propecia and diabetes

[jd24]

i am 22,
i have been taking finpecia for a year
initially 1mg, then 0.5 and now 0.25 with regrowth (but i am still shedding)

i have recently been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes

strange age to get it, not sure whether the finpecia had anything to do with it.
it is possible, but it could also be lots of other things as my nan did have it, its impossible to tell

does anybody know how propecia can affect blood sugar levels?
im taking insulin 4 times a day now, is it safe to continue taking the finpecia?

 

[antonio666]

propecia will not give you diabetes or save your hair

 

[Mew]

propecia will not give you diabetes

Oh really? Read this, straight from Merck themselves:
http://www.merckfrosst.ca/assets/en/pdf ... 2_06-E.pdf

PAGE 7:
Although the clinical significance is unclear, a higher incidence of cataracts (4.2%, finasteride vs. 2.5%, placebo) and diabetes (2.8%, finasteride vs. 1.7%, placebo) was observed in patients receiving finasteride.

In addition... :

PAGE 3:
Four patients in MTOPS reported the adverse experience breast cancer. Three of these patients were on finasteride only and one was on the combination therapy... The relationship between the long-term use of finasteride and male breast cancer is currently unknown.


PAGE 6:
"Finasteride has been found to cross the blood-brain barrier."

PAGE 12:
"Finasteride appeared to inhibit both C19 and C21 steroid metabolism and hence appeared to have an inhibitory effect on both hepatic [liver] and peripheral Type II 5 alpha-reductase activity. The serum DHT metabolites androstenediol glucuronide and androsterone glucuronide were also significantly reduced."

This metabolic pattern is similar to that observed in individuals with a genetic deficiency of Type II 5 alpha reductase who have markedly decreased levels of DHT and small prostates, and who do not develop
BPH.

"Finasteride has been recovered in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients treated with a 7-10 day course of finasteride, but the drug does not appear to concentrate preferentially to the CSF."


Finally, here are some of my hormones after I came off finasteride. Notice my Glucose Fasting levels decreased over time, which is a GOOD thing.

 

[jd24]

any word on that document on if / how it effects blood sugar levels and whether its safe
to take if diabetic?

 

[Mew]

Why don't you read the document and find out? Also re-read what I posted -- there was a higher % of men taking finasteride that got diabetes than those who did not. Perhaps you are one of the unlucky ones.

You could always try getting off Finasteride and see if it helps your diabetes. Personally, knowing the above, and now that you have it, I would get off to see if it makes any difference.

 

[jd24]

quite possibly
im going to have 3 days off of it and then see how my readings differ

what would you recommend to move on to if i stopped finasteride on a permanent basis?

 

[Mew]

3 days is not enough time, it takes up to a week for DHT levels to return to baseline after a single dose, and up to 30 days for the 5AR enzyme to "regenerate". I'd give yourself two weeks minimum to a month at minimum off the drug, then get retested.

As for what to take instead -- that's what this forum is for. There are a variety of things... topical spironolactone, Saw Palmetto, Nizoral, Revivogen, natural regimens like Immortal Hair, minoxidil, or whatever else you want to try. Granted they won't have as strong an effect as finasteride, but if your diabetes clears up after quitting finasteride -- clearly you've got to make a choice about using that drug.

 

[RaginDemon]

propecia will not give you diabetes or save your hair

stop talking non sense dude

 

[Hans Gruber]

propecia will not give you diabetes or save your hair

you
chat
sh*t

 

[jd24]

since taking it i havent had those uncontrolable itches that feel like borderline burning
and my hair has been much thicker and have had regrowth at the sides where i had actually forgot i had there before

it does work
im going to have some off days and some on days to see how big the difference is

but at the moment from what i can gather is that it does raise bloodsugar levels by about 5 (the same that i would expect from eating lunch, this is quite a lot considering its a 0.25 dosage) yet there is no mention of this in the information that i have found

any other diabetics out there using propecia?

 

[bubka]

Mew, 1.1% difference is NOT statistically significant