Is DHT different than testosterone?

[rnmcd]

I have been experiencing hairloss for the last 4 years and am giving consideration to taking finasteride (Propecia).

From what I understand it reduces DHT levels.

I was recently at an endocrinologist and had my testosterone level checked and it was within normal range.

I forgot to ask about DHT levels (are they the same thing?). I don't want to start taking finasteride unless I have high DHT...I am so afraid of the finasteride side-effects.

Thank you.

[orion]

Originally Posted by rnmcd

I have been experiencing hairloss for the last 4 years and am giving consideration to taking finasteride

DHT is the final form of testosterone and it is many times more potent as an androgen. You don't need high levels of DHT to have hair loss. Over time the DHT transforms the hair folicles so that they are no longer normal. Eventually this leads to hair loss in men. Propecia acts to block this conversion of testosterone into DHT and stops most of the hair loss. There is actually a few ways the testosterone can be converted and propecia only blocks one of the ways. So it is possible that propecia will only partly work. A new product coming out sood blocks more ways.

If you are experiencing hair loss then you should start as soon as possible on propecia, because once the hair folicles are converted they can't be converted back.

Note that propecia and proscar are the same thing only 5x more per pill but for the same price. You can buy proscar and cut the pills in quarters and save a bundle.

If you decided to take propecia, you should also watch for side effects which can include, reduced erections, reduced semen volume, and reduced ejactulation force. These are all reversible when you stop taking it, so there is no need to fear the side effects which only affect a small percentage of men anyway.

By the way, what were you at the endo for? If you have other hormone problems then you need to be a bit more careful taking something that will fool with them further.

[rnmcd]

Orion, would checking to see if I have high DHT before taking finasteride be a good idea? If my DHT is not high then finasteride definitely wouldn't help right?

Can DHT levels be measured?

By the way, I have tried to get a prescription for Proscar but I still haven't been able to find a physician who will prescribe it for hairloss...any suggestions? I tried to get one physician to prescibe it for prostate problems which he determined (ouch) I did not have.

Is the new product you are talking about, duasteride (sp?)?

The reason I was at the endocrinologist is to check my adrenals and thyroid...everything was fine. (you and I have communicated in a thread about swollen tonsils and I wanted get updated studies on TSH, testosterone, and adrenals).

>"If you are experiencing hair loss then you should start as soon as possible on >propecia, because once the hair folicles are converted they can't be converted >back."

That's what I believed too. But some of the Propecia literature claims hair "regrowth"...I have never come across anyone that has had any regrowth from finasteride.

[orion]

A blood test for DHT wouldn't be useful because most DHT is produced in peripheral tissues. Even if you have normal DHT, if you are genetically predisposed to its hair loss effects then you will experience hair loss. All propecia does is prevent the conversion in those peripheral tissues.

To get proscar simply tell your doctor you don't have much money and you will simply split the pills in quarters. Tell him its ridiculous to spend 4x as much for exactly the same product. It's like buy a quart of milk for $4 and then get a gallon for the same price just because it has a different name. Tell the doctor it's his obligation to get you the cheapest drugs possible. Finally, if he still refuses then ask him to write in your chart that he refused to prescribe proscar. He won't want to do that and it might make him give in. If not, maybe later you can sue him for all the extra expense of propecia. Talk about a rip off. [the same is true of viagra by the way]


I believe you can have regrowth if the hair folicles are just dormant and haven't been converted yet, which some of them will be. So it's more just allowing the natural cycle to bring hair back that might have been converted shortly after leaving their dormant stage [ie: hair goes through cycles of growth, and dormancy on a regular basis].

[rnmcd]

Is the new hair growth product you are talking about, duasteride (sp?)?

Out of curiousity, what is the generic or cheaper form of viagra that you were referring to?

Here's a question about Rogaine....how is that able to 'regrow' hair? Does it only work on follicles in the resting phase?

Thanks.