UPREGULATION AND HYPERANDROGENICITY

[justasking]

From the faq section, talking about upregulation and hyperandrogenicity: "This is marked by such signs as greatly increased facial oil, increased pimples, and greatly elevated libido. It's possible that in certain cases such hyperandrogenicity overcomes the hair-protective effect of, say, finasteride, though this does not appear to be the case for the vast majority of people."

I reacted that way when starting saw palmetto and now finasteride. It coincides with a flush of regrowth, then shedding. Does that mean I'll never be successful with antiandrogens? I get growth in areas that have been empty for a year or more and get so hopeful, but it's always followed by a shed. Just looking for opinion or info...

 

[Lizzad]

I think you need to clarify what exactly you mean. Upregulation of androgen recpetors happens on a regular basis, this does not mean that fina won't work as one takes the drug on a regilar basis too.

Humans have androgen recpetors in the skin, the scalp & the prostate, application of anti-androgens to andgoren recpetors should prevent andgogenic activity in that area until the time that the drugs effects wear off. This depends on many factors including the half life of the drug.

In rare cases, the human body has compensated for decreased levels dht in the bloodstream caused by the use of finasteride, for example, by increasing 5ar conversion, thus increasing dht production.

 

[justasking]

Clarify?

I don't have clarification beyond what I've read here. I just know I have definite predictable reactions as I described, and I'm hoping those subside as the pendulum swings so that, eventually, I'll have good results. I don't want to be one of those who react too strongly to defeat the dht.

 

[Lizzad]

"This is marked by such signs as greatly increased facial oil, increased pimples, and greatly elevated libido.

So you got these side effects from taking SP and Fina. From what i know: Some studies show SP to be an anti-estrogen, some say it increases libido, others claim it reduces it. I've taken SP & Fina and i found both to reduce my libido. However, as Fina reduces 5ar conversion, thus reducing serum dht, it can & does increase testosterone in the body, as less of it converts to dht. This can lead to oily skin, pimples (face, back, shoulders).

So you're experiencing fairly normal symptoms. Personally, i foung once i quit Fina, my libido increased, and i got an increase in pimples on my face, back, shoulders etc. Different people have different bodily reactions to such drugs, but your experience is quite common.

ps. If Fina causes shedding, this is usually a very good sign. I've had 2 sheds, and my hair has always looked better in time as a result!

 

[justasking]

Thanks! Good to know. I'm only on a quarter mg to start with because I tend to react -- shed -- at the drop of a hat, or at the drop of an anti-dht treatment. I'm increasing to .5 in a couple of weeks. Have you, or anybody, seen posts from guys at that dosage who still have serious sheds? I'm trying to sneak up on my body so it doesn't freak out this time. :wink:

 

[Lizzad]

I like your plan. Sounds good. You should be ok, but as you should know, a very small ammount of fina can inhibit 5-ar almost as much larger ammounts. But smaller dosages seem to produce less sides. Perhaps some of the sides are not due to 5-ar inhibition???

Work up to 0.5mg, stick with that for 6 months and assess your situation.

 

[justasking]

That's the plan. We'll see what happens. I get faster regrowth than anyone here says is possible when I start treatment, but it only lasts a week and then it starts to shed out. During that week I dream of fully regaining hair, then it all starts to land in the sink. Sigh.