I've been running Dutasteride (generic) for just short of 2 weeks. I am barely losing any hair now. I would have to estimate I'm losing 85% less hair than 5-10mg of Finasteride. This is obviously going to vary per person and some persons even experience a nasty shedding phase when starting Dutasteride.
No significant reduction in libidio.. but read below.
to be fair I'm using more than Dutasteride.
~550mg-700mg of Test Prop
5mg-7.5 of Finasteride Daily
Minoxidil w/ AA 1x/day
Minoxidil w/o AA 1x/day
Spiro 2% and 5%
Dutasteride .5mg
Apple Cider Vinegar (just found some randomly on sale at the store)
**How then do I 'know' it's the Dutasteride? Because Dutasteride is the only new edition to this stack which I've used on and off for ~2-3years. This stuff is awesome, hair is growing back pretty fast as well.. At 1.5mg a day and minoxidil (haven't done that yet) I really think most of us can regrow a significant amount. That's my opinion - remember that I'm also shooting a moderate amount of prop.
I wouldn't recommend using >2.5mg finasteride and >.5mg of dutasteride if you are off cycle. watch for gyno.
There is no doubt that dutasteride beats down DHT better than finasteride. It IS more effective too. The thing is at what cost? There are tons of people who claim perm. side effects from longterm use of finasteride. It doesnt even come close to dutasteride in terms of its effects on DHT. I think DHT is much more important in a male's system than we give it credit for. Experts such as Swale (vast HRT experience) are adamant about avoiding even the use of finasteride. Annihilating DHT can do some pretty crappy things.
I used finasteride and it did help. However, I eventually stopped because I was paranoid it was making me "softer" and making me deposit abdominal fat quicker/easier.
How long have you been taking duta?
Allopregnenolone (synthesized from 5AR) may prevent neurodegeneration
There is a huge yahoo group with tons of members with horror stories about perm crashes in libido and overall HPTA balance, gyno, depression.... the list goes on.
I certainly "thought" my lower abdominal fat was much more stubborn on it. Could have been my mind though. I am also getting older.
Otherwise I didnt notice any other major side effects (luckily).
5-AR produces DHT from testosterone.
DHT is a hell of an androgen.
Androgens tend to have fat-burning properties.
Finasteride-mediated reduction in androgen (i.e. DHT) levels may lead to reduced fat burning.
Additionally, test spikes a bit when you first start taking it. Over the longterm though, I think it eventually leads to elevated estrogen levels.
There is no clear evidence that this is how it plays out. But its a theory. And one of the MANY side effects that people complain about.
Im still on the fence about using a 5-ar or not. Duta scares me a hell of a lot more than finasteride. I think its clear that the incidence of side effects with finasteride ARE higher than Merck initially let on with their reports/studies.
I'd give a lot of thought before taking finasteride. It is apowerful endocrine disrupter that causes permanent serious side effects in a much higher percentage of the male population than is published.
Ask the guys at the Finasteride Yahoo Group about their experiences. Finasteride use is not to be taken lightly.
Instead, use a topical shampoo with DHT inhibitors present. I provide a prescription strength Nizoral shampoo with a second DHT inhibitor in it for my patients. It works great, and no chance of systemic effects. There are many such products available out there. - SWALE
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As long as you control estrogens, your prostate is not at risk. Estrogen is the true culprit in prostate morbidity (both BPH and prostate CA), not DHT.
If you have BPH, and you take DHT as a transdermal cream, your prostate will get better, not worse.
And I know about 400 guys who wish they had never taken finasteride before.
If you want to save your hair, use a DHT-blocking topical. - SWALE
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I'm just not in favor of finasteride use. It causes ED in many more men than the manufacturer publishes, by my experience, and some of them simply never recover. I'd stay away from it, in favor of the topicals. - SWALE
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All taken from Meso boards
SWALE has also pretty much broke down and discredited all that crazy ass **** Anthony Roberts was talking about in regard to finasteride for PCT and so on. If you read any of that stuff, I would disregard what he said. He had some very whacked out theories on many things but he sure made them sound good.
just some food for thought