tagit
09-23-2009, 09:26 PM
Thank you for both your willingness and dedication to share your expertise and insights around this very sensitive field of medicine. Your input helps many to cope w/ this distressing process.
My question pertains to the relationship b/w serum testosterone levels & DHT. Although unconventional, I have been on both Proscar 5mg (for 9 years & Avodart.5mg (for 3 years) as well as a slew of natural, supposed antiandrogens (eg, saw palmetto, etc.). I recenty increased my dose of Avodart to 1mg but have met w/ marketly increased shedding 2-3 months following the dose increase. My question is if I could have elevated my free testosterone to a level that is allowing for more DHT conversion in say the 10% of residual DHT receptors that are not blocked by the treatments? Is there a balance that needs to be struck between the level of serum testosterone and DHT that exists in the body? I've noticed that my hair shafts have thinned in diameter and lost pigmentation near the bulb and it seems to correspond with about 3 months of growth (I.e., about the time I increased my dose of Avodart). Could I have raised DHT levels by raising free testosterone or could I have induced a form of telogen effluvium shocking a significant amount of hair into a resting state? If so, can I expect subsequent regrowth and how long does it take for a new hair to emerge after falling out? How could increasing the dose create instability & thus treatment regression? Sorry for the barage of questions, just very frusturated. Your professional opinon is greatly appreciated. On a side note, although I recognize this is a very progressive,home grown, and off-label treatment regimen, I am tolerating the treatments very well-very little side effects. Just want to try to understand the science better...
Thanks-a-million!
My question pertains to the relationship b/w serum testosterone levels & DHT. Although unconventional, I have been on both Proscar 5mg (for 9 years & Avodart.5mg (for 3 years) as well as a slew of natural, supposed antiandrogens (eg, saw palmetto, etc.). I recenty increased my dose of Avodart to 1mg but have met w/ marketly increased shedding 2-3 months following the dose increase. My question is if I could have elevated my free testosterone to a level that is allowing for more DHT conversion in say the 10% of residual DHT receptors that are not blocked by the treatments? Is there a balance that needs to be struck between the level of serum testosterone and DHT that exists in the body? I've noticed that my hair shafts have thinned in diameter and lost pigmentation near the bulb and it seems to correspond with about 3 months of growth (I.e., about the time I increased my dose of Avodart). Could I have raised DHT levels by raising free testosterone or could I have induced a form of telogen effluvium shocking a significant amount of hair into a resting state? If so, can I expect subsequent regrowth and how long does it take for a new hair to emerge after falling out? How could increasing the dose create instability & thus treatment regression? Sorry for the barage of questions, just very frusturated. Your professional opinon is greatly appreciated. On a side note, although I recognize this is a very progressive,home grown, and off-label treatment regimen, I am tolerating the treatments very well-very little side effects. Just want to try to understand the science better...
Thanks-a-million!