Where are you from (country)?
Australia.
How did you find this forum?
Google search.
What is your current age, height, weight?
31, 183cm / 6’0”, 90kg.
What specific drug did you use?
Finasteride.
What dose did you take?
0.5mg every day for 13 days.
What condition was being treated with the drug?
Hair loss.
For how long did you take the drug?
13 days.
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
30 years old, December 2019.
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
30 years old, December 2019.
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold turkey.
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
About half way through (7 days or so).
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Sexual
[X] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[X] 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
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[X] 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
[X] 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
[ ] Prostate pain
[X] 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)
[X] General anxiety (which was insignificant prior)
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
- Weight lifting
- ZMA supplement
- Nitric oxide
- BCAAs
- Tribulus
- GHB
- Ketamine
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 blood tests completed prior (unfortunately).
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?
Over time from discontinuation (December 2019) to date (October 2021) I have had a gradual improvement in some symptoms.
From about a 2.5/10 overall to about a 6/10 at the moment.
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Not too much to tell, same arc as most people here. I’m not entirely seeking support, mostly just wanted to document my situation.
Took the drug, experienced side effects whilst taking, quit cold turkey, initially not too bad, then had a massive crash, and have only been steadily improving since.
Dark chocolate seems to help me sleep, though not every time.
Weightlifting helps on occasion, though gyms have been closed for a while due to the pandemic.
Green tea with matcha seems to help mood and anxiety during day (one cup per day).
I don’t believe in certain foods being cures or to cause crashes.
Once I reach two years (December 2021), if I’m not happy with my progress, I plan on pursuing all options via medical professionals.