r/Trans_Zebras • u/preternaturalpancake • 4d ago

Does anyone know if taking a DHT blocker impacts certain chronic illnesses?

I am transmasc, I have ME/CFS, unspecified circulatory dysautonomia, and hypermobility. I am considering taking a DHT blocker to slow down/block facial hair growth on T. I’m mostly worried about how doing so may impact my chronic illnesses.

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u/These_Roll_5745 4d ago

ive been on finasteride for about 6 months and have not noticed any impact at all on my (currently moderate, historically severe) MECFS, my vasovagal syncope disorder/dysautonomia, or my EDS/hypermobility.

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u/preternaturalpancake 4d ago

Thanks and congrats on improving to moderate!

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u/These_Roll_5745 4d ago

thanks! good luck trialing new meds!

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u/sandiplankt0n 4d ago

I can only comment on EDS and Finasteride, but I think taking Finasteride has interacted negatively with EDS. I've noticed much higher laxity - for me this is tied to my hormonal cycle.  It's pretty acknowledged on an anecdotal level that people running on testosterone dominant systems seem to have less symptoms than people running on estrogen dominant systems. My EDS is progressed for being older, but my baseline is higher than it was preT, so it's s hard to say if Fin is actually responsible for this change or if it's a coincidence. DHT blockers are complex in what they target, in the small amount of research I've done basically yeah it can fuck with your progesterone and EDS often means you're sensitive to hormonal changes in the first place. I take Finasteride for hair loss, but I'm monitoring things at the moment to see if they improve or continue to get worse. I will likely stop Fin if they do. 

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u/thelastunicorn17 4d ago

I've been on oral minoxidil and finasteride for close to a year, and I haven't noticed any negative side effects at all. I have hEDS, POTS, dysautonomia

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u/PsilosirenRose 4d ago

Wait, there's a way to slow down facial hair growth? Color me interested.

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u/Sure-Weakness8060 4d ago

I started T today and I literally just came here to ask this exact question. I'm in a similar boat: transmasc, facial hair is the one thing I don't want from T, but my hypermobility is so bad I will gladly trade my smooth face for stronger joints, haha. I considered starting T and finasteride at the same time, but my dr said I was his first nonbinary patient and he wasn't sure how it would affect my transition, so I'm just gonna see what low dose T does on its own