Dutasteride got me banned from the Red Cross, what are you guys doing for hematocrit now

Started finasteride 2 years ago then switched to dutasteride 6 months back for better DHT suppression. Went to donate blood last month and got turned away - dutasteride disqualifies you from Red Cross whole blood donation due to teratogen risk. My hematocrit is sitting at 51.5 on my current blast which is manageable but I prefer to stay below 50. What are people using as alternatives now that the standard donation route is closed off?

Plasma donation centres have different eligibility criteria - worth checking if there is one near you. Dutasteride does not disqualify you from plasma in the same way. I know a few guys who switched to plasma after the whole blood ban. Takes longer per session but gets the job done. The other option is getting a therapeutic phlebotomy script from your GP but finding a hospital outpatient lab that will actually do it is genuinely difficult.

Aggressive hydration can move the number more than you would expect. I dropped from 53 to 49.8 in 3 weeks just through proper hydration - 4 litres a day minimum. Not a permanent fix but buys you time. Also worth looking at whether EQ is in your stack - if it is and hematocrit is a problem, that compound has to go. EQ at any real dose will fight you on this marker constantly.

Private phlebotomy services exist in most major cities but they are harder to find than you would think. Even in Sydney I found exactly two places that would do it without a hospital referral. Cost around $80 each time. Worth having as a backup but not a reliable routine option. My approach now is quarterly bloods and if hematocrit hits 52 I drop blast dose immediately and push hydration hard until next labs.

Plasma donation is the move if whole blood is out. I looked into this when my hematocrit hit 53 mid-blast. Most plasma centres do not flag dutasteride the same way as whole blood donation eligibility. Takes longer per session, maybe 45 minutes, but the hematocrit management effect is similar. Worth calling around your local centres rather than assuming you are fully blocked.

Same situation here - on fin for years and just switched to dutasteride last month. Had not thought about the blood donation angle at all. Going to check plasma centre eligibility this week. The hematocrit management question is real, running EQ right now and already watching that number closely. This thread is genuinely useful timing for me.

I did not know dutasteride caused this issue. I am considering dutasteride for hair loss and this is important to know in advance. Is the plasma donation route a confirmed alternative or still uncertain? And does the Red Cross restriction apply in all countries or is it specific to certain national blood services?