Read members’ experiences of PFS and share your own story. Topics in this category are restricted to one per member. Please provide updates in your existing story instead of starting a new topic.
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?)
What is your current age, height, weight?
45, 5’10”,180
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.)?
1 mg
What condition was being treated with the drug?
Hair loss
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
3/4 years
Date when you started the drug?
1997
Date when you quit the drug?
2003/4?
Age when you quit?
23ish
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
cold turkey
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
2/4 years
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Premature ejaculation, some loss in penile volume
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
[] 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
[] 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
[x ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[] Prostate pain
[] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] 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
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.
Not too much to add. I took it on and off from 18 - mid 20’s. At some point I realized I had terrible premature ejaculation and I’d lost a LOT of girth (down to 3.5….or less…when erect and thinner than my index finger flaccid) and maybe a half inch in length (started at about 5.5 and ended up about 5). Premature has gotten better but size remained small permanently.