What hormones should I have tested at a minimum before starting a DHT blocker or anti-androgen?
    11/14/2023

    From the encyclopedia
    Finasteride →

    Prescription tablet (1 mg) that slowed hair loss versus placebo in two-year trials. Labels warn of sexual side effects that have continued after stopping, and of depression and suicidal thoughts; not for use in pregnancy.

    RU58841 →

    a potent but unapproved and potentially problematic topical anti-androgen

    At a glance
    In this question or advice post, the primary subjects mentioned are
    💊 Finasteride (oral)
    💧 RU58841 (topical)
    the tone is 😐 neutral.

    Other terms

    The conversation is about someone planning to start finasteride or RU58841 for hair loss and wanting to know which hormones to test beforehand. They found a package for testing testosterone, free testosterone, estradiol, and DHT, and are asking if these tests are enough.
    View this post in the Community →

    Similar Community Posts Join

    5 / 5 results

      community Hair regrow idea: High dose Testosterone + RU58841

      in Satire  2 upvotes 4 months ago
      Using high doses of testosterone with RU58841 to create an androgen-free environment for hair regrowth is suggested, but concerns about heart health and the effectiveness of this approach are raised. Alternatives like topical estrogen, progesterone, and other treatments like finasteride and dutasteride are discussed.

      community Blood test results and alternatives to oral finasteride

      in Treatment  7 upvotes 1 year ago
      The user experienced erectile dysfunction from oral finasteride and is considering alternatives like topical high-dose finasteride, RU58841, topical Latanoprost, and oral Minoxidil. Blood tests showed changes in testosterone and DHT levels, and the endocrinologist advised stopping finasteride.

      community What happens to the excess testosterone after using dut?

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  23 upvotes 1 year ago
      Using dutasteride or finasteride can increase free testosterone, which may convert to estradiol, potentially causing side effects like increased estrogen levels. Individual responses vary, and some users report changes in cholesterol, hair texture, and side effects like gyno or increased sex drive.

      community Testosterone and hair loss seeming irrelevance

       82 upvotes 3 years ago
      The conversation is about the role of testosterone in hair loss and the effectiveness of different treatments. The conclusion is that DHT is the main culprit for hair loss, and finasteride has been proven to work long-term in maintaining and regrowing hair. Testosterone may have a minor effect, but it is not the primary cause of hair loss.

      community 16month progress on crazy stack

      in Finasteride/Dutasteride  8 upvotes 2 years ago
      The user has been using a strong combination of hair loss treatments for 16 months, including Finasteride, Minoxidil, Dutasteride, and RU-58841, but their hair loss has worsened. They're questioning whether their high testosterone levels or residual scalp DHT are causing further hair loss, with a reply suggesting that even small amounts of DHT can cause hair loss if one is sensitive to it.

    Related Research

    6 / 6 results

      research Alopecia - the search for novel agents continues

      11 citations , August 1997 in “Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents”
      This review discusses nearly 70 patent applications for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and other hair conditions, highlighting the mechanisms of action explored but reports no clinical results.

      research Steroid Hormones

      3 citations , January 2016 in “Elsevier eBooks”
      This article discusses the various roles of steroids in vertebrate organ systems and notes several glucocorticoids that were among the Top 200 Drugs by sales in the 2010s, but it reports no new clinical findings.

      research Male androgenetic alopecia

      54 citations , July 2002 in “Clinical and Experimental Dermatology”
      This article provides a critical overview of recent discoveries in the genetics and molecular processes involved in androgenetic alopecia, focusing on its polygenic basis and DHT dependency, but reports no new clinical results.