3 weeks of finasteride, don’t know what to do

Symptoms Sexual
#1

Hi guys,

I am a 22 year old that took generic finasteride for 3 weeks prescribed from my dermatologist. I took it on and off (I would skip some days) during that 3 week period and I mostly took 0.5 mg per day. I decided to stop it because I was experience a huge decrease in libido and erectile issues and I noticed myself paranoia masturbating a lot.

It’s been 3 weeks since my last pill and things still haven’t come back yet. There may be a slight increase in libido between last week and this week but the erectile issues persist. I can still get an erection, but it takes longer and it’s much more difficult to maintain/doesn’t stay hard. I also have shaft/glans pain and a dull pain that radiates to my anal region after I masturbate and ejaculate. My semen has gone from watery (on finasteride) to extremely THICK and low volume (looks like rice pudding that just barely oozes out of the urethra) in the last 2 days. I also have period of extremely abundant (high volume), relatively normal ejaculate, that’s way out of proportion to my stimulus level. I used to get morning wood every day without fail BEFORE FINASTERIDE (it would be very difficult to pee in the morning). On finasteride no morning wood at all. After quitting I’ve had morning wood some days, others nothing, and others something in between. I haven’t noticed any cognitive symptoms.

I wanted to know if this is a normal time frame after quitting finasteride. Hoping to make a full recovery soon. Any tips you guys can give me in the meantime would be greatly appreciated.

3 Likes
#2

Give it up to three months mate

1 Like
#3

Don’t want to scare you but I quit Fin 8 months ago, was fine until last week and I am suffering from low libido, ED and ball ache again. Never happened before in life.

Once you take Fin you gotta keep watching over your shoulder for the rest of your life! You never know if you’re in the clear or the Hitman is right about to get your ass. But jokes aside, give it time and in most people symptoms resolve within a year or so they say! If they do not then welcome to the club

#4

Please go to the dr and get lots of blood work done. See if anything is changing, for better or worse, to help give a pattern to what’s happening. I wish I had before and after bloodwork, including a full hormonal profile. As things change, you can capture it and maybe help yourself and us.

#5

6 weeks off so far. I figured I would update everyone with more details since stopping.

Basically, right after stopping the drug I had 2-3 days of feeling totally back to myself and then after ejaculating, I noticed blood in my semen only once. Right after, prostate pain lasting about 4 days (since resolved). During this time, I also began taking Lexapro for anxiety (totally unrelated issue to fin) but that caused me to go into a zombie like state so I stopped it after 6 days (since resolved). Then the crash happened (while I was still on Lexapro) when I started noticing structural penile changes, loss of morning wood, libido, erections, etc. This lasted about 3 weeks and then I had about 4-5 days where I felt better, not quite back to my old self but not too bad, but still no morning erections. In the early weeks I was sure this was caused by the well known sexual side effects of SSRI’s (lexapro), but once I began noticing the structural changes I knew it was the fin all along.

Since then, I have definitely crashed again, rock bottom libido, erections, low energy, dark circles around eyes, and bad depression.
Its weird because I can manually get an erection but it takes a lot of effort and time and I lose it very easily. I can still orgasm no problem but im wanking with half an erection and since I have no drive it feels like something is missing.

I also noticed that since starting fin I have lost all production of precum and other normal penile secretions - basically my penis is extremely dry. However, I have slowly been noticing some precum come back. An interesting observation I’ve also made is that I no longer have the typical Male Pattern Baldness Scalp itch since starting and stopping fin. During my 4-5 good days since stopping, I felt somewhat of an itch but none now.

My penis is really a stranger to me, it is narrower, smaller, different color, and the veins are either very inflamed or very constricted. I can’t feel it in my boxers anymore, I used to be able to tell what orientation-direction it was facing before fin in my boxers and now nothing.

Im getting really worried and its really starting to impact my life. I have consulted my family doctor about it and she said it was very strange and thinks its mostly psychological, but the lack of morning erections enticed her to check my hormone levels. I am also going to see the derm that prescribed me fin in one month and instructed my doctor to consult with a dermatologist she works with for more information.

I really just need some hope. Its been 1.5 months since my last pill and I really feel way worse than when I was ever on it. I really really need some encouragement here.

Where are you from (country)?
CANADA

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?
22, 5 foot 8, 135 lbs

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

What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1mg first 4 days, stopped for about 3-4 days due to sides, then restarted at 0.5mg every day for about 3 weeks

What condition was being treated with the drug?
MPB

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

How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
22

How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
22

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

How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
Right away, no morning erection the morning after the first pill

What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
All of them + more

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
X Erectile Dysfunction
Complete Impotence
X Loss of Morning Erections
X Loss of Spontaneous Erections
Loss of Nocturnal Erections
X (since resolved) Watery Ejaculate
X (since resolved) Reduced Ejaculate
Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

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

I really am dead at school and cant really focus, but this is more because I am a naturally anxious person and keep thinking about PFS and my symptoms so I don’t think any ‘‘mental sides’’ I have are from the drug.

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

Misc
X Prostate pain - This occurred right after stopping, coupled with an isolated episode of some blood in my semen after the DHT surge upon stopping.
Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
X Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
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?
none yet, just abstained from alcohol and stopped every medication

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)?
Just got blood drawn today to check Testosterone and Prolactin

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.
See above

1 Like
#6

it sounds similiar to me man. going on and off might be the trigger for this shit

2 Likes
#7

i have to agree on this
going on/off/on/off trigers this stuff we have

2 Likes
#8

thats why i got fucked

#9

sorry to hear that, seems this shit happens right before times that we are supposed to have good time, urs happened be4 Xmas and new year mine happened right before my bday. anyway wish u luck and welcome to the club

1 Like
#10

Went to see the derm that prescribed me propecia today. She was very concerned and will ask about my case at upcoming conferences. She sent me for more blood tests and will refer me to a urologist and endocrinologist. She will also search the literature for more Info since she’s never seen a case like mine. My initial testosterone/prolactin/TSH tests were apparently “normal” according to my family doctor, I didn’t ask for the values because when I went to see her I was on an upswing but now back to 0. She gave me cialis 5mg to try but I haven’t yet since I’m now terrified of any pill. I will hit the 3 month mark in 2 weeks. I started having suicidal thoughts last week. It’s looking really bleak for me.

#11

Dermatologist will also report my case to the appropriate authorities

#12

I’d like to put my dermatologist in the next Saw movie…Wanna play a game??

#13

Hey @Jm88,

It seems miserable, I know. Take some comfort that though you aren’t 100%, you are not at 0 either.

I say this because though I can’t remember the time frame, I had times where I felt at rock bottom in the first few months and was convinced that nothing would improve but generally things have.

I’d suggest you try to stabilise your body by not causing hormone fluctuations via ejaculation. Keep the blood flowing by edging but don’t orgasm. It’s possible to get better but you’re going to have to give yourself more time, unfortunately.

It’s good that your Docs are reporting your case.

#14

I called my doctor today and apparently my total testosterone was at 9 (normal range is 5-28), so this is definitely low. Tomorrow morning I’m going to have a DHEA, DHEAS and bioavailable testosterone dosed along with LH FSH. I will hit the 3 month mark since quitting in 10 days. I don’t know what my next move should be. Do I embark on supplements, pharmaceuticals, retrying fin (i have seen sporadic forum posts about this working), diets? Or do I just give it time…

#15

based on my experience getting back on fin would be your most stupid move but again its your call

1 Like
#16

I agree, starting and stopping finasteride is how many people either end up here in the first place or worsen their symptoms.

1 Like
#17

yes me too. but i dont know why starting and stopping and starting is a trigger for pfs ? i wouldnt have done that if i had know that. i thought cycle propecia is smart…

#18

My hair loss is back in full force as of late. I had 0 hair loss (not even 5 strands) until mid January. The hairs all have the typical tiny white bulb at the root so they’re the typical MPB hairs. Is this possibly encouraging?

#19

It’s encouraging in the sense that I believe DHT is back in production so your 5arII has to be working to an extent. But I continued to suffer hair loss after quitting and my sides persisted. Mental sides got better with time but sexual stuff stayed about the same. With that said we all seem to be affected differently so it depends on the individual.

#20

Yes, in my opinion. It’s so weird now that I’m happy to see hairs coming out or that I have body odor or acne, lol