Propecia?

[xman]

I read somewhere that propecia lowers your test levels, is this true?

[CarbonCopy]

No that isn't true. In fact it raises your test levels by about 15% +/- 5%. However, with the rise in test comes a rise in estrogen levels. Propecia lowers DHT levels, which is good if you are trying to stop or control hair loss.

Peace,

CC

[956Vette]

I read somewhere that propecia lowers your test levels, is this true?

I have seen contradictory studies on this topic. I think the drugs effects somewhat vary from person to person.

-Now it is your turn scottp, where is the most up to date study on this subj?

[sp9]

carbon copy is right on: Clinical studies showed men treated with PROPECIA® (finasteride) had increased mean testosterone and estradiol levels (approximately 15%), but these levels were within normal physiologic range.

http://www.propecia.com/finasteride/...tiandrogen.jsp

For avodart:

Effect on DHT and Testosterone: The maximum effect of daily doses of dutasteride on
the reduction of DHT is dose dependent and is observed within 1 to 2 weeks. After 1 and
2 weeks of daily dosing with dutasteride 0.5 mg, median serum DHT concentrations were
reduced by 85% and 90%, respectively. In patients with BPH treated with dutasteride 0.5 mg/day
for 2 years, the median decrease in serum DHT was 94% at 1 year and 93% at 2 years. The
median increase in serum testosterone was 19% at both 1 and 2 years but remained within the
physiologic range.
In BPH patients treated with 5 mg/day of dutasteride or placebo for up to 12 weeks prior to
transurethral resection of the prostate, mean DHT concentrations in prostatic tissue were
significantly lower in the dutasteride group compared with placebo (784 and 5,793 pg/g,
respectively, p<0.001). Mean prostatic tissue concentrations of testosterone were significantly
higher in the dutasteride group compared with placebo (2,073 and 93 pg/g, respectively,
p<0.001).
Adult males with genetically inherited type 2 5α-reductase deficiency also have decreased
DHT levels. These 5α-reductase deficient males have a small prostate gland throughout life and
do not develop BPH. Except for the associated urogenital defects present at birth, no other
clinical abnormalities related to 5α-reductase deficiency have been observed in these individuals.

Hormone Levels: In healthy volunteers, 52 weeks of treatment with dutasteride 0.5 mg/day
(n = 26) resulted in no clinically significant change compared with placebo (n = 23) in sex
hormone binding globulin, estradiol, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone,
thyroxine (free T4), and dehydroepiandrosterone. Statistically significant, baseline-adjusted
mean increases compared with placebo were observed for total testosterone at 8 weeks
(97.1 ng/dL, p<0.003) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at 52 weeks (0.4 mcIU/mL,
p<0.05). The median percentage changes from baseline within the dutasteride group were 17.9%
for testosterone at 8 weeks and 12.4% for TSH at 52 weeks. The mean levels of testosterone and
TSH had returned to baseline at the 24-week post-treatment follow-up period in the group of
subjects with available data at the visit. In BPH patients treated with dutasteride in a large Phase
III trial, there was a median percent increase in luteinizing hormone of 12% at 6 months and 19%
at both 12 and 24 months.

http://us.gsk.com/products/assets/us_avodart.pdf