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Where are you from (country)?
-> Switzerland -
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?)
-> Google search, Erectile disfunction with Propecia -
What is your current age, height, weight?
-> Age: 46, height: 170cm, weight: 74 kg -
Do you excercise regularly?
-> Yes
If so, what type of excercise?
-> I play squash and do fitness regularly 2-3 times a week
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
-> healthy, eat meat too -
Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
-> androgenetic hairloss -
For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
11 Years -
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
-> I was 34 years old, started 8.11.1999 -
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
-> quit first time 23.5.2003 for a year because of ED & loss of libido. Side effects were persistent. Beacuse Merck stated in the label that ED & loss of libido would go away after stopping taking the drug I assumed that i twas psycological. So after 1 year after stopping taking Propecia I continued taking Propecia. On 1.11.2011 after reading shocking news at „propeciahelp“ I stopped definitley taking finasteride. -
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
-> Cold turkey -
What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
-> Until 28.6.2011 I used Propecia, after that I used other generic (first „Streuli 5“, then „Finasterid-Mepha 5“ which cut in 5th part to get 1mg) -
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
-> 1 mg per day -
How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
-> from around mid 2002 until now -
What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
-> ED, loss of libido, less semen, less pressure when ejculating, bigger breasts, weight
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[X ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[X ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[X ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[X ] Watery Ejaculate
[X ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[X ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[X ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[X ] Confusion
[X ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[X ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[X ] Slurring of Speech
[X ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[X ] Depression / Melancholy
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
[X ] Weight Gain
[X ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[X ] Muscle Wastage
[X ] 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
[ ] Increased hair loss
[X ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
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What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
-> went to my doctor and told him my problems. Bow I eat food with lots of vitamine, especially B-Vitamines, do more sports, no drinking alcohol at all -
If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
-> no blood test done so far -
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
-> no -
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
-> 12 years ago I first started taking Propecia. For 2 years everything went well, potency and libido were fully there. My girlfriend at that time had broken up with me which made me feel quite sad. After that I began to subside ED and loss of libido.
I assumed it was purely psychological because of my ex-girlfriend. A year later I was well over the break-up, but two years after the separation, I still had potency and libido disorders, psychological reasons which definitely I now could not explain anymore ! I went to my doctor and let my hormone levels checked. All values were normal (except for a low value because of the DHT Propecia). My doctor said if I was one of those 2% percent of those affected, the adverse effects on libido and potency, however, the side-effects would strike at 100%!
I had then decided to quit Propecia hoping that potency and libido would come back again like before using Propecia, which unfortunately was not the case! Since it was mentioned in the leaflet that ED & libido would normalize after stopping Propecia again, I then assumed that it could not be due to taking Propecia but that still I was not over my ex, which I found weird was because I was feeling good and open to a new relation.
After that I continued taking Propecia assuming that there were psychological reasons, or that potency and libido would diminish with age,. I am now 46. As far as I know, libido and potency decrease in most men starting from the age of 35 by 1-2% per year.
In my case, I should therefore still have a libido and potency level of about 80-90% which is definitely not the case! Libido is almost zero and erection only about 60% - 70% and only after appropriate stimulation! I also have trouble keeping a permanent erection.
Today I am totally convinced that I’m having all these problems only because of Propecia or finasteride!
I hope there will soon be a solution for all of us for this tragedy!
Hope 123