1 month since taking 5 pills of finasteride

Member Stories
#1

Welcome to our community. Please fill in the following template as a way of introducing yourself, and helping others to understand your background and situation.

Where are you from (country)?USA

How did you find this forum (Google search – if so, what search terms? Via link from a forum or website – if so, what page? Other?)google

What is your current age, height, weight?25 6’ 170lbs

What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?finasteride

What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?1mg/day

What condition was being treated with the drug?hairloss

For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?5 days

How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?25

How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?25

How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?cold turkey

How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?within 1 hour

What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation? brain fog, cognitive issues, visual snow, fatigue

Check the boxes that apply. You can save your post first, then interactively check/uncheck the boxes by clicking on them. If your symptoms change, please update your list.

Sexual
[ x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[x ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ x] Confusion
[ x] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[x ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts

Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[x ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[x ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ x] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)

What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?

If you have pre or post-drug blood tests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (please post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?


Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?

Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

I was prescribed propecia from a website that starts with an “H” for my hair loss even though its not even bad. Im probably a norwood 2 but it runs in my family so I decided to try it. One of my close friends has been taking it for 2 years with no problems. I didnt think I would get symptoms at all going into it. Went online and saw videos of initials “K.M.” and these Australian hair surgeons on youtube saying great things about it and people with long term sides are just crazy because they go away after you stop taking it. I was told there could be ED symptoms by the “online dermatologist” but thats it. That was fine with me as Im not sexually active and if I get any other symptoms ill just stop taking it. I was healthy and active before.
I immediately got all my symptoms within 1 hour of taking my first pill. Noticed eye issues (visual snow, red, eyes feel tired), brain fog, lightheaded, constant fatigue, ball ache, breast pain, cognitive problems, skin sensory changes , inability to deal with stressful situations, exercising feels awful now (no more runners high, brain feels numb during and muscles shake when lifting). I decided to stick it out and see if it goes away after a few days but it persisted so I stopped taking it after 5 days.
I reported my issues to my prescribing “online doctor”. They told me that those symptoms arent on the side effects list but people have reported them and said it can take some time for the effects to go away after stopping the medication. They then told me to see my PCP. My PCP has never prescribed finasteride but has had only a few patients who were already on it who tolerated it well. We have now started doing blood work (Blood work so far (high Prolactin)). So far i have high Prolactin which is what pregnant women have. I guess ill request to see an endo if at the three month mark I still have my symptoms? Idk. And now Im here.

also I drank one night and it didnt feel the same at all which scared me. I wont be drinking for awhile I know that.

its been 1 month and I feel awful

2 Likes
I was thinking about starting finasteride, but after reading this site i guess i won't anymore?
#2

Yeah those people you mentioned above have already been discussed here, your not the first person to have gotten messed up from taking their advice either there’s many more, I’ve basically given up trying to worn people about this condition because every time I do I get called out for it and get told to go play in traffic.

Fortunately your a month out so you may improve in the next few months and go back to normal. From the side effect profile you stated you aren’t worse case scenario I think you’ll get better with time you might not be severely effected. I would say wait a few more months to see if your body stabilizes but for sure see an endocrinologist if there’s other underlying factors.

1 Like
#3

I hope your right Aaron I’ve had something similar and it was after hearing those two aussie doctors say that in their whole time of practicing they have never had someone have permanent side effects, and apparantley they have been giving the posion out since its inception and what got me in was when they said if the person does have side effects early the side effects will leave early.

This Friday will be two weeks since my first pill and although I did have initial improvement by doing a water fast the very next day I then was stable for 5 days then another anxiety wave and since then I’ve had insomnia and anxiety whereby my chest feels like it’s on fire, my heartbeat is fast and I’m struggling to sleep. Currently doing another water fast I slept for 6 hours last night and just before I slept I felt completely fine and the anxiety had gone but after waking up it started again after a few hours.

I hope and pray that we all get back to the norm. Heard that those that haven’t taken that many pills can take, best case scenario, a week to three months to recover naturally so here’s hoping to that!

#4

update:

had to stop lifting weights. I physically cant do it right now. My arms and legs shake a lot I even lightened the weight each time I lifted and it just keeps getting harder. The only thing I am doing is walking 60 mins a day in the sun and forcing myself to jog 3 miles maybe twice a week.

My balls have stopped aching and breast pain has reduced a little. I am hoping that this is a sign that the drug is starting to leave my system so my body can start trying to balance itself back out.

My prolactin retest came back and it is still very high. It did come down 3 points though. My cortisol is high. High Pregnenolone. Also retested my TSH and it came back on the high side after being perfectly in the middle range (I was taking a shit ton of biotin during my first test as given to me by the hair loss service which threw off my blood test). I have an appointment with an endo as my PCP referred me. I am suspecting thyroid issues. Has there been any reports on here about finasteride triggering thyroid disease?

1 Like
#5

Prior to taking finasteride, my TSH level was ~1.2 for 5 years straight.
After 1 month after 3 doses of finasteride, my TSH level dropped to .72, meaning my thyroid is slightly more active.

#6

I would say, hang tight, you might yet bounce back. Generally they tell people to come back once the side effects have been persistent for at least 3 months. This forum can actually make you feel worse and you might start seeing symptoms in things that were already there.

I would say the best thing you can do is get on an ultra strict diet, putting lots of good fresh organic foods into your system, get out and do some moderate exercise as much as you can take, even if it is just walking. Cut out junk food, sugar, caffeine, nicotine, any recreational drugs. Meditate, relax, and cut out any source of stress possible from your life. Get super super clean in your lifestyle and just see how you go over the next couple of months.

And don’t beat yourself up about falling into the trap of believing what these guys were saying. They took advantage of your vulnerability, which stemmed from concern about your future hairloss. A lot of us ended up here because some vulture or another promised that any side effects we feel would go away. We believed them because we desperately wanted to. I am sure the vast majority of them know full well there is a percentage of collateral damage in their pursuit of profit. I am quite sure many of them would warn off their own friends and family from the drug because they must get plenty of communication from the people that have screwed over. Try not to dwell on that for now, focus on you. Throw the kitchen sink at being as healthy as you can over the next two months so that, in the event symptoms do persist, you can know you did all you could to overcome them.

Stay positive, I know that is hard. But you are still young, you have a lot of life to live.

#7

brother my story is the same as yours, got lead to believe the side effects were very limited and low chance of getting them. Here i am 26 days later still having issues.

How are you coping? did any of your issues diminish? or did you gain new effects over time?

#8

Cant say that I have noticed any changes. Almost at the 2 month mark. Just saw an endocrinologist. The doctors talk about the half life a lot and think finasteride triggered something else or its a pituitary tumor. I dont know how taking a drug would manifest symptoms from a supposed tumor thats already been there but who knows. I think I have narrowed it down to any or a combination of these based on my blood tests and research. Medication induced Cushings syndrome (adrenal dysfunction), Pituitary Dysfunction, Hypothyroidism, or Neurosteroid dysfunction. I understand Pituitary and thyroid are very much related. Im redoing blood work now to see if any levels are coming down. The only things that Im doing right now is focusing on relaxing and staying calm also walking everyday and forcing myself to jog a couple times a week. Symptoms are the same on week 8 right now and Idk what I have but I know for something like Cushings it can take up to a year to recover naturally

#9

how do they come up with cushings disease? what are you symptoms that lead them to think you have cushings?

#10

high cortisol, purple stretch marks when I havent gained any weight, fatigue, muscle weakness. they want me to do a dexamethasone cortisol test

my prolactin is high and my tsh is fluctuating which are both controlled by the pituitary gland

i dont know what to make of anything right now honestly

#11

I also have high cortisol, Ill probably start treatment next week, update us please.

#12

Well its been 3 months and I cant believe how severe of a reaction I had to an FDA approved drug. I am even more shocked at how these side effects havent really improved.
I have given up on doctors it just seems to be endless rounds of tests which I cant afford right now. What frustrates me the most is that my prescribing doctor was from Hims and they instantly sent me to my PCP who has zero experience with the drug. They havent been able to help. Im going to try to get my prescribing doctors phone number or email to I can personally tell them how drastic this drug has changed my life (hoping for just the time being). Either way I fell for a medication advertisement which I now think should be illegal.
I reported my reaction to the FDA. I tried to get my prescribing doctor to do it but they told me to.

Hair is SO dry
Eyes are red, dry (wake up with no sleep in my eyes), visual snow, much harder to see in the dark, and after images (after images have slightly improved)
Skin feels completely different
Sweat is different, I sweat the same amount but it dries up instantly and is very sticky. especially on my hands
Face is strangely oily
Muscle weakness/shakiness still going strong
Muscle soreness is different
Fatigue slightly better
Breast tenderness seems to be the most improved symptom
Ball ache continues (really annoying)
I am able to think more clearly (the first month it was nearly impossible to hold a conversation)
lightheadedness slightly better
Ability to deal with stressful situations slightly better
Still dont get drunk the way I used to. It makes me feel more sick than good because I dont get that euphoric feeling. Iv tried 3 times

All of the side effects came after just 1 pill and I continued to take 5 total thinking it would subside.

Continuing to walk everyday and run a couple times a week. No supplements. Trying not to drink. Clean diet. I am going to try to lift heavy weights maybe this week and see how my muscles react.
I have been off this forum the best I can help staying off and will try to continue that

1 Like
#13

sad to hear brother.

I experience the same symptoms, can you elaborate on the muscle soreness? My muscles are sore (triggerpoints) and stiff.

Im currently 2 months off.

If used the drug 4 times topically and got chemically burned.

Hope it will improve in the next month or so…

#14

Yeah im still hoping for improvements, trying to stay positive but I cannot believe the damage this drug has done.

Yeah my muscles are very weak and shake a lot. This happens during everyday things like drinking a glass of water or brushing my teeth. Hands are very shaky.
I just went to the gym for the first time and did squats and bench with only 25lbs on the bar which is less than half what I was doing before finasteride. My muscles were burning (not the good kind of burn), it hurt a lot. I was shaking so much it must have looked like I was struggling badly to anyone that saw me.
As for soreness, its tough to describe. Its kinda like an achy feeling. My muscles just feel and function completely differently than before fin.
I can say that my ‘brain fog’/fatigue were not increased during exercise which happened to me the last time I tried to lift.

#15

Hi dragonslayer, any update? Took a pill 5 days ago and have huge sides, trying to find hope.

#16

@dragonslayer123 I have many of the same issues he describes. The skin, sweat, muscle changes. I wonder how he is doing.

#17

Hey @pleasehelpme @Dknighten. Well its been 9 months since i took finasteride. I can say that i think I found a new baseline that is somewhat functional. Haven’t noticed any significant improvements in my main sides. My main sides are my eyes and muscles. Eyes are red/uncomfortable and i have visual snow and after images from lights. I went to an ophthalmologist who said my eyes look healthy but my glands aren’t producing good oils and put me on doxycycline to try to clear it up but did nothing. They of course also said that finasteride doesnt cause my symptoms but they did acknowledge that it can affect glands oil production but of course followed that up with “but only when youre on it”. I dont have any motivation to exercise anymore. I used to be a big gym rat and love it but now it just doesnt feel good because my muscles are weak/shakey and i dont get that ‘high’ or good burn from it either. I still try to go at least once a week. Skin sensation and sweat I think I just got used to. It took a good 6 months to get to a functional level. I still do believe if I give more time I will either get used to it or it will improve. I just have been accepting that I was harmed by a drug and trying to move on. Truly not sure what happened but that drug seemed to change the muscle function in my whole body (eyes use muscles) and oil production. Hair is also still bone dry.

If you are fresh off of fin and used it for a short time i can give you hope that things slowly got better for me. First three months were very hard for me. I remember that for months my balls would ache non stop and it was so painful and annoying. The good news is that I can say my balls havent ached at all for months so that is a symptom that did go away completely. I did get my testosterone tested again and it was 100 points higher than last time i checked 6 months ago. Hoping that means my balls are slowly moving back to functioning like they used to. It does worry me to think that maybe the reason my balls were aching for so long was because they were adjusting to a permanent change.

Either way stay strong. Were in it together. Let me know if you have any questions. Im not on here much anymore.

Im not sure how people are able to tolerate that drug.

1 Like
#18

Really been struggling to stay positive especially since im coming up on a year since finasteride. Dont know how to continue to move forward in life like this. Not able to work full time with my sides. Also I got laid for the first time a couple months ago since I took finasteride and turns out I have some ED issues. Wasnt able to maintain and went soft while inside. Couldnt have been more embarrassing. Took a few minutes to get it back up and was able to finish. I had noticed my erections started to get softer and the orgasm didnt feel the same around the time when my balls stopped aching after like 6 months but didnt think anything of it because I didnt have a partner. Turns out this drug has done more damage than I originally thought. Really struggling right now. Making an appointment with dr bruhin in San Diego to see if counseling will help.

1 Like
#19

I’m sorry about what happened to you

#20

had really fucked up anxiety carnivore diet did it for me, and one time end up in emergency room couse i had panic attack first time in my life…vitamin c brakes cortisole, that can help…its a late response hope u are better.