[Note: This is a repost of my story from my previous account with the user name ‘StayingAlive’, which I am unable to access anymore. I have adjusted some of the details based on my current status.]
Where are you from (country)?
Australia.
How did you find this forum?
Google search.
What is your current age, height, weight?
33, 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
[X] 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
Amitriptyline
Zinc + C tablets (low dose)
Viagra (sildenafil)
Cialis (tadalafil)
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 (May 2023) I have had a gradual improvement in some symptoms.
From about a 2.5/10 overall to about a 5/10 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.
I have been speaking to a doctor about my condition since early to mid 2022. Initially he referred me to a psychiatrist. I did 10 sessions with them, and they were good and all for general mental health, but it became clear to them and me that they weren’t able to help with my condition (PFS).
Since then my doctor has prescribed me Amitriptyline earlier this year (2023). I deal with an ongoing strain issue with my right shoulder, so he prescribed it to me for both that condition and my depression which has come about due to PFS.
I am on week seven of Amitriptyline, started on 12 April 2023, and am up to 40 mg per day for the past almost 4 weeks. It has definitely helped with the depression and overall mood, and my ability to fall asleep within 10 to 30 minutes is guaranteed every night too. Sleep length is better as well. Nocturnal erections have also returned during this time. Not much improvement in anything else though.
I initially started Amitriptyline in January this year for a week and then came off of it, and experienced a big improvement of my sexual symptoms in the first week off of it, before it came back to baseline after that. I do want to try cycling off of Amitriptyline to see what happens again at some stage.
I want to also note that I had been abstinent from porn from December until April. I watched porn again on Sunday, 23 April 2023, and had a massive improvement of my symptoms during the week that followed. Oiliness of the skin returned, sexual health vastly improved and I had some sort of libido for the first time during this condition. Body odour returned as well. Everything downstairs was full and normal as well. I felt a huge uplift in my confidence and anxiety was next to nothing.
I thought this improvement was due to the Amitriptyline, but this improvement slowly waned over the following week. Until I watched porn again after this and had the same improvements occur.
I haven’t watched porn for 14 days now, and I am back to PFS regular state without any of the improvements mentioned above. I would watch porn consistently if it helped with symptoms, but I want to get to a normal state without porn being a crutch of sorts. Prior to PFS, porn used to also contribute to ED symptoms, and I need any help I can get in that regard to avoid ED.
I have my next follow up with my doctor tomorrow and will discuss this all with him then.
One thing I didn’t mention previously was that I took Accutane when I was about 23 (from memory), for my bad skin at the time. I took it for three months or so with no side effects and my skin cleared up. I am wondering if taking Accutane then and Finasteride in 2019 caused my PFS to occur.
Finally to note, unfortunately for me both viagra and cialis do not help me get or maintain an erection. They also cause big flushing of my skin and lips. When I took either of these medicines prior to PFS, they used to help tremendously in getting and maintaining an erection.