Blood tests, are they necessary prior to starting?

[TinTon]

I just got my 1mg generic finasteride tablets form my GP and in the tablet leaflet it says to take a PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test before starting treatment, so is this the norm?

Also what about getting other blood tests like T, E, liver health, kidney health? is that a good idea too?

Thanks

 

[Swoop]

Finasteride can influence PSA levels and that could possibly lead to a inaccurate diagnosis in the future if something would be wrong. It's not the norm. I haven't heard of many people doing it actually. Same with other blood tests.

However if you can do them for cheap or free I don't see why you should not. They can always come in handy in my opinion.

Not necessary though.

 

[Dench57]

Its a good question and something I've wondered myself. I don't know if there is a correlation between your baseline hormone levels, and chances of you a) responding to finasteride or b) getting side effects from. Nonetheless I think if you can get a full hormone panel (DHT, Free Test, Total Test , SHBG, FSH, LH, E2, Prog, Prolactin, DHEAS, Cortisol) done for cheap, then I do think its a good idea to check your baseline levels - and then get bloodwork done again once you're on treatment.

 

[TinTon]

Hi chaps,

Thanks for the responses.

Yeah it would seem like a good but expensive idea right.

I certainly can't get it done cheap at all, as my GP won't send me for all those tests, as I asked him a while ago when I first mentioned possibly starting with finasteride and he said that (public health) GP's for the most part need a reason to warrant sending me for such blood tests as those (i.e. a suspected pre-existing health issue), which is understandable.

I could most likely get a PSA test done for free as it tells me to do so in the leaflet of the medication in which I've been precribed, however as my GP was already reluctant to prescribe me finasteride (mainly due to lack of knowledge and experience with the drug), I would actually feel bad now asking him for baseline blood tests right after getting my prescription from him.

I doubt I can afford all the tests you mentioned Dench57, but I will be able to pay for most of them done privately, which will cost me a pretty penny indeed but to be honest - finasteride or no finasteride - I'm actually very much interested to know my current hormone balance along with other levels of health indicator too (liver, kidney and thyroid health etc)

E.g. Thinking of doing this test:

https://www.medichecks.com/find-a-test/test/Sports-Hormone-Check-Plus-(male)_31XX/

Along with a DHT test added on to this one.

*Bit of a science buff money saving tip: Free-T can be calculated manually using the figures I would get from the sports hormone test package above, using the figures for overall T and SHBG and Albumin, via the following calculator: http://www.issam.ch/freetesto.htm


I'll let you chaps know what I decide to do, the decision will be swift because I'm wanting to start taking these prescribed finasteride tablets ASAP.

 

[Dench57]

I think its a sensible idea to get your hormones tested before taking what is, after all, a hormone altering drug. For peace of mind more than anything else. You should be able to get most stuff done cheaply but DHT is seemingly more obscure/expensive - when I asked my GP (UK too) about it she made out she would have to send my blood to a top secret lab in Area 51 or something to get DHT results.

 

[TinTon]

Yeah I've just ordered the private blood tests now mate, cost me a pretty penny but when it comes to health, money does take second place. All the tests are analysed within 1 working day except for DHT which takes 7 working days! DHT must be a far more specialised process of analysis than most other tests.

Once I've done the tests and posted them off to the lab I'll start taking the finasteride tablets and hopefully better hair days are to come.

Haha I'll now start saving for another lot of the same tests 6 months after starting finasteride treatment and see what the score is, interesting stuff for sure.

Like you said it's peace of mind at the end of the day.