Finasteride and atypical antipsychotics

[Craftsmansky]

I have been taking finasteride for some years. My wife asked if I was taking anything to make my breasts grow (that is part of another story). I didn't know then that the med would cause that. Last year I started taking lautuda and I started getting pain and itching in both breasts. Had a mammogram that was clear and diagnosed with mild gyno. My wife suggested a padded bra to keep them from getting bumped too much.  Stopped the latuda and the pain subsided. Switched to olanzapine and pain came back. Tried another non antipsychotic but didn't help my mental symptoms. Now started seroquel.  Low dose so waiting to see what happens. Is the minimal growth caused by the finasteride or the other meds? Or both? They look bigger in the picture than they really are although the padding is very thin.

[AlfaQ]

I think that gynecomastia is a potential side effect of both these meds. It's good that your wife is accepting of your situation as you will likely experience further growth with these meds. Now is probably the time to get used to wearing a bra as part of your daily routine.  As you grow an underwire bra will help provide more stability and support to your breast tissue.  Acceptance takes time but an understanding partner who can help you is key.

[WPW717]

The initial pain & tenderness is a bit disturbing. It’s a feature of the growth not a side effect of a med. Never took a med that caused gynecomastia. 

The meds influence the HPA Axis & all its hormonal relationships. The truth to this situation is that a change in one hormone doesn’t just influence another, there’s a cascade effect on all. 

The tumors that I had on the glands in the HPA Axis were a giant cascade of hormonal chaos. The pain was not just a small annoyance, a small bump on them was stunning to the point of apnea.  

A bra helped. A lot. In essence a part of your body is entering a female puberty. Once the T/E ratio alters it’s not easy to put it back in proper order.
It’s a slow process to effect a change to homeostasis.
 

In the meantime the breasts should be treated as a woman would. Don’t fall for the scammers that try to sell you a product that is supposed to cure gynecomastia.

This is a good place to frequent while you’re on this journey. There is a lot of knowledge & experience here.
Stay in touch.

[Justagirl💃]

We find that in some patients' breast tissue growth never happens regardless of the meds they are taking, and in others, just a slight change in your prescription sends you on the gyno journey. 

I guess some people are just destined to grow boobs. 

Like Bob said, this is a great place to start. Here you will find countless posts about what to wear, support, and whatever. 
You will also find much support over the less obvious changes in personality, likes, and hobbies all related to the estrogen balance being slightly skewed. Even surgery doesn't cure that, and there are some here that had surgery only to have them grow back as well. And the "cures" for gyno are only curing your billfold of being overfilled. They don't work. 

Try a fitting at Torrid. The SA can show you several lines of support garments ranging from Sports bras to underwires. Take your wife in with you so you feel comfortable. I help out at Torrid sometimes and judging from your photo I would get you into a nice sports bra, but you can't tell much from a photo. Your need the measurements and it also depends on if you pass the pencil test yet or not. 

The pencil test is standing straight up and placing a pencil in the fold under the boob. If the pencil stays in place, it's time for a bra.  

Birdie

[taxmapper]

We find that in some patients' breast tissue growth never happens regardless of the meds they are taking, and in others, just a slight change in your prescription sends you on the gyno journey.

I guess some people are just destined to grow boobs.

Like Bob said, this is a great place to start. Here you will find countless posts about what to wear, support, and whatever.
You will also find much support over the less obvious changes in personality, likes, and hobbies all related to the estrogen balance being slightly skewed. Even surgery doesn't cure that, and there are some here that had surgery only to have them grow back as well. And the "cures" for gyno are only curing your billfold of being overfilled. They don't work.

Try a fitting at Torrid. The SA can show you several lines of support garments ranging from Sports bras to underwires. Take your wife in with you so you feel comfortable. I help out at Torrid sometimes and judging from your photo I would get you into a nice sports bra, but you can't tell much from a photo. Your need the measurements and it also depends on if you pass the pencil test yet or not.

The pencil test is standing straight up and placing a pencil in the fold under the boob. If the pencil stays in place, it's time for a bra. 

Birdie

I cannot emphasize this hard enough this point:   
the reason is that my breasts went full grow mode in 2019. I didnt start Spiro until 2025. 

[Midagemoobs2]

Finasteride (or Dutasteride) stops DHT production and that really helps with prostrate enlargement, but yes it risks breast growth - I am sure it is part of what has very slowly contributed to mine over the years. The percentages that develop overall are low (about 2%), but my theory is those of us who had noticeable gynocomastia to start are more likely to see growth  than others who have very little or none. 

Of course, only you can decide what's best for you given your experience. For me, prostrate issues are otherwise so bothersome that I am good with the tradeoff as I have learned how to accept and work with my chest.  Best Wishes!