Propecia (finasteride) Information

Due to the very specific nature of Finasteride, Proscar / Propecia (finasteride) has little effect on the other hormones in the body. The product has no affinity for the androgen receptor, and does not exhibit any androgenic, antiandrogenic, estrogenic or antiestrogenic properties. Finasteride should have no impact on circulating levels of cortisol, thyroid-stimulating hormone, or thyroxine, nor should it alter HDL/LDL cholesterol levels. Changes in luteinizing hormone (LH) or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are also not notable, and it is not shown to have an effect on the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis. In a small percentage of cases the decreased DHT level did produce symptoms of sexual disinterest/dysfunction. Although this is not a common complaint, this problem can usually be resolved quickly by discontinuing the drug. It is also interesting that Finasteride has been shown to increase the circulating levels of testosterone by roughly 15%, since a greater amount of the androgen is being left unaltered by the reductase enzyme.

Propecia shows great potential for the steroid using athlete. And as you know, the dihydrotestosterone (DHT) metabolite is responsible for many of the unwanted androgenic side effects associated with testosterone use. The high levels of DHT that form in certain tissues produce oily skin, acne, facial/body hair growth and accelerated male pattern baldness. By minimizing the production of DHT, we should greatly reduce many of these harsh side effects and make our testosterone cycles more comfortable. In many instances, Proscar/Propecia can allow the athlete the use of steroid compounds (testosterone esters such as cypionate, enanthate, Sustanon etc.), Halotestin and methyltestosterone with much less androgenic side activity. Of course we must not forget that all steroids activate the androgen receptor, so while this item offers help by means of reduced androgenic activity, not drug exists that can completely block androgenic side effects from appearing with steroid use.

Propecia side effects

One other thing to note is that Finasteride specifically blocks the type II 5a reductase enzyme. There are actually two "isozymes" in the human body, labeled as type I and type II. Type I 5a-reductase is predominant in the. sebaceous glands of most regions of skin. The Type II 5a-reductase isozyme is primarily found in prostate and hair follicles (among others). So although the type II enzyme is responsible for about two-thirds of the circulating DHT, a small amount of DHT may still be produced in the body by the type I enzyme. Finasteride may therefore have a more pronounced effect when preventing hair loss, and Finasteride is somewhat of a lesser benefit when dealing with acne and body/facial hair growth (tissues where the type I enzyme is still active). Of course the drop in serum DHI will still have some beneficial effect on all related side effects; This, is not a major concern in any event, as hair loss is really the primary worry amongst most male steroid users who would use Proscar / Propecia (finasteride). A little oily skin or new hair growth on the back/shoulders can be dealt with by other means or simply endured. The user knows these problems of Finasteride will only be temporary. But the advancement of a balding condition can be very difficult, if not impossibk, to reverse. We must also remember that testosterone, Halotestin and methyltestosterone are really the onl hormones that converts to stronger steroids via 5-alpha reductase. Equipoise (Boldenone) and methandrostenolone do also guess, but to such a low degree that one would think Proscar would be of little significance. Perhaps we will come to find that some other steroids are broken down into stronger metabolites via 5a-reductase, but needless to sa for now the uses of this drug are not great in number.