Precautions before starting finasteride

[Haymitch]

Hi everyone,
I'm about to start finasteride. In order to reduce the chance of side effects and Reflex Hyperandrogenicity, it seems the best way to minimise the chances of these two things happening is to begin taking finasteride at smaller doses, or to taper on. I was wondering for how long, and at what amounts should I begin? Halves, or even quarter doses? And for weeks or months?

And if I were to only choose half a dozen blood tests beforehand (propeciahelp.com lists lots and lots of them, I'm sure that would cost a fortune), which would be the best?

Thanks

 

[zzzzz]

doesn't really matter just do whatever you want seriously

and

testosterone
free testosterone
DHT (most important obviously)
estrogen
estradiol
nothing else I can think of that has any fair amount of significance

 

[Rudolphus]

The only "precaution" that I can give you is to stop looking on Propeciahelp and try not to pay any attention to all those apparent "side-effects" that the users of that forum endlessly complain about. It is far more likely than not that you will experience no side-effects at all. And if you do get sides, in all likelihood they will disappear after a few months as mine did. And just so you know, it makes very little difference what dose of finasteride you take. The amount of DHT inhibition is almost identical between all doses of 0.2mg and upwards. Therefore, it is futile to take a lower dose in the hope of reducing the possibility of side effects, because finasteride's dose response curve is essentially flat.

 

[Grammaton Cleric]

The only "precaution" that I can give you is to stop looking on Propeciahelp and try not to pay any attention to all those apparent "side-effects" that the users of that forum endlessly complain about. It is far more likely than not that you will experience no side-effects at all. And if you do get sides, in all likelihood they will disappear after a few months as mine did. And just so you know, it makes very little difference what dose of finasteride you take. The amount of DHT inhibition is almost identical between all doses of 0.2mg and upwards. Therefore, it is futile to take a lower dose in the hope of reducing the possibility of side effects, because finasteride's dose response curve is essentially flat.

Yes keep on burying your head in the sand,

http://www.pfsfoundation.org/news/c...-a-harvard-medical-school-teaching-affiliate/

 

[Rudolphus]

Yes keep on burying your head in the sand,

Okay, so what is it you suggest then? That this guy doesn't even let himself give finasteride a try but instead dooms himself to going completely bald?

 

[Haymitch]

Some interesting answers there, thanks. I've been doing a lot of reading on the topic for quite a while, and I can't really see too much of a problem with having a few blood tests done, and then taking a recommended dose of finasteride for a year, while watching for side effects and then seeing if there's any improvement at the end of that period. Otherwise I can speculate and second guess myself for ther rest of time.

 

[abcdefg]

There really arent any. Take a small dose and go from there. Just take it like your vitamin and forget about these forums and male pattern baldness. Come back in a few years when there is something better thats the best way to deal with male pattern baldness. If your taking propecia each day your really doing all you can at the moment. The other stuff nizoral, minoxidil or whatever else is largely fluff it might help a little but propecia is the big boy doing all the work. male pattern baldness would be an untreatable condition if not for propecia