Anabolic Effects of Testosterone Are Preserved During Inhibition of 5α-Reductase

Dutasteride is a stronger 5AR inhibitor than finasteride and can significantly lower DHT levels. Reduced doses of dutasteride may lower side effects.

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

A 19-year-old concerned about long-term effects of 5AR inhibitors on physical appearance. They have used finasteride and plan to try dutasteride or RU58841; responses suggest improved skin, hair, and confidence.

Finasteride not only inactivates the 5a reductase enzyme but also affects the 5b reductase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner, which can impact sexual behavior and brain activity. The user experienced significant hair regrowth and side effects on 1mg of finasteride, which diminished after reducing the dose to 0.5mg, leading to no side effects and further hair improvement.

A 23-year-old male experienced an increase in testosterone levels after taking 1 mg of finasteride daily for six months, with no significant side effects reported. Users discussed how finasteride inhibits DHT, leading to increased testosterone, and debated the psychological versus physiological effects of the medication.