Why Do You Take Finasteride*?

[Traci Elizabeth]

My question is why do Transwomen take Finasteride other than I know that many do to help slow male pattern balding. But are their any other reasons one would take it if they are already on Estrogen & Spiro?

Myself, I have a full head of hair with no receding hairline or bald-spots (genes I guess) so I don't know if taking it would be a total waste of money.

[Hope]

My question is why do Transwomen take Finasteride other than I know that many do to help slow male pattern balding. But are their any other reasons one would take it if they are already on Estrogen & Spiro?

Myself, I have a full head of hair with no receding hairline or bald-spots (genes I guess) so I don't know if taking it would be a total waste of money.

It's an androgen blocker. You take it (or another T blocker) so that the estrogen (and progesterone if you are of that proclivity) can do it's work.

[Traci Elizabeth]

It's an androgen blocker. You take it (or another T blocker) so that the estrogen (and progesterone if you are of that proclivity) can do it's work.

But that is what the Spiro does even better then the Finasteride. So again I ask why would anymore who has tons of head hair and already taking Estrogen & Spiro consider Finasteride as a third drug?

What can it do differently for us full haired gals?

[pamela_a]

That would be a question for your doctor. Finasteride, like spironolactone, is an androgen blocker (actually finasteride blocks the body's ability to convert testosterone to DHT) and your doctor may have found the combination works well in M2F patients since one of the side affects is also the potential of breast growth.

While it's true that finasteride (Propetia) is sold primarily as a treatment for male pattern balding you need to remember that spironolactone (Aldactone) is primarily a potassium sparing diuretic that happens to also work well as an androgen blocker. They are simply making good use of the drugs "side affects"

I am taking spiro and finasteride, but the finasteride was only added in response to hair loss.

[Traci Elizabeth]

That would be a question for your doctor. Finasteride, like spironolactone, is an androgen blocker (actually finasteride blocks the body's ability to convert testosterone to DHT) and your doctor may have found the combination works well in M2F patients since one of the side affects is also the potential of breast growth.

While it's true that finasteride (Propetia) is sold primarily as a treatment for male pattern balding you need to remember that spironolactone (Aldactone) is primarily a potassium sparing diuretic that happens to also work well as an androgen blocker. They are simply making good use of the drugs "side affects"

I am taking spiro and finasteride, but the finasteride was only added in response to hair loss.


Pamela,

Because I started with very high blood pressure, my doctor put me on Spiro so I am getting two major benefits from the Spiro.

I did not know that Finasteride aided in breast growth.

My Estrogen and Spiro hopefully will result in significant breast growth in themselves.

[subaru_forster]

When my dermatologist (whom I'm not out to yet) explained propecia to me, he did not mention "breast growth" as a side effect, when used as directed. The only known side effect is a decreased libido in a small number of users (reversible by simply stopping taking it). I trust that he would have mentioned it, as he was not making any money off the sale of propecia. (When I told him I found a cheap online source of the generic form of the drug, he encouraged me to use that source)

I don't see how finasteride would be of any use in transitioning, except to prevent balding. It doesn't seem to feminize your hormonal cocktail, but rather make it closer to that of a man who isn't balding.

[pamela_a]

Breast growth isn't a major side affect but is is listed as a small percentage side affect. Nothing to be excited about but every little bit can help

[CharleneT]

The two drugs both function as androgen blockers, but in different ways. A lot of folks take both to get the "T both coming and going". Ask your doc about whether it could help you. There is another related drug, Dutasteride (Avodart) that is considered better. It is new and so more $$. Technically speaking, from the web:

Dutasteride is a competitive inhibitor of both type-1 and type-2 isoenzymes of DHT, with 45-fold greater potency than finasteride against type-1 and type-2 isoenzymes. Approximately 85% to 90% of DHT is suppressed by the inhibition of type-2 isozymes. The remaining DHT is hypothesized to be from type-1 5-alpha-reductase. Finasteride is a competitive inhibitor of 5-alpha-reductase that selectively inhibits the type-2 isoenzyme. The dual inhibition resulting from dutasteride treatment may be beneficial in prostatic diseases that depend on androgens, as both isoenzymes are up-regulated in BPH while only the type-1 isoenzyme is up-regulated in prostate cancer. It is not yet known if there are clinical differences between selective inhibitors and dual inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase in the treatment of BPH.

Don't be too impressed by the "45 fold increase..." as in real life trials Avodart has been shown to be better, but not soooo dramatic.

[Karen564]

Charlene beat me too it ...lol

Yes, Finisteride adds to the T blocking where Spiro leaves off..
Spiro alone doesn't block the DHT..which is the more potent form of T, and also what carries the MPB gene.
Dutusteride is the best because it block 2 forms of DHT, not just 1 form as Finisteride does.

I've been on Dutas for a number of years now, which is the generic version of Avodart (Dutasteride)..and when that was added to my HRT, it really kicked everything into high gear..not to mention stopped me from going bald...

Both Finisteride & Dutusteride were originally developed with the intent to treat & shrink the Prostate by blocking the DHT ..which it does...and then discovered later as a side effect that it also slowed and/or stopped male pattern baldness (MPB)..which it also does..
So by adding either of these meds into the mix is a perfect addition to a HRT regimen for the MTF TS for many reasons..