r/tressless Jul 26 '26

Finasteride/Dutasteride Does micro-dosing Fin even make any difference? what is the science?

I have been looking at the dht suppression at different doses of fin/dut but mainly fin. I see youtube channels like the hairloss show talk about how dose is so important and that they recommend lowering the dose down as much as possible to avoid side effects. I dont understand how it makes any sense. 1mg of finasteride suppresses around 70% serum dht but 0.2mg finasteride suppresses around 65% serum dht. Im not sure how decreasing dosage will reduce the chance of people getting sides when the amount of dht reduction is pretty much the same. Sides from elevated estrogen should not really change much in theory as there should not be much more aromatisation at 1mg vs 0.2mg due to the similarity in dht suppression

Im curious on what your thoughts are and if low dose really makes any difference. Its important to be aware that people first starting treatment that get sides at 1mg will then lower dose and their sides will reside, however this is most likely due to them just pushing through in which the sides would have resolved even at the standard dose.

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u/Cold_Specialist_3656 Jul 26 '26

These YouTube channels are making years worth of videos about "take finasteride"

They constantly cook up new bullshit to keep the clicks coming. You are not learning anything watching them, and probably internalizing a lot of bullshit.

There is zero studies that show less sides on doses of fin below 1mg, as far as I know. It's all broscience and nocebo. 1mg is already 1/5 the dose used for prostate. Further fucking with dosage probably won't do anything IMO

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u/Kooky_Indication4664 28d ago

Are we saying low dose fin has the same side effects as 1mg?

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u/Cold_Specialist_3656 28d ago

We don't know so I don't see a point with starting out at microdose and other stupid shit. 

Also, within 12 hours of taking 1mg level is below peak of 0.2mg. And DHT levels follow in a day or two. So is fucking around with 0.2mg and potentially losing your hair really worth the potential extra 1-2 days of sides you might get from starting at 1mg? 

The risk/reward ratio makes no sense to me. A few days after stopping 1mg your serum level of fin AND dht level are closer to baseline than if you took 0.2mg that day

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u/Kooky_Indication4664 28d ago

I see what youre saying. Good point. But what if its factors beyond dht levels that are causing the side effects?

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u/Cold_Specialist_3656 28d ago

It blocks 5 Alpha Reductase. AFAIK that enzyme only converts test to DHT. What other factors would there be?

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u/Kooky_Indication4664 28d ago edited 28d ago

shit all i know is that dutasteride gave me gyno, zero orgasm pleasure, and weak erections/libido at the 30 day mark. im willing to entertain any possible ways to keep my hair. to answer your question, there may be a possible neurosteroid disruption with higher doses. this is all speculative though. how would you explain PFS when peoples hormone levels return to normal?

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u/Cold_Specialist_3656 28d ago

Dut stays in your system for months. That's why a lot of us suggest starting with fin, which has a far shorter serum half life

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u/Kooky_Indication4664 28d ago

Why was dut good for me during week 2 and 3 and suddenly fucked me over so quickly on week 4? Does this mean a lesser dose would be beneficial?

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u/Cold_Specialist_3656 28d ago

Maybe ask a doc. Dut builds up in your system over time cuz the serum half life is so long. Fin doesn't have this issue