Clinical and Endocrine Effects of Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in Women with Idiopathic Hirsutism

Finasteride not only inactivates the 5a reductase enzyme but also affects the 5b reductase enzyme in a dose-dependent manner, which can impact sexual behavior and brain activity. The user experienced significant hair regrowth and side effects on 1mg of finasteride, which diminished after reducing the dose to 0.5mg, leading to no side effects and further hair improvement.

A 20-year-old female is using finasteride 5mg and spironolactone 100mg for severe hirsutism and is experiencing minor side effects like water weight loss and irregular periods. She is concerned about potential future side effects and hair regrowth on her scalp.

The post discusses using a topical tincture containing zinc, azelaic acid, and other ingredients to inhibit 5 alpha-reductase activity for treating hair loss. The user plans to try this natural alternative before using finasteride or RU58841.

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.

27-year-old female experiences aggressive hair thinning and hirsutism despite normal testosterone levels. Spironolactone and 2% minoxidil were ineffective; high DHEA sulfate levels may be the cause.

The conversation concludes that finasteride, a 5α-Reductase inhibitor used for hair loss, does not impair cognition either short-term or long-term. It suggests "brain fog" is not caused by the medication.