The second semester of my sophomore year in college, I decided to get on Propecia (I was noticing significant hairloss). Merck claimed that only a few percent of users experience the side effects (loss of libido) that are reversible upon withdrawal from the drug. The following summer, I began studying for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). When I took my first practice test, I noticed that I had trouble reading the words on the page after the first hour of reading. I attributed it to the fact that I needed glasses because I had been reading and studying so much more than I was used to (plus, I was slightly hyperopic). I received my first pair of glasses. Although the doctor said the glasses corrected my vision to a perfect 20/15, I still was having significant difficulties reading. I was much slower and had to reread things again and again. At this point, I started drinking coffee every morning. It helped me maintain focus, at least for a few hours. Since this point in my life, I’ve had serious problems reading and focusing. I’ve been to many, many eye doctors who all say the same thing: “Your vision is great!” I knew it wasn’t. I tried over 10 different glasses prescriptions, and none were able to help me. Not only could I not focus on what I was reading, but my vision would go blurry during exercise and lights at nighttime looked smeared and blurry.
When the final semester of my senior year came, my vision problems showed no improvements, and on top of it, I was having significant anxiety problems: my palms would sweat profusely, I would shy away from social settings where I didn’t know the people who would be there, and every morning I woke up scared to death that my project that I was in charge of for my fraternity was going to fail. I would tire easily and would fall asleep during the first third of every movie I watched (my friends would make fun of me for this). I never once attributed these effects to Propecia. The side effects for the drug never mentioned anything about vision or anxiety problems, only libido loss. I noticed very little change in my libido and my brother (who was also on Propecia) wasn’t sharing my symptoms, so I remained on the drug (plus, my hair was much thicker). My last two semesters of college, I worked excessively hard to make up for my vision problems and lack of focus. I began medical school in Dallas the following fall.
Medical school started off fine. Reading was still a hassle, but I just told myself I’d work extra hard to get the grades I wanted. The problem was that I started getting headaches. These headaches lasted all the time and made studying even harder. Still, I did not attribute this to Propecia because I had been on the drug for quite some time, and I had never had headaches like these before. My main method of studying became audio learning. I used audio recordings of the lectures to study in order to take the stress off my eyes and head. Anyone I talked to about this said I was just stressed out from school, but I knew it was something else. School had never been a stressor for me, and I had always enjoyed learning. My memory was going, too. I lost my school ID badge 7 times and had to get replacements each time. I would forget little things like which cabinet had the cups and which had the plates. My sense of direction went from bad to awful. My anxiety was so bad that my hands would start shaking like crazy if I tried to draw someone’s blood. I just assumed my anxiety was due to my uncertainty about my vision and accompanying headaches. Doing everyday tasks were a chore for me. I would consistently open the fridge or walk into my room, forgetting what I was doing there in the first place. I get tongue-tied constantly. When I speak, I try to be as pithy as possible or else I’ll lose my train of thought or can’t find the right words to use. I am tired ALL the time. Going for a run would temporarily clear my mind, but only temporarily.
I knew something was wrong because I had never responded to stress like this before. I didn’t think medical school was any more difficult than college because I had already learned much of what was being taught in medical school in my undergraduate studies. Doctors had no idea what was going on (two recommended I see a psychiatrist), and my blood tests were normal. I’ve always been a very happy person and had a tremendous upbringing. No doctors proposed that Propecia could’ve been causing my problems (showing that they are also clueless to the side effects). Opthalmologists were especially confused because my vision appeared to be normal, and they had no idea what I was talking about when I described my symptoms.
Once my second year of medical school started, my reading problems and headaches were unmanageable. I had to quit school for a year, hoping it would be enough time to find out what was wrong with me. Strangely I kept getting worse. I didn’t have any stress in my life, but the headaches were still constant, still debilitating. By shear happenstance, I came upon a website (www.askapatient.com) where people could share their experiences with a drug. I typed in “Propecia” just to see what people thought of the drug. I found an incredible number of people describing the same symptoms I have (brain fog, anxiety, vision problems, headaches, lack of concentration socially and academically, constantly tired, often tongue-tied, memory loss). Again, these symptoms are nowhere to be found on Merck’s website. Additionally, the website says the symptoms are reversible, but many users are still suffering after being off the drug for years.
I recently quit taking Propecia (2/23/07) after being on it for almost four years and am concerned about the future. I will be getting blood tests on 2/27/07 and will be following my hormonal levels closely.
we really feel for you man!!! It seems you did not mention any emotional problems. Did you experience any?
Stay strong, although it takes awhile, there are people who have been healed.
Don’t know what your opinions about herbal/natural medicines are (given that you go to med school), but I have a feeling they will change for the better…
Much of what you describe resonates with me, particularly the anxiety, getting tongue tied and extreme memory problems.
It’s been 17 months off and I still lose my train of thought easily… it’s like I can’t process thoughts quickly anymore and words don’t roll off my tongue like they used to… I have to actually THINK about what I’m trying to say, rather than having it come out naturally, in the moment. This has definitely led to some awkward moments, I’m sure you can relate.
As you can read in the Finasteride and Other Studies sections, DHT and Testosterone are vital for not only sexual, but mental health. The anxiety issues you experienced were likely a result of Finasteride blocking the conversion of Progsterone to Allopregnanolone, and resultant interference with the GABB-A receptor, amongst other things (blockage of THDOC and DHP).
We are glad you found this site and are happy to have you with us, even though these are unfortunate circumstances. In fact, you are in a better position than most here as you are within the medical field.
Now I don’t mean to push a personal agenda, so take this as you will:
Perhaps through your studies and colleagues you will be able to find the answers so many of us have been trying to figure out… how to correct and reverse the damage Finasteride has done to so many men.
Furthermore… you may be in a position to help spread the word through the medical community that this drug is in fact dangerous, and that the symptoms you and we describe are most definitely not “in our heads”, as so many in the medical community have claimed them to be. As a sufferer yourself, you have now experienced some of these side effects first-hand.
Truth be told, entering medical school after this mess may give the impetus for one to focus specifically on Endocrinology and try and figure our how this drug messed with our bodies… did it destroy our 5ARII receptors? Did it fry something between our HTPA, medulla, pons, amygdala, testes? What has been “shut off” in our bodies? These are the questions nobody seems to have answers to, or how to correct them 100%, if they are indeed correctable for some.
Either way, whatever you choose to do in the future… let us know how the blood tests work out… and hopefully you will be on a path that might help shed some light on things , should you choose to pursue it!! 
Again, thanks for sharing your experience and looking forward to your updates… stay strong my friend.
Hmm, funny enough I remember my first symptom after starting propecia (besides nut acke) was a change in my vision. Back then I didn’t think of it as a sideeffect from propecia, but a couple of month later all other symptoms (brainfog/anxiety/fatigue/etc.) came crashing down on me all at once and I ended up in the ER.
I had a spinalpuncture done, but I dont think they meassured the pressure 
The red bloodcells count was high though…
Im gonna look into the possibility that I also suffer from increased spinalpressure like you.
JH
Thanks a lot guys. I appreciate the support.
Legenden_1999: My story seems closest to yours. Can you please tell me where you stand now and some things you think I should do (ie-Clomid, Cortisol, etc.)? Also, definitely get a spinal tap if you’re still having the vision problems. I think my problems are due to my increased CSF pressure (which has been known to be caused by cortisol drug withdrawal… or maybe in our case, our natural corticosteroids shutting down). I’m on a drug called Diamox to lower the pressure, but I haven’t noticed anything promising so far.
Mew: Thanks for the input. The doctors I’m seeing are actually here at the medical school and seem to be very interested in my case. I’ll let you know more as it develops. This really all did just come to light 5 days ago.
pnb07670: I haven’t had any emotional problems outside of constant anxiety about what the heck is wrong with me. I would call my parents from school crying every now and then, but it seemed fitting, nothing really out of the ordinary.
Im currently on cortisol and thyroid replacement. It looks like Im low on all pituitary hormones, so Im pretty sure Im somewhat hypopituitary and will need to replace all its hormones.
Since Im still working my way up in dosage, its still to early to say if it will help me or not, but some days I think I see some improvement. Other days I feel Im back to square one.
When Im optimized on cortisol and thyroid, I will start TRT with gel this time. That way I will get more converted to DHT which Im also wery low in.
I will bring the CFS thing up next time I speak to my doc. See if I can get another tab or an eye examn.
JH
Good thinking about getting the Spinal Tap. Bear in mind that most people who have pseudotumor (increased CSF pressure) typically have papilledema (swelling of the optic nerve). I did not, which is why the opthalmologist always told me I was fine. However, pseudotumor without papilledema exists (ie- me), but it’s hard to convince them to give you a tap if you don’t have papilledema.
Again, if you get a tap, make sure the pressure measurement is recorded while you are on your side.
can the papilledema be the result of a thyroid problem? i think i exhibited a classic case of hypothyroidism when i was going through my symptoms… bulging eyes, froggy voice, terrible mental state…
Never heard of papilledema in relation to thyroid problems, rather it has been shown to relate to cortisol levels. If endocrine problems are chronic, there may be no papilledema and yet still have elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (as in my case) found in a spinal tap.