Dutasteride and PSA dropping

[janebob99]

I started taking dustasteride about 1 month ago because of high DHT and my PSA dropped from 10 to 5.5. I've read that you are supposed to double the PSA to get an "equivalent" non-dutasteride level of 11. Does anyone understand why we are supposed to double the PSA value when taking dutasteride?

[Justfor_]

Total PSA is a mix of benign and cancerous cells origin. Dutasteride suppresses the former but not the latter. PSA doubling compensates for the suppressed benign part.

[janebob99 in reply to Justfor_]

That makes sense. That agrees with what I just read this morning. Thanks !

[Tall_Allen]

Dutasteride eliminates the PSA caused by BPH, but not PCa. On the average, it cuts PSA in half. It is important to not get lulled into a false sense of security by the lower PSA. It makes PSA more specific for PCa. Any increase while taking it may be due to PCa.

[janebob99 in reply to Tall_Allen]

Thanks ! I read today that increases in PSA when taking Dutasteride are twice as sensitive a predictor of PCa than increases in PSA when not taking Dutasteride. So, what you said makes sense.

[cscmetsfacil]

As per some guys in my metastatic PCa support group, in some cases Dutasteride has pretty dramatically slowed doubling time. A little more than a year ago I started my 3rd break from ADT after being undetectable (PSA<0.006) for a year. I decided to try both Dutasteride and Metformin hoping to slow. recurrence. In my case (GL8 wit BRCA2 mutations and history of one mets) they did not nothing and within about 4-5 months I had a massive proliferation of bone mets and rapid PSA rise. And yes, while on Dutasteride we doubled my PSA reading to track progression. I am now back on ADT, presumably for life (Orgovyx, Zytiga, Prednisone) and thankfully back to undetectable, for however long we can make that last. If I were you, with PSA over 1, I would be getting a PSMA PET to see where my cancer in proliferating. If you have fewer than 5-10 mets, you may be able to pursue focal RT to zap them. Best of luck!

[lpol83712]

it is a weak anti androgen so it drops Psa but not to the very low levels that ADT does

[janebob99 in reply to lpol83712]

Thanks. My PSA dropped from 10 to 5.5 one month after taking Dutasteride. I'll take any amount of lowering.

[John42]

Johns Hopkins recommends doubling PSA during first 24 months, then up to 2.5 at 7 years.

[janebob99 in reply to John42]

Thanks, John42!