Re: finasteride queries

From: Davidp (davidp_at_dph.uwa.edu.au)
Date: 06/30/04 

Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 13:53:44 +0800

Hi all,

I am trying to find some information relating to the medication finasteride,
that is used to treat prostate cancer and is becoming a favourable hair loss
treatment in lower doses. My queries are listed below and I would greatly
appreciate hearing any thoughts or facts relating to any of them.

1. Conversion pathway query: Finasteride has the effect of blocking the
conversion of testosterone to DHT. Does this mean that some individuals have
a proportion of endogenously produced testosterone that is effectively
biologically useless, as it does not get used for its original purpose but
rather is only converted to DHT? If not, is it then the case that this
testosterone is still initially used for muscle growth/repair etc but after
it has been used for some biological function that it converts to DHT in the
later stages of its life cycle?

2. Testosterone level query: I understand that administration of finasteride
can decrease testosterone production in the long-term. Is this correct, and
if so by what degree?

3. Implications for normal body function: If testosterone production is
suppressed while taking the medication, what likely impact will this have on
body functions reliant on testosterone production and androgen ratios?
Specifically the following:

Sexual function

Maintenance of lean tissue mass (specifically skeletal muscle)

Increased lay down of body fat

Body hair

Collagen laydown in the skin

Testicular atrophy

Increased appearance of female sex characteristics

4. Risk of gynecomastia: Also, I understand that large 5mg/day doses of
finasteride can increase the risk of gynecomastia. If so, what is the
associated risk with such treatment and would it be minimised with lower
doses such as 1mg/day, even if taken over extended durations.

Kind regards,

David

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