read this can affect the psoriasis to occur and get worse, so that sucks.

One other option I have been considering but been apprehensive to really go for it would be to shave right now and see how I feel about myself. If I'd do it now, I could still get my hair back when I would feel really bad.

 

[Manochoice]

Thanks for engaging manochoice.

I really don't know yet and haven't decided. I have been thinking to try lower dose of finasteride but have been postponing to get back on it and see how I feel. Maybe do another blood test in month.

Actually the doctor said he has been doing some breaks for patients who have been on finasteride for a long time.

As an update, I probably don't have seborrheic dermatitis but a mild case of psoriasis. This is common to occur on hairline and behind ears. But usually the lost hair grows back for the hairline, in my case I guess as I have AA going on as well, then my hair loss there seems to be permanent.

Looking back to it, that's how I first noticed my hair loss starting in 2006.

I tried to use minoxidil again but I read this can affect the psoriasis to occur and get worse, so that sucks.

One other option I have been considering but been apprehensive to really go for it would be to shave right now and see how I feel about myself. If I'd do it now, I could still get my hair back when I would feel really bad.

I am following your story w/ interest and curiosity. You have used it long enough to qualify as long term user so as long as you are rational about it, your experience (and your take on it) have great validity.

 

[Baldy12345]

Thanks for engaging manochoice.

I really don't know yet and haven't decided. I have been thinking to try lower dose of finasteride but have been postponing to get back on it and see how I feel. Maybe do another blood test in month.

Actually the doctor said he has been doing some breaks for patients who have been on finasteride for a long time.

As an update, I probably don't have seborrheic dermatitis but a mild case of psoriasis. This is common to occur on hairline and behind ears. But usually the lost hair grows back for the hairline, in my case I guess as I have AA going on as well, then my hair loss there seems to be permanent.

Looking back to it, that's how I first noticed my hair loss starting in 2006.

I tried to use minoxidil again but I read this can affect the psoriasis to occur and get worse, so that sucks.

One other option I have been considering but been apprehensive to really go for it would be to shave right now and see how I feel about myself. If I'd do it now, I could still get my hair back when I would feel really bad.

Would u say that finastride was worth it after all these years on it with no hairloss or u wouldn’t have taken it knowing that u would end up with the side effects u listed?

 

[Hairicane]

I have been taking finasteride since late 2006 – so around 12 years.

I have maintained pretty much all my hair, I have some hairline loss but that was already going on when I got on the drug. Maybe I lost a tiny bit more when I experimented with taking a bit less finasteride for a period.

When I started taking it, there wasn't much information around about its potential negative side effects and I was just glad I had this option for keeping my hair.

In the past three years I've been having some pretty bad shedding each spring and not only in the norwood areas but all over my head. I think I have seborrheic dermatitis, so that's probably behind it not the androgenic alopecia alone but I'm pretty sure both are going on to an extent. (When I first started losing my hair in the hairline I first had a severe seborrheic dermatitis skin symptoms there (redness, inflammation, flaking skin, itching) in the hairline and whenever I develop this, my hair falls out and doesn't want to grow back to the area.

I didn't know about many of the finasteride side effects and none of them occurred to me in a rapid way, I also wasn't actively cruising these forums but in recent times I've become more aware that finasteride could be behind some of the stuff going on with me.

I wasn't having morning or spontaneous erections (I know now are crucial for long term penis health, right?) and even often times had mediocre erections during intercourse and libido also wasn't the best. I even started to take Cialis 5mg regularly whenever I had sex (which helped a lot). My sperm quality was super bad too (had it controlled). Also, I developed a slight gyno – "minimally prominent glands" in left 1,2x0,6cm and 1x0,2cm in right. It's not too bad for now but I'm having it looked at next week. I've also having some areola discharge when squeezing, so that made me a bit alert. Also it's painful sometimes.

In the beginning of last month I went to an ayahuasca ceremony on unrelated stuff. They ask you to stop any SSRI medications before. I don't take any but thought I should maybe do a break in finasteride as well. Just to be clean from any sort of medications.

Anyhow, after being off from finasteride, about after a week I started to feel much better libido and having morning erections almost every morning for a month now and even spontaneous erections during the day sometimes. My penis also feels fuller and even bigger often.

No change in gyno I think so far (I've had it for a long time).

So after being off from finasteride for a month now I'm feeling wary to get back on it. As I feel my sexual health has been much better not taking finasteride.

During these 12 years I'd had a few breaks before as well but I don't think I've been completely off without single dose for a month.

Do I have any other options for keeping my hair? I don't think I can mess with that RU solutions all the time... Making it and having to keep it in a fridge etc. Any good experience with topical finasteride? Any other new stuff on the horizon? I tried Minozidil for about 9 months and it seemed it did more harm than good.

I'm gonna see my andrologist in a week. But I know this doctor is really pro finasteride and he will probably be surprised that I had a boost in my sexual health coming off from finasteride after 12 years of taking it. In my small country only about 100 patients take finasteride for baldness (information from medical records), so these doctors we have also should not have a huge patient basis to compare. And none of the other doctors I've been seeing here don't know almost anything about the drug.

I did blood work 16 days after stopping finasteride. And which seemed odd is that my DHT hasn't recovered.
(But I do have improved erections and libido). But after taking finasteride for so long maybe it takes longer for DHT to go back up?

Here's some of my results two weeks after stopping finasteride.

My testosterone seem to have dropped quite a bit after quitting. More than 20% that people say is normal to have increase in test when taking finasteride.


S-FSH: 11,4 IU/l . (ref. 1,4–18,1)
LH: 4,28 IU/l (ref. 1,50–9,30)
Estradiol: 106,4 pmol/l (ref. <146,0)
Testosterone: 14,0 nmol/l (ref. 8,0–29,0)
Prolactine: 191 mIU/l (ref. 53–360)
S-SHBG: 17 nmol/l (ref. 15-95)
DHT: 0,44 nmol/l (ref. 1,03–2,92)
Free testosterone: 66,2 pmol/l (ref. 24,3–78,8)
Androstenedione: 3,49 nmol/l (ref. 1,40–5,20)


Thank you!

How long did you take finasteride before you realized it was working?

When you said you experimented with taking a bit less for a while, how much less and for how long?

Could you describe yourself on the Norwood scale in 2006 and today?