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)? UK
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 have been browsing for a long time but never joined
What is your current age, height, weight? age 34, height 186cm weight 80kg
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 every day
What condition was being treated with the drug? Hair loss
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)? 7 years
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug? 21
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 28
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? tapered off
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects? from day 2
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation? everything i have put an X to below
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
[x ] Complete Impotence
[ x] Loss of Morning Erections
[x ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[x ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] 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
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] 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
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[x ] Prostate pain
[x ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
x[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x ] 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 tried clomid 12.5mg eod and arimidex 0.25mg every 3 days
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)? tests always come back within range except for elevated SHGB
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.
Hi guys, thought I’d give an account from someone who has suffered with this for 5-6 years now. I took Propecia for hair loss at 21. I started noticing sides from day 2 such as weaker erection etc. I just assumed the sides would go away. These sides got worse over the next 7 years to the point that I could not have sex even with Cialis/Viagra. Part of this is my own fault as at the time my hair was more important to me.
I finally decided to quit after another failed sexual encounter and tapered off slowly. When I quit my sides improved maybe 20% for the next 4-5 months and then I crashed one day. The best way to describe the crash is all feeling went completely. I could tell something was wrong and I had absolutely no sexual desire- absolutely none. 20mg of Cialis would do absolutely nothing.
To give an update on progress. I have definitely improved to some degree over the last 6 years. I still have no morning/spontaneous erections but can have sex with my gf now if I take somewhere between 5-10mg Cialis. Our relationship works well as we are distance o we see each other at weekends etc. I now knw my own body much better so know if I don’t masturbate for a couple of days before seeing her all will be ok with cialis.
There are obviously periods where I have slight setbacks and then times where sex becomes easier. Definitely not a constant. I have had all the hormonal tests and I am within range on everything except elevated shgb
My protocol
I just try to keep fit, work out etc. I went to see an Endo in London a few years back and he put me on 50mg Clomid ed and arimidex 1mg eod. This worked for a couple of days and then nothing. I actually tried my own routine after doing some research of clomid 12.5mg eod and arimidex 0.25mg every 3rd day. This actually kickstarted my recovery I believe as definitely felt improvement and more horny when taking this. I stopped after 6 months as was concerned about messing with my hormones without any doctor supervision but I seemed to maintain the benefits from them. When I say benefits please don’t think I mean cure. I’d say I improved maybe 30% which i would have taken al day long.
Still no morning erections or spontaneous erections.
Interestingly I have just developed a urine infection/prostatis (they are unsure at present) and seem to have completely crashed again. This seems to happen every time i’m ill. I have been put on a course of antibiotics and after one day I feel so much more sensation downstairs. Now I have been in this game long enough to know that will not last but these temporary recoveries do make me think that there is some hope out there.
Anyway wanted to share my story- hopefully it may give some hope to others who have just crashed. Life is still not great 6 years on but certainly an improvement