What blood tests to get done when on finasteride?

[sportsfan12]

Ive been on finasteride for almost a year and i want to get blood work done before meeting with my derm to discuss dutasteride.

Sorry if i sound like an amateur but what tests would this include? Thanks guys.

 

[TinTon]

I've just had some blood work done (yesterday), I got quite a lot of stuff tested/calculated i.e.

FSH, PSA, TSH, Free Thyroxine, LH, SHBG, Testosterone, Estradiol, Haemoglobin, HCT, Red Cell Count, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, White Cell Count, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils, ESR, HsCRP, Platelet Count, MPV, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Urea, Creatinine, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate Transferase, Alanine Transferase, CK, Gamma GT, Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin, Calcium, Corrected Calcium, Phosphate, Uric Acid, Glucose, Insulin, Iron, T.I.B.C, Transferrin Saturation, Ferritin , Triglycerides, Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HDL % Of Total, DHT, Free Testosterone, Bioavailable Testosterone.

This extensive list however was not all due to myself wanting to start finasteride, it was actually myself wanting to get a good overall picture of my health from various different angles (liver, kidneys, thyroid, cholesterol etc.), so it worked best for me to get the 'bundle-pack' as above.

Mainly before starting finasteride I wanted to check PSA, Testosterone, DHT, Free Testosterone, Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG - and this only spawned from what I had been reading over time about finasteride. In fact the main inspiration for getting any blood work done at all regarding finasteride was the fact that the finasteride tablets I just got prescribed said in the leaflet "It's advised to take a PSA test BEFORE starting treatment with finasteride." - But I guess even that really mainly applies to the older man in his late 40's upwards.

If you have already been on finasteride for a year, I assume with zero side effects, is there much point in getting blood tests done? I suppose the tests would give you a 'on-finasteride baseline'...

 

[sportsfan12]

I've just had some blood work done (yesterday), I got quite a lot of stuff tested/calculated i.e.

FSH, PSA, TSH, Free Thyroxine, LH, SHBG, Testosterone, Estradiol, Haemoglobin, HCT, Red Cell Count, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW, White Cell Count, Neutrophils, Lymphocytes, Monocytes, Eosinophils, Basophils, ESR, HsCRP, Platelet Count, MPV, Sodium, Potassium, Chloride, Bicarbonate, Urea, Creatinine, Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate Transferase, Alanine Transferase, CK, Gamma GT, Total Protein, Albumin, Globulin, Calcium, Corrected Calcium, Phosphate, Uric Acid, Glucose, Insulin, Iron, T.I.B.C, Transferrin Saturation, Ferritin , Triglycerides, Cholesterol, HDL Cholesterol, LDL Cholesterol, HDL % Of Total, DHT, Free Testosterone, Bioavailable Testosterone.

This extensive list however was not all due to myself wanting to start finasteride, it was actually myself wanting to get a good overall picture of my health from various different angles (liver, kidneys, thyroid, cholesterol etc.), so it worked best for me to get the 'bundle-pack' as above.

Mainly before starting finasteride I wanted to check PSA, Testosterone, DHT, Free Testosterone, Estradiol, FSH, LH, SHBG - and this only spawned from what I had been reading over time about finasteride. In fact the main inspiration for getting any blood work done at all regarding finasteride was the fact that the finasteride tablets I just got prescribed said in the leaflet "It's advised to take a PSA test BEFORE starting treatment with finasteride." - But I guess even that really mainly applies to the older man in his late 40's upwards.

If you have already been on finasteride for a year, I assume with zero side effects, is there much point in getting blood tests done? I suppose the tests would give you a 'on-finasteride baseline'...

I messed up and did not get work done prior to starting finasteride.

Im 25 and lift weights/do cardio 5 days a week, feel great, no sides.

I think mainly i want to do it because i am seriously considering dutasteride and the only way i would do that is if my health is ok knowing ive been on finasteride a year. I feel great but who knows whats going on internally

 

[zzzzz]

On finasteride, everything will be in the normal range, except DHT, which should be lower than the normal range. Blood work comes with reference ranges so you will know what's in the normal range because it will say so on the sheet. Just request a general bloodwork maybe + Testosterone, DHT, estrogen (sex hormones, basically)

 

[TinTon]

I messed up and did not get work done prior to starting finasteride.

Im 25 and lift weights/do cardio 5 days a week, feel great, no sides.

I think mainly i want to do it because i am seriously considering dutasteride and the only way i would do that is if my health is ok knowing ive been on finasteride a year. I feel great but who knows whats going on internally

I guess it all comes down to the cost/benefit ratio of getting the tests done. You said you are young and have no sides and feel great whilst on finasteride - so on that note it might not really be necessary to do any blood tests.

However some people such as myself, just wanted some peace of mind as regards my overall general health status before starting what potentially could be a life-long treatment route of finasteride tablets, and so that 'overall health status' was my gained benefit from what I paid to go private and have the aforementioned blood tests done.

What I'm saying is that: if money isn't an issue or you have good health insurance that covers the cost, then by all means go ahead and get some blood work done, it's never a bad thing to check your current blood health status, but from the info given about yourself (i.e. young, feeling great etc) - blood work doesn't sound at all crucial and so if it's going to be a financial burden to have it done then the cost to benefit ratio might not seem worth it.

I'm 34 years old, feel generally fine, feel my age, but generally fine. I had the above blood work done and found out that I have high 'ferritin levels' (which long-term can be serious depending on the reason) and also that my 'cholesterol' is above the normal range (yet I'm in good shape and eat a varied, mainly fresh produce diet), so for me I'm very pleased that I had the blood work done as I will now be working to bring down my high ferritin and cholesterol levels, thus hopefully becoming a healthier guy moving forward.

Would I of had that blood work done if I was age 25 (i.e. still in my prime)? ---I really can't say...

 

[Captain Hook]

Just before my dermatologist prescribed me finasteride today the only blood work she had requested was comprehensive male hormone panel, liver values and kidney function tests. Thankfully I had all of those tests performed by my GP in June so she was pleased that everything was already taken care of and within the normal reference ranges so there would be no delay.

Interestingly enough she echoed the sentiment of my GP about not needing to get my PSA checked due to the fact that I'm only 21. She actually said the same thing that I remember reading on a urology website: "when you're older and are getting routine PSA blood tests performed, just inform the doctor that you're on an oral 5ARI and they'll likely just multiply the PSA value by 2 in order to get the proper value"

 

[sportsfan12]

On finasteride, everything will be in the normal range, except DHT, which should be lower than the normal range. Blood work comes with reference ranges so you will know what's in the normal range because it will say so on the sheet. Just request a general bloodwork maybe + Testosterone, DHT, estrogen (sex hormones, basically)

Zzzzz- you seem knowledgeable on dutasteride- if finasteride has restored my crown, but hairline is slowly still thinning, would dutasteride be worth it? I would essentially be taking it with the hope it stops hairline or best case scenario provides any thickening on hairline corners. finasteride has been great for crown but really looking for more help on hairline

- - - Updated - - -

I guess it all comes down to the cost/benefit ratio of getting the tests done. You said you are young and have no sides and feel great whilst on finasteride - so on that note it might not really be necessary to do any blood tests.

However some people such as myself, just wanted some peace of mind as regards my overall general health status before starting what potentially could be a life-long treatment route of finasteride tablets, and so that 'overall health status' was my gained benefit from what I paid to go private and have the aforementioned blood tests done.

What I'm saying is that: if money isn't an issue or you have good health insurance that covers the cost, then by all means go ahead and get some blood work done, it's never a bad thing to check your current blood health status, but from the info given about yourself (i.e. young, feeling great etc) - blood work doesn't sound at all crucial and so if it's going to be a financial burden to have it done then the cost to benefit ratio might not seem worth it.

I'm 34 years old, feel generally fine, feel my age, but generally fine. I had the above blood work done and found out that I have high 'ferritin levels' (which long-term can be serious depending on the reason) and also that my 'cholesterol' is above the normal range (yet I'm in good shape and eat a varied, mainly fresh produce diet), so for me I'm very pleased that I had the blood work done as I will now be working to bring down my high ferritin and cholesterol levels, thus hopefully becoming a healthier guy moving forward.

Would I of had that blood work done if I was age 25 (i.e. still in my prime)? ---I really can't say...

Im mostly looking to do this because im considering dutasteride- i feel fine on finasteride but i would only take the plunge on dutasteride if my blood works good right now