finasteride Sides + High Estrogen (lab Results)

[Falsenine]

Hi guys,

So I’ve tried taking 0.25 mg finasteride but I get pretty bad sides like low libido, soft erection, breast tenderness, puffy nipples.

I recently tried H&W 2,5% topical finasteride. Unfortunately, it’s giving same sides.
I’m also taking zinc, DIM, D3 but they’re not helping that much.

Being a med student, I decided to go to a lab and get my hormones checked.

My E2 prior to starting finasteride is borderline high at about 36

One month after oral finasteride my E2 is about 37

One month after topical finasteride + zinc and DIM my estrogen crosses the upperlimit and becomes about 40.8

I think my finasteride sides are because of the increased 10-15% in estrogen.

I’m thinking about trying a weak aromatase inhibitor like aromasin at a very low dose like 6.50mg, if I can get my E2 at about 30 without crashing it, I think it will eliminate my side.

I understand that it’s not recommended to take AI + finasteride longterm but considering that I already have high E2, I think it can work.
Is there another option or anything I can do?
Do you think my hormones might stabilize themselves after a while on their own?

Thanks.

 

[Falsenine]

@whatevr @Roberto_72 @InBeforeTheCure @IdealForehead
What do you guys think?

 

[arnoldd]

you have estrogens in the upper limit but they are still in the range. finasteride increase estrogens but its not significant. try to keep a good diet + regular exercise. dont take aromasin..it will raise testo,dht, and kill your follicles.

 

[Falsenine]

you have estrogens in the upper limit but they are still in the range. finasteride increase estrogens but its not significant. try to keep a good diet + regular exercise. dont take aromasin..it will raise testo,dht, and kill your follicles.

Wouldn’t finasteride prevent the increase in DHT?
I mean I’m trying to exercise and eat right but I doubt they will help my gyno symptoms.

 

[Retinoid]

You think that Finasteride is causing higher estrogen because it increased your E2 from 36 baseline to 37? This is non significant.

How long did you take Finasteride before stopping?
Have you ever had libido issues or breast issues in the past?

 

[Falsenine]

You think that Finasteride is causing higher estrogen because it increased your E2 from 36 baseline to 37? This is non significant.

How long did you take Finasteride before stopping?
Have you ever had libido issues or breast issues in the past?

I have not had breast nor libido issues in the past prior to starting finasteride.

I’ve tried finasteride for a month, also, with topical finasteride my E2 is at 40.8 which is over the limit.
Besides, there is slight diurnal fluctuations in these hormones so the increase could be more I guess.

I’m just experiencing gyno and erection symptoms immediately when I start low dose like 0.25mg or when starting H&W topical.

I just don’t know what to do.

 

[Falsenine]

Are you trying to drop your estrogen to combat gyno?

AI's can be bad for hair, but a lot of times it is overstated.

A SERM might be better. Try raloxifene which stops estrogen attaching to the the receptor at the breast. This is better than taking an AI, but long term use for any of these can be toxic at some doses.

Well a SERM could be better if what I’m trying to do is only combat gyno.
However, I believe my problem is high estrogen so raloxifene is estrogenic in other parts of the body which would increase my estrogen even more.

I know that AI are bad for hair but I’m under impression that only happens when you crash your estrogen below normal range.
I’m just trying to bring my estrogen to about 30. Do you think that could be bad for hair?

 

[Cowboys fan]

Had same.problem as you. Went to .25eod. And then e3rd day. That's all my body will tolerate. Dont think it's doing much good though. For hair. But no sides at thst dose

 

[Retinoid]

I have not had breast nor libido issues in the past prior to starting finasteride.

I’ve tried finasteride for a month, also, with topical finasteride my E2 is at 40.8 which is over the limit.
Besides, there is slight diurnal fluctuations in these hormones so the increase could be more I guess.

I’m just experiencing gyno and erection symptoms immediately when I start low dose like 0.25mg or when starting H&W topical.

I just don’t know what to do.

You are obviously estrogen dominant--your testosterone is on the bottom range and your Estradiol is on the high end of the range naturally. Any increase in your testosterone also increases your estrogen significantly. Do you have a high body fat percentage? You probably have overactive Aromatase. So a very low dose of Arimidex, like .1mg a day will be helpful.

It is weird I have been on Propecia .5mg/day for a week and am like you--more estrogen dominant and low testosterone and it is actually making me feel a lot better. It is only a week so it may not last but I am getting morning erections most days now when I usually don't (since I was 15) and feel to be in a better mood. So for me, 5AR could have been overactive, possibly. But too soon to tell.

DHT for you, if you truly never had symptoms before which I doubt since your low T+highish E=secondary hypogonadism, could have been a large inhibitory mechanism on Estrogen and lowering that+your high estrogen, could be causing issues.

 

[michel sapin]

honestly i don't know why low dose aromasin ; like 6.25 mg twice a week , would hur your hair .
just to reduce your E2 to the normal limit , not crashing it . It will not raise your DHT and test with such a low dose .

 

[Falsenine]

You are obviously estrogen dominant--your testosterone is on the bottom range and your Estradiol is on the high end of the range naturally. Any increase in your testosterone also increases your estrogen significantly. Do you have a high body fat percentage? You probably have overactive Aromatase. So a very low dose of Arimidex, like .1mg a day will be helpful.

It is weird I have been on Propecia .5mg/day for a week and am like you--more estrogen dominant and low testosterone and it is actually making me feel a lot better. It is only a week so it may not last but I am getting morning erections most days now when I usually don't (since I was 15) and feel to be in a better mood. So for me, 5AR could have been overactive, possibly. But too soon to tell.

DHT for you, if you truly never had symptoms before which I doubt since your low T+highish E=secondary hypogonadism, could have been a large inhibitory mechanism on Estrogen and lowering that+your high estrogen, could be causing issues.

Well, I’m a skinny guy and I don’t have hypogonadism. However, I do agree with you that the lack of DHT could be allowing my borderline high estrogen to exercise its effects in my body.

I’m not sure about arimidex, it sounds a bit harsh. I was thinking about aromasin since it’s fairly weak in men.

 

[Falsenine]

honestly i don't know why low dose aromasin ; like 6.25 mg twice a week , would hur your hair .
just to reduce your E2 to the normal limit , not crashing it . It will not raise your DHT and test with such a low dose .

Hey bro, I’ve read some of your previous posts, I think you had problems with gyno too right?
How did you manage to solve them while staying on finasteride?

Also, I’ve heard that aromasin has a short half-life so it should be taken daily to avoid estrogen swings. Is that correct?

 

[Retinoid]

Well, I’m a skinny guy and I don’t have hypogonadism. However, I do agree with you that the lack of DHT could be allowing my borderline high estrogen to exercise its effects in my body.

I’m not sure about arimidex, it sounds a bit harsh. I was thinking about aromasin since it’s fairly weak in men.

While you do not have below range T, you have low T for your age and in comparison to your high E I would say you have secondary hypogonadism. But I gather you can decide this for your self. It seems you were bound to have these issues with or without Finasteride it just caused them to come up sooner rather than later.

 

[Falsenine]

While you do not have below range T, you have low T for your age and in comparison to your high E I would say you have secondary hypogonadism. But I gather you can decide this for your self. It seems you were bound to have these issues with or without Finasteride it just caused them to come up sooner rather than later.

I don’t know man, I don’t have soft erections or gyno problems when I’m not on finasteride.

I’m actually very sexually active and I’m horny 24/7.
I think my estrogen is not a problem but when you take DHT out of the equation, that’s when it becomes a problem.
That’s why I think if I can bring my E2 to about 30 maybe I can avoid sides.
Do you think it’s worth a shot?

 

[Retinoid]

I don’t know man, I don’t have soft erections or gyno problems when I’m not on finasteride.

I’m actually very sexually active and I’m horny 24/7.
I think my estrogen is not a problem but when you take DHT out of the equation, that’s when it becomes a problem.
That’s why I think if I can bring my E2 to about 30 maybe I can avoid sides.
Do you think it’s worth a shot?

I think it is worth a shot but it is easy to overreach with AIs.

 

[Falsenine]

Hey bro, I’ve read some of your previous posts, I think you had problems with gyno too right?
How did you manage to solve them while staying on finasteride?

Also, I’ve heard that aromasin has a short half-life so it should be taken daily to avoid estrogen swings. Is that correct?

@michel sapin could really use your experience bro

 

[Falsenine]

Bump
Anyone tried AI with finasteride and had success?

 

[Falsenine]

So I thought I should update this thread for anyone coming from google or using the search function:
Basically, I’ve continued taking the drug and all my sides have subsided with continued use
So I’m not really sure if what I’ve experienced earlier was placebo effect or a case of my body getting used to the drug. I have no breast pain/tenderness, I have done repeated breast ultrasounds which revealed no glandular growth. I have morning woods everyday and my libido/ erections are so good, it’s hard to keep up lol( touch wood)

My point is:
If you’re having side effects with the drug, maybe stick with it for a couple of months before deciding it’s not for you.
Good luck to you all.

 

[Manochoice]

Thanks for the update. So what's your dosage now? Are you taking anything else but Fina? Ai?

 

[Falsenine]

Thanks for the update. So what's your dosage now? Are you taking anything else but Fina? Ai?

I’m taking propecia 1mg everyday and no I’m not taking anything with it, no AI