Finasteride and Muscle Growth: Exploring the Reality
If you are taking Finasteride and hoping to bulk up, it is probably because you have heard that the medication affects your muscle mass.
But is there any truth in these claims?
This article discusses the working of Finasteride and how it affects muscle growth.
How Finasteride works
Finasteride is a medication that inhibits the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, which is responsible for converting Testosterone to Dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
By inhibiting this conversion, Finasteride reduces the levels of DHT in the body.
It can be useful in treating conditions such as Male Pattern Baldness and prostate enlargement.
But what effect does DHT have on muscle growth?
Let’s find out.
Muscle Growth and DHT
DHT is an androgen hormone that is responsible for the development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
It is also involved in the regulation of muscle growth and strength.
Studies have shown that DHT can increase muscle mass and strength.
It does so by enhancing muscle protein synthesis and reducing muscle protein breakdown.
Finasteride and Muscle Growth: What the Research Says
There might be several potential benefits of DHT on muscle growth. Still, there is not enough scientific evidence to show that Finasteride and muscle growth are related.
In a 12-month study, researchers administered Testosterone in men over 60 years of age along with giving Finasteride.
This resulted in an increase in their upper and lower body strength while reducing body fat.
In fact, some studies suggest the opposite.
In a study involving 79 men taking Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia, 51.9% of participants reported a loss of muscle mass, while 38% reported involuntary muscle spasms.
A Summary Safety Review published by the Government of Canada concluded that side effects related to the muscles due to Finasteride could not be ruled out.
These include conditions such as muscle pain, stiffness, weakness, atrophy, or muscle tissue breakdown.
It needs to be noted that the participants in the studies mentioned above were not enough to conclusively prove any relationship.
World Health Organization’s statistics
The World Health Organization’s VigiAcess database records 19,098 reports of Finasteride users as on April 2023.
Around 4% of these reports showed some sort of musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorder as an adverse reaction to the drug.
This included twitching, pain, atrophy, hypertrophy, etc.
Side effects of Finasteride
The most commonly noticed side effects of Finasteride include the following:
- Chills
- Cold sweats
- Confusion
- Dizziness, lightheadedness, faintness
Some other side effects are
- Sexual dysfunction
- Breast tenderness or enlargement
- Depression and changes in mood or behavior
Takeaway
While there is some speculation that Finasteride may enhance muscle growth and strength, the scientific evidence surrounding this claim is limited.
If you are considering taking Finasteride for male pattern baldness or prostate enlargement, discussing the potential risks and benefits with your healthcare provider is important.
If you want to improve your muscle growth and strength, there are many safe and effective ways to do so, including regular exercise and a balanced diet.
Consult with your healthcare provider on the safest way to use Finasteride.
Also, refer to a professional to find the most suitable course of action to gain muscles.
Frequently Asked Questions
WowRx uses only high-quality sources while writing our articles. Please read our content information policy to know more about how we keep our content reliable and trustworthy.