Reason for the Finasteride side effects

[Bismarck]

I asked an expert whether the sides result from "aromatized" T or from decreased DHT.

Here is his reply:

Aromatized Testosterone doesn't exist, there is only 19-Hydroxy-Testosteron and 19-OH-Androstendione that are aromatized to Estradiole and Estrone.

Natural Estrogens in physiological doses don't decrease but increase the libido by ß-Endorphine release and they therefore have a positive effect on pulsatility.
Finasteride decreases pulsatility and increases Androstentiole what could lead to the development of a gyno.

 

[drinkrum]

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D.

EDIT: I think I caught you while you were in edit mode as all I saw was a blank post. Hence the question mark. :wink:

 

[Bismarck]

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D.

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B.

 

[muii]

bis...translate this in english


V.

 

[drinkrum]

Yo Bis,

I don't know about this "expert" of yours, or perhaps I do not understand what he is trying to say. Countless amount of studies in man and animals show that T is aromatized into estradiol, E2, in the hypothalamus and limbic system. This is how aromatase inhibitors, such as anastrozole work, by inhibiting the enzyme aromatase, which creates estradiol (E2) and estrone (E1) from adrenal androgens, testosterone and androstenedione. This results in elevated levels of T in the serum.

I do agree with him that the side effects from finasteride are secondary to DHT suppression and not to an increase in E2. For instance, by taking Arimidex (anastrozole) with finasteride, my libido did not change significantly. Also, at the 1 mg/day level, finasteride is not known to have any signifcant impacts on E2 (or T) in the long-term, as it does not interfere with the HPTA (hypothalamus-pituitary-testes axis).

While natural estrogens are necessary for a healthy libido (among other things), too much estrogen relative to T is bad. This is why older men complain of "andropause" -- their T/E2 levels are quite low and they suffer from loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, etc. Doctors are now using anastrozole and testosterone therapy to help these people regain their sex lives, strength, and youthfulness.

I presume the occurrence of gyno from finasteride is secondary to DHT suppression and perhaps slight elevations in E2 in the short-term. Remember that DHT is a potent competitor for estrogen receptors, and thus lowering it, can cause estrogen excess in tissues abundant with the receptors, e.g. breast tissue. Also, some people might be more susceptible to the short-term increase in T and E2 brought about by finasteride, before the body adjusts itself. As mentioned, while T and E2 are supposed to return to normal after about two weeks or so, in the interim, they both increase about 15% with finasteride at the 1 mg/day dosage.

D.

 

[choko]

hmm

So what medicine should the people like me, who are suffering from sideeffects take?

 

[drinkrum]

Re: hmm

So what medicine should the people like me, who are suffering from sideeffects take?

v****. Or quit finasteride. You can still try to see if aromatase inhibitors work for you, though. Instead of Arimidex, which is incredibly expensive and requires a prescription, try 6-OXO. It's a suicide inhibitor of aromatase, and you can get it from http://www.bodybuilding.com, http://www.bulknutrition.com, etc.

Besides that, you can also try L-arginine, L-carnitine, acetyl-L-carnitine, tribulus herb extract, Horny Goat Weed, and Long Jack. I've had reasonable success with L-arginine and Horny Goat Weed. All of these things you can pick up from a health store or from those Web sites I listed above.

D.