5-AR Inhibitors with TRT?

Does anyone combine hair loss treatments, including fin/dua or topical AR-blockers with TRT?

I wonder if this offsets the side effects much.

Also, can anyone comment on how well 5-AR plus a topical AA works for hair loss? Seems like the best available treatment besides surgery or a toupee.

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Poison!

I know. I’m thinking high trt, or maybe some other androgens (a dht derivative? actual DHT?) might offset the effects somewhat.

Say, topical fin, topical anti-androgen and a dht derivative to limit how much reaches your scalp.

Also, I think a lot of people can handle finasteride, at least with TRT. I think forums give a selection bias for people complaining.

Interesting. no way around it.

Therein lies your answer. These drugs would no longer exist if they did not work. Generally, guys responding well to TRT, etc. are not on internet forums looking for help. Certainly individual results apply.

I have seen some guys who would not give up these drugs. They have hair, so I suppose they think they can get the girl, but they can’t do anything if they get one…

Personally, I do not feel they are worth the risk.

I am contemplating using the topical RU58841 only while blasting. My hair is thick and I want to keep it that way.

I think RU blocks the receptor of DHT (or androgens) in the scalp. It doesn’t lower DHT levels. I think of it like a SERM vs an AI.

Disclaimer, I am early on in my research on this compound. Reportedly some do get sides from it. It appears less sever than fin or dutasteride. Topical fin doesn’t make sense to me. It appears it lowers serum DHT to about the same level as oral. Topical dutasteride has a lot of conflicting data, so it is really tough to make a determination.

I am not a huge fan of lowering DHT. It seems as if one would end up with more E2 if they lower their DHT, but I am not sure to what degree.

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Topical supposedly lowers locally to a higher degree than systemically. I think RU does not work on its own for many people because DHT outcompetes RU for the androgen receptor.

I’ve heard this too. It would then help to a degree, right? It isn’t going to do everything, but it might block out a percentage (some amount that I don’t know) of the receptors.

fin does not even work for most people. I think the small stuff is a waste of time more than anything.

I would not bother unless you’re using 5-AR.

Fin is a 5-AR.

What would you suggest? Topical Dutasteride? Oral Fin or Dutasteride?

IDK, the studies with the RU seem like they do fairly well at preventing hair loss, and even regrow some hair?

This is a tough thing to figure out IMO. Not very good data.

I’m on the fence between topical 5-AR or staying natty.

Natty natty, or just not doing anything for hair?

Topical Dutasteride seems to have the most promise for actually being a topical product (Fin goes into the serum just fine). I am unsure on many details about it though as I keep finding conflicting info about it.

A significant proportion of the side effects from 5-AR inhibition come from impaired progesterone → 5aDHP conversion, which in turn leads to a decrease in downstream allopregnanolone production - the latter being a potent allosteric modulator of the GABAa receptor.

Allopregnanolone was recently approved by the FDA in the treatment of postpartum depression; numerous studies investigating the hormone profile of depressed men describe no difference in testosterone, estradiol, dhea, etc, but a significantly lower level of progesterone and allopregnanolone.

Accordingly, hyperfocusing on androgens in attempt to mitigate potential finasteride related side effects is unlikely to prove fruitful.

Crazy how so many docs overlook how badly these mess people up.