Weening off Finasteride, have some questions about blood test

[Kenny835]

Hello all,

I am a finasteride user that plans on quitting this week. I have been using it for about 7 months. I am in my early 20s. I have a few questions based on reading the FAQ - I apologize if all of these questions have already been answered.

Last day of CONSISTENTLY taking finasteride (Proscar 1.25mg) was 3/23 (Wed).

I took another 1.25mg pill today, (3/28)

I plan on taking .625mg on Wed (3/30)

and .313mg on Fri (04/01) (if I can get it that small).

Friday will be my last day of taking it.

My 1st question is:

Reading all this information - my first instinct was to just stop, cold turkey. But I understand that it is recommended to ween off of it. Is this adequate weening time the way I have laid it out?

My 2nd question is:

I plan on getting a blood test done Saturday (7 - 9 AM).
Do I need to be in a fasted state for this blood test? I am assuming so. In which case, Saturday won’t be possible (my carb load is Fri night to Sat night). I will try to get it done Friday morning instead.

My 3rd question is:

Do you think the fact that I waited 1.5 weeks (although I was still weening) will skew my blood test results?

My last questions are:

I am reading the FAQ and looking at the myriad of blood tests that are listed as recommendations to be done.

• How much is this going to cost me?
• Can I have all these tests done with just one blood draw?
• Will I have to test for 3alpha-diol G separately someplace else?
• How will I even know how to analyze all these blood test results after I receive them? It’s a shame that I did not take a blood test prior to starting finasteride.
• I did have a blood test done 3 months back, but it was just your standard CBC I believe, not anything so comprehensive like it is recommended in the FAQ. Will that blood test help somehow in the analysis?

Thanks everyone.

[Mew]

Is this adequate weening time the way I have laid it out?

Probably not since 5AR2 remains inhibited for 5-7 days minimum from a single dose anyway.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1170

Unless you get to microscopic doses under 0.04mg, it is probably impossible to ween due to near flat dose response curve of the drug (flatlining DHT). Hence last dose will effectively be “cold turkey” anyway.

Read more about questions on quitting here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4338

Do I need to be in a fasted state for this blood test? I am assuming so.

Depends what you are getting tested for. If Glucose Fasting, then yes. If not, no.

Do you think the fact that I waited 1.5 weeks (although I was still weening) will skew my blood test results?

If your last dose is within 5-7 days of bloodwork, it should not be significantly affected. If your goal is to see what effect the drug is having on your hormones, get tested while on the drug or shortly (ie few days) of stopping.

• How much is this going to cost me?

Depends on your healthcare plan and where you live.

There is a recommended shortlist if not possible to do everything:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=92

• Can I have all these tests done with just one blood draw?

In one session, yes. Multiple vials would probably be needed.

• Will I have to test for 3alpha-diol G separately someplace else?

Depends if your lab can do it. If not, here is one that can:

questdiagnostics.com/hcp/testmenu/jsp/showTestMenu.jsp?fn=16808P.html&labCode=SJC

• How will I even know how to analyze all these blood test results after I receive them? It’s a shame that I did not take a blood test prior to starting finasteride.

Do you have a doctor that you are working with to get bloodwork? They should help interpret the results for you. You should obtain copies of your bloodwork for your records.

• I did have a blood test done 3 months back, but it was just your standard CBC I believe, not anything so comprehensive like it is recommended in the FAQ. Will that blood test help somehow in the analysis?

Unlikely, but doesn’t hurt to include it for comparison.

[Kenny835]

@Mew

Is this adequate weening time the way I have laid it out?

Probably not since 5AR2 remains inhibited for 5-7 days minimum from a single dose anyway.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1170

Unless you get to microscopic doses under 0.04mg, it is probably impossible to ween due to near flat dose response curve of the drug (flatlining DHT). Hence last dose will effectively be “cold turkey” anyway.

Read more about questions on quitting here: viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4338

Thanks. I think I will just stop cold turkey then.

@Mew

Do I need to be in a fasted state for this blood test? I am assuming so.

Depends what you are getting tested for. If Glucose Fasting, then yes. If not, no.

I don’t see “Glucose Fasting” in the list … so does that mean no? I’ve never heard of being tested for “glucose fasting”.

Do you think the fact that I waited 1.5 weeks (although I was still weening) will skew my blood test results?

@Mew

If your last dose is within 5-7 days of bloodwork, it should not be significantly affected. If your goal is to see what effect the drug is having on your hormones, get tested while on the drug or shortly (ie few days) of stopping.

Yes, it would be nice seeing how drastic the changes are. My last day of taking this drug is today - and I’ll try to get the blood test Friday … but … will I be able to perform resistance training on that same day? You said it will take “multiple vials” - it just makes it sound like a lot of blood is going to be taken and I shouldn’t exercise for a few days. Is that true or does it not matter?

• How much is this going to cost me?

@Mew

Depends on your healthcare plan and where you live.

There is a recommended shortlist if not possible to do everything:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=92
[/quote]
Okay, I’ll try to call and find out.

@Mew

• How will I even know how to analyze all these blood test results after I receive them? It’s a shame that I did not take a blood test prior to starting finasteride.

Do you have a doctor that you are working with to get bloodwork? They should help interpret the results for you. You should obtain copies of your bloodwork for your records.

Yes… sort of. I went to her once in Dec to my blood test. She is really very “traditional”. I really don’t think I can rely on her to analyze this kind of stuff. I need someone more knowledgeable - I’ve been meaning to find a doctor anyway. How can I go about finding a doctor that would help me analyze this? Or will posting my results on the blood test section of the forum be suitable?

Mew - I did read about this in the FAQ but I think I will ask you directly.

I am asking this anecdotally based on what you have seen and your impression, as I am assuming no studies have been done on this. But how common the scenario where no side effects are seen on the drug, and for these side effects to surface later, long after the drug has been discontinued by the user? I understand that these side effects are uncommon in the first place, so it’s probably hard for you to answer that - but I thought I would ask anyway.

Thanks a lot for your help!

[Mew]

I don’t see “Glucose Fasting” in the list … so does that mean no?

Glucose fasting is for testing of diabetes. Unless you are being tested for this, then there shouldn’t be any need to fast unless a specific test requires it.

will I be able to perform resistance training on that same day?

Up to you. Personally I would lay off the weight training the day of the tests to give your body a break.

How can I go about finding a doctor that would help me analyze this?

Ask your doc for a referral to an endocrinologist.

But how common the scenario where no side effects are seen on the drug, and for these side effects to surface later, long after the drug has been discontinued by the user?

Review viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4338 as similar questions were asked.

Nobody can say for certain but one thing to keep in mind is that we are in the minority of men that experience this issue, so hopefully chances are you won’t fall into this group.

You also didn’t mention if you are or aren’t having issues from the drug or why you are now choosing to quit after 7 months.

[Kenny835]

@Mew

I don’t see “Glucose Fasting” in the list … so does that mean no?

Glucose fasting is for testing of diabetes. Unless you are being tested for this, then there shouldn’t be any need to fast unless a specific test requires it.

Okay - the reason I ask is because this specific diet/training program that I am doing requires a carb load … so starting Friday evening, for the next 24 hours, I will be ingesting about 900g of carbs and over 5k calories combined for Fri/Sat. ( I am 140lb). All of this might be irrelevant but I thought I would ask if this will affect the blood test at all, just to be safe.

will I be able to perform resistance training on that same day?

@Mew

Up to you. Personally I would lay off the weight training the day of the tests to give your body a break.

I will try to do this test on Saturday morning in that case, and then do my heavy workout on Sunday (as long as the carb load I talked about above does not alter the blood test).

@Mew

How can I go about finding a doctor that would help me analyze this?

Ask your doc for a referral to an endocrinologist.

Okay, I’ll ask.

@Mew

But how common the scenario where no side effects are seen on the drug, and for these side effects to surface later, long after the drug has been discontinued by the user?

Review viewtopic.php?f=32&t=4338 as similar questions were asked.

Nobody can say for certain but one thing to keep in mind is that we are in the minority of men that experience this issue, so hopefully chances are you won’t fall into this group.

You also didn’t mention if you are or aren’t having issues from the drug or why you are now choosing to quit after 7 months.

I didn’t mention my side effects because the fact is that I just don’t know. I didn’t think there were any problems, and if I had to guess, there isn’t, at least not much. But I do think that in terms of frequency, perhaps it is effecting my libido. The problem is I just don’t know how much of it is a psychological/placebo effect in my head, and how much of it is real.
I stumbled upon this website when I was researching all of this last week.
The reason I was researching is because even though I have been on finasteride/Proscar… I really don’t think it has been helping or even simply inhibiting my hair loss - if it has, it’s been minimal at best. Therefore, I started researching on what else I can do and stumpled upon this site - and reading all of this research and reading that there is even a remote possibility that side effects may not ever go away, and that side effects may rise even after the drug has been discontinued - I just don’t think it is worth the risk; no matter how psychologically defeating it is to have hair loss at such an early age, and no matter how much it effects my self-confidence, the unclear risks just aren’t worth the unclear benefits - so I decided to stop using it. I know this forum isn’t about hair loss so I won’t go further than that.

And thanks, I did review that thread - I agree with what you guys are saying - the best thing I can do is to not worry about it since most likely I haven’t been effected. But I can’t help it at times. I want to do this blood test the right way, so at least then I will know that something has indeed changed after getting off of the drug - and that will give me peace of mind going forward.

[Kenny835]

I’m having a really difficult time getting this blood test appointment.

My insurance says I need to get the CPT codes from my PCP
My PCP says go to an endocrinologist because I cannot pay for these and is too lazy to give me the CPT codes for me to find out if it’s covered.
An endocrinologist that is covered by my insurance (BCBS PPO) says that we cant even look at you until we get a diagnosis from your PCP

all these people keep circling me around, in the meantime the whole point of getting the blood test is to see the drugs effect on me, and I might not even get the blood test done in time now.

It’s very frustrating.