Finasteride can reduce neuroactive steroids, causing side effects like depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Some users experience persistent symptoms after stopping finasteride, while others use alternative treatments like topical solutions.
Dutasteride's half-life varies with dosage, and lower doses can be effective with fewer side effects compared to finasteride. Some users report different side effects with dutasteride and finasteride, and extreme dosages of dutasteride are unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Dutasteride at 0.5 mg/day does not significantly alter allopregnanolone levels, but higher doses (2.5 mg/day) do. Dutasteride may also have anti-neuroinflammatory effects, but the impact on neurosteroids is still debated.
Topical pirfenidone is highlighted as an effective anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic treatment for hair loss, particularly in addressing perifollicular fibrosis, which may enhance the effectiveness of standard treatments like finasteride and minoxidil. The user also uses calcipotriol, MCT oil, ciclopirox shampoo, and benzoyl peroxide shampoo as part of their regimen.
The conversation discusses the potential for developing a biologic "DHT sponge" to neutralize DHT in the bloodstream as a treatment for hair loss, suggesting it could be more targeted and have fewer side effects than current treatments like finasteride and dutasteride. Concerns include the complexity, cost, and potential side effects of such a treatment, as well as skepticism about its feasibility and market interest.