Does anyone get blood tests while taking Finasteride to ensure thing are working appropriately (e.g. DHT is decreasing and estrogen isn't increasing significantly)
    Finasteride/Dutasteride 8/6/2025

    From the encyclopedia
    Finasteride โ†’

    Frontline, gold standard treatment for combatting androgenic alopecia

    Minoxidil โ†’

    An essential vasodilator with some anti-androgenic effects

    At a glance
    In this question or advice post, the primary subjects mentioned are
    ๐Ÿ’Š Finasteride (oral) likely low dose
    ๐Ÿ’Š Minoxidil (oral) 5mg 6 weeks
    the tone is ๐Ÿ˜ neutral.

    Other terms

    People are discussing the use of finasteride for hair loss and the importance of hormonal blood testing to monitor effects like changes in DHT and estradiol levels. Some users also mention using minoxidil and the potential side effects of estradiol, such as gynecomastia, especially at higher doses.
    View this post in the Community โ†’

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    5 / 5 results

      community Starting fin / minoxidil progress so far

       62 upvotes 2 months ago
      The user started using finasteride and minoxidil for hair loss, noting past success with minoxidil alone but now needing a DHT blocker. They experienced side effects like chest pain and considered reducing the finasteride dose.

      community My DHT levels have increased after taking 0.25mg Fin for 47 days!

       186 upvotes 1 year ago
      A user experienced increased hair shedding and unchanged DHT levels after taking 0.25mg of finasteride for 47 days, leading them to increase the dose to 0.5mg. Others discussed varying experiences with finasteride, minoxidil, and the importance of measuring scalp DHT.

      community Why is Minoxidil not enough for hair loss? (No fin)

       59 upvotes 1 year ago
      Minoxidil alone is often insufficient for treating hair loss because it doesn't address the DHT-related cause. Combining it with finasteride, a DHT blocker, is generally more effective.

      community Results of topical minoxidil 3 months

      in Progress Pictures  67 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user experienced significant hair regrowth using topical minoxidil but faced issues with gynecomastia when using oral minoxidil and finasteride. They plan to have surgery for gynecomastia and consider using finasteride again, while questioning if minoxidil alone can maintain hair growth.

    Related Research

    6 / 6 results
      Finasteride in the Treatment of Androgenetic Alopecia

      research Finasteride in the treatment of alopecia

      62 citations , April 2004 in “Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy”
      This article reviews the use of finasteride for treating male pattern hair loss, highlighting its mechanism of action in reducing DHT and noting its safety profile with some common adverse effects.
      Finasteride Treatment of Hair Loss in Women

      research Finasteride Treatment of Hair Loss in Women

      29 citations , May 2010 in “Annals of Pharmacotherapy”
      This review discusses the limited objective evidence for using finasteride in women with alopecia, suggesting that it could be considered for those who don't benefit from minoxidil, but reports no new clinical results.
      Updates in Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia

      research Updates in Treatment for Androgenetic Alopecia

      January 2025 in “Annals of Dermatology”
      This review discusses current and emerging treatments for androgenetic alopecia, covering mechanisms, efficacy, and safety of both androgen-targeted and non-androgen-targeted approaches, but reports no new clinical results.
      Novel Agents for the Treatment of Alopecia

      research Novel agents for the treatment of alopecia

      29 citations , December 1998 in “Seminars in Cutaneous Medicine and Surgery”
      This review examines recent approvals and emerging treatments for androgenetic alopecia, discussing newly approved drugs like Propecia and Rogaine Extra Strength 5%, but without presenting new clinical results.
      Androgenetic Alopecia: Drug Safety and Therapeutic Strategies

      research Androgenetic alopecia; drug safety and therapeutic strategies

      20 citations , January 2018 in “Expert Opinion on Drug Safety”
      This review discusses androgenetic alopecia management with 5ฮฑ-reductase inhibitors, emphasizing that while dutasteride shows superior efficacy, finasteride is suggested as preferable due to predictable adverse effects and preservation of physiological roles.