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?)
Facebook invite
What is your current age, height, weight?
Age 32, 3’2", 119 pounds
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?
Adapalene (C28H28O3) a topical retinoid. I used an SSRI as a child.
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
Enough to cover my face day and night.
What condition was being treated with the drug?
Mild Acne
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
About a week, then again for a couple weeks w/ oil to attempt to withstand dryness.
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
About 23
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
About 23
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
Immediately, probably day one and then an increase in symptoms immediately every time I put it on.
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
All of them aside from eczema on my face.
Dryness, internal dryness, digestive issues, rapid heartbeat, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, sexual issues, mental focus, eye issues, sleep troubles, loss of vivid dreams.
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
[X] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[X] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[X] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[X] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[X] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[X] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[X] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[X] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[X] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[X] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[X] Muscle Wastage
[X] Muscle Weakness
[X] Joint Pain
[X] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[X] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[X] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[X] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[X] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[X] Increased hair loss
[X] Frequent urination
[X] Lowered body temperature
[X] Other (please explain)
Chronic infections, yeast, trouble keeping eye focused, twitching, crawling sensations on skin, food intolerances, yellowing of skin, weight loss, nausea, pain in gut, extreme fatigue and weakness when lifting arms, nerve-like pains, slowness, hypothyroidism, pain during orgasm, tightening of body.
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
Antibiotics, antifungals, 5HTP, vitamins and minerals, diet adjustments, brief chelation, antihistamines, thyroid medication, DHEA, and others…
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)?
No pre-drug test results as I never needed any.
Post drug, I had:
High TSH, low T3 and T4 hormones. Low free T and E, on occasions.
Additionally:
Low B6, low B2, low alkaline phosphatase.
Organic Acids: High Arabinose (yeast) Over twice upper limit of normal.; High Hippuric (bacteria) Over twice upper limit of normal; Low Glycolic; High Lactic; High Fumaric, Malic, 2-Oxoglutaric, Aconitic, and Citric.
Mitochondrial marker 3-Hydroxyglutaric was High.
Dopamine marker HVA was normal with VMA epinephrine marker slightly higher but normal.
5HIAA serotonin marker low, almost nothing, but no low normal value is listed.
Quinolinic normal but ratio to 5HIAA was VERY high.
Ketone and Fatty Acid Oxidation markers Methylsuccinic, Adipic, Suberic all high.
Salicylate marker was normal.
Glutathione markers were normal.
Positive for some (semi specific) bacteria.
Inflammatory marker Calprotectin normal.
Anti-gliadin IgA was High.
DHEA-S Normal.
Sjorgren antibodies 0.
High Intolerances to many foods and yeast.
All other standard tests so far normal, including B12 and D2. Autoimmune markers normal.
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.
Living hell.
On: Sandpaper eyelids, eczema on my face and worsening of cystic acne. Bizarre insomnia and energy. 8X daily BMs. Headaches. Rapid weight loss.
The day I stopped: Slowing of BMs, extreme faitgue, aches, skin begins to yellow, metal focus deteriorates, weird nightly depression grows into chronic fatigue, bloating, weight gain and then weight loss again, and more and more for the past 6 years.
I’m including all this here in the hope that someone reads it and an answer-light switches on.
Edited to add:
FSH was normal a couple years ago.
Recent Estradiol on day 2 was normal (low end, but hard to say if that mean anything on day 2)
Testosterone normal, middle range…
What a mistake… But with the only side effect supposedly being dryness where the gel was applied, I thought it was no big deal…