[b]0) 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?)
I searched Propecia side effects and saw that other people were experiencing similar problems after they quit.
2) What is your current age, height, weight?
I am 21 years old, 5’11’’ and 180 pounds.
- Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
I have not been exercising regularly.
- What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
I try to eat healthy, but do not watch as closely as I should. I would say about the same as other 21 year olds.
- Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
I took Propecia because my hair was starting to thin and balding runs in my family.
- For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
About 21 months
-
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
I was 19 years old when I started (Approx. February of 2011) -
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
21 years old (December, 2012)
- How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold turkey
- What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Propecia
- What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1 mg/day
- How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
I noticed that my penis felt different (detached/numb) the first week. I always had to adjust. I kept taking it thinking my side effects would go away. So stupid now.
- What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
My penis shrinks to an uncomfortable size and I always am adjusting it. It gets really wrinkled and almost retracts. I never had any issues with this before and was really comfortable with my penis and its size/feel.
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[x ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ x] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ x] Loss of Morning Erections
[x ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[x ] Watery Ejaculate
[ x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[x ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[x ] Slurring of Speech
[ x] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ x] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ x] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ x] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ x] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ x] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] 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?
I have not taken anything yet. I want so much for time to make it better, but it hasn’t so far.
- If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
I have a urogoly appointment next week. But the nurse had my total testosterone tested. It was 416 ng/dL.
- Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
I have notice a decrease in body hair. I used to shave my pubic and chest hair every Thursday. Every week there would be a lot of hair I would have to shave. Now, I can go almost a month without shaving.
- Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
I took Propecia because my hair was thinning. My dermatologist told me it was a “very safe” drug and that he had prescribed it to many men and never had any problems. I remember that he said any side effects should subside after two weeks and completely disappear if I quit. I took it without much concern. The next week I noticed that my penis felt different, as though it was detached or numb. Now, almost two years later and four months after quitting it is constantly uncomfortable and it shrinks and almost retracts into my body sometimes. I never had any issues with my penis size or feeling of being uncomfortable beforehand.
I finally quit after I realized that I was not capable of achieving an erection hard enough to have intercourse. The girl that I was with was nice enough to give me multiple, about 10 chances, to have sex with her. Only once could I even get hard enough to enter her and it was a struggle to maintain an erection without constant stimulation.
I finally made an appointment and my testosterone level was only 416. I have another appointment with a urologist this week, but I don’t have much hope. I wish I never would have touched this poison, and I don’t know if I can live much longer like this. I’ve even written suicide notes on my computer explaining my situation. I am so incredibly sad that the most important thing in life has been stolen from me.
If anyone reading this is considering taking the drug. PLEASE DON”T. It is not worth it. I know you can get caught up in the hype and think you can have control over not losing your hair, but the potential consequences are absolutely devastating.