Reducing finasteride from 2.5-1.25mg

[mr_sparkle]

So I was on propecia for a year with no side effects - I thought there was at first, but it was a psychological thing, stopped for a bit, went back on when in a steady relationship and the libido was fine. However, when it came to renewing my prescription, I didn't think there was much difference to before. I discontinued for a few months, and lost more hair, so clearly it was making a difference!

As a result I went back on but my derm said try a 2mg dose, or 2.5 by splitting proscar, which I have done. In the space of two months my hair already feels thicker! But I'm experiencing sides - softer erections and watery sperm and after trying to ride it out and see if they disappear they haven't gone away

As a result, I'm gonna go to 1.25, or even back to 1, and I'd presume that my libido will be back on track.

What I'm hoping some of you can advise me is if I'm better off IMMEDIATELY going to 1.25, or if I should stop completely until the libido returns, and then ease back onto finasteride 1 / 1.25

Cheers

****

EDIT

Went off for 2 weeks or so for the libido to get back, and now back on 1.25 with no sides. Thinking of upping to 2.5 later as the results TRULY were impressive. I'm perhaps thinking the sides weren't so much the dosage, but the extreme increase (from 0- 2.5...), so gradually increasing may give my body time to adjust.

Any thoughts / experiences?

 

[mr_sparkle]

Really? 80 reads and no reply? I'm sure someone here has reduced their finasteride intake for similar reasons.

OR, am I perhaps being too impatient. I went on double dosage about 2 months maybe - does it take longer for sides to disappear with continued usage?

 

[Bryan]

I've never used finasteride, but I think it's unlikely you could tell the diffference in side effects between 1 mg and 2.5 mg. Finasteride has a fairly "flat" dose-response curve.

 

[Fundi]

I'd probably go down to 0.25/0.5mg until things return to normal, rather than cut it out completely, then if there's no change within say 2 weeks, cut it until everything returns to normal. That way, on top of minimising damage to your hair, you're gradually changing doses rather than making a big jump.

Just out of interest Bryan, as you don't use finasteride, what do you use? I know you've used Dr Proctor's stuff in the past, what's your current regime?

 

[Bryan]

Just out of interest Bryan, as you don't use finasteride, what do you use? I know you've used Dr Proctor's stuff in the past, what's your current regime?

The same as in the past: Dr. Proctor's stuff. Only I'm using it far less consistently than I should, and yes, my hair is definitely suffering as a result. I need to get back on a regular program with it again, before I lose any more hair.

 

[mr_sparkle]

I've never used finasteride, but I think it's unlikely you could tell the diffference in side effects between 1 mg and 2.5 mg. Finasteride has a fairly "flat" dose-response curve.

But I was on 1mg for a year roughly with no sides. I've essentially added 150% to the dosage so it doesn't seem to unreasonable to have sides.

This is definitely not psychological though - watery semen and harder to maintain a hard-on. Though part of me thinks it may still take time to adjust - it's been 2 months. Does it take longer for sides to go away (wuth continued usage)?

 

[Fundi]

This is definitely not psychological though - watery semen and harder to maintain a hard-on. Though part of me thinks it may still take time to adjust - it's been 2 months. Does it take longer for sides to go away (wuth continued usage)?

I'm not saying it is psychological, but it being harder to maintain a hard on can definately be psychological in many cases.

 

[Bryan]

But I was on 1mg for a year roughly with no sides. I've essentially added 150% to the dosage so it doesn't seem to unreasonable to have sides.

In early testing of the drug, human volunteers took as much as 80 mg (!) per day of finasteride for several months, with no problem. They took as much as 400 mg (!!) of finasteride in a single dose, again with no apparent problem. In the even earlier testing with stumptailed macaques, the animals were typically given 1 mg/kg/day of finasteride, again with apparently no effect on their behavior. Those tests went on for a couple of years, if I remember correctly. Since I personally weigh about 100 kg, that would be the same as if I took about 100 mg of finasteride every day for two years.

Compared to all that, the difference between 1 mg and 2.5 mg is small potatoes.

 

[mr_sparkle]

I'm sure that's the case...but it doesn't really explain why on 1mg I had thick and normal semen and was able to get morning wood / spontaneous hard ons no problem, and on 2.5 I'm not. Watery semen isn't a psychological thing, it's either there or it isn't.

Well I've cut it off cold turkey for now and will go back to 1.25 soon. Also ordered some things like L-arginine etc to hopefully get things back on track. The libido is there, it's just so is the ED

 

[mr_sparkle]

well it's been nearly 2 weeks and I'm definitely noticing a difference, though I haven't masturbated for a few days and often (even when on finasteride) I'll average every night. May give it a couple more days and get back onto 1.25.

Does anyone think this may not have as good effect on the hair though? I mean, hair had thickened quite a bit on 2.5, but it's not worth it for the sides..

 

[mr_sparkle]

Re: Reducing finasteride from 2.5-1.25mg (then going back to 2.5)

I'm even considering going back to 2.5 after I feel a bit more stable on 1.25. Back on 1.25 with no sides thus far (touch wood) but my hair feels a bit worse. If I perhaps stuck with 1.25 for a bit, then added the extra 1.25 perhaps it'll give me extra benefits without the sides.

Part of me feels the sides could have been a result of going from 0-2.5 pretty quickly, as opposed to gradually building it up.

Anyone have any thoughts / experiences?

 

[JWM]

Part of me feels the sides could have been a result of going from 0-2.5 pretty quickly, as opposed to gradually building it up.

Sounds like a good theory. Where is the majority of your loss? In the front of the back? And what brand of Proscar are you using? The real thing or generic?

 

[Hiker]

If you have success at a dosage of 1.25 stick with it. If you are losing at 1.25, but were maintaining at 2.5, go back to 2.5. I have been losing a lot on 1.25, but I used the generic. I've switched to the brand name product and will see if it helps. It's a b**ch to lose a lot of hair, I doubt I'll regain what I've lost.

 

[mr_sparkle]

The loss is at the crown. The area is more just a large, thin patch, than a particularly 'bald' patch. Though the hairs are still very thin so is as good as.

I've been on generic finasteride, but from a legitimate pharmacy that required a prescription from a dermatologist.

Before then I was on generic propecia 1mg and it didn't do much. Or at least I didn't think so - more maintenance than regrowth, probably more slowing down the overall loss. I was only on 2.5mg since August but the results were VERY impressive for such a short amount of time. Since I took a break from it I seem to have lost a bit more but y'know it's only been about 2 weeks I've solidly been on 1.25, and there was a 2-3 week spell when I went cold turkey, just to let the libido get back to where it should be.