I´ve taken Finasteride 1mg daily for about 2 years until I stopped it due to worsen side effects!
The fat layer around my eyes has contionuously melted during the taking of Propecia.
And I know fin-users in german hairloss boards (e.g. www.alopezie.de), who are concerned by the same problem!
I have broken off the treatment 6 month ago and the problem did not improve in this period…meanwhile I have the fear that the problem is irreversible!!! So which solution remains for me?
Is anybody here concerned by similar side effects? What can one do against these “sunken eyes”?
And what is the coherency between the DHT inhibition and the fat layer?
Does anybody perhaps know a suitable link about similar experiences of fin-users?
My guess is that you have high cortisol levels. Along with high cortisol levels comes a redistribution of fat. Specifically, fat relocates around the collar bone and back of the neck (buffalo hump). These are symptoms of cushing’s syndrome. Have you had blood work done? If so, how are your cortisol levels?
During the next days I will let with my family doctor do a topical blood count!
I have already been with an endocrinologist some time ago. But no special conspicuity…
In my case, there also isn´t any redistribution, but the fat layer around the eyes has simply disappeared! And I am not the only one which is concerned by this problem…after longer intake of finasteride tablets!
I recently found this study linking Finasteride and other anti-androgens to vision problems, physical changes to the eye, and tear/sebaceous gland dysfunction.
My bet is that by inhibiting DHT via Finasteride, you experienced these problems.
Unsure if things can go back 100% to normal after discontinuation of such therapy, you’d have to speak to some Opthamologists about wether changes to the eye due to lack of androgens is in fact reversible.
I understand your issue is more to do with fat tissue, but I wouldn’t doubt there is a connection knowing everything else.
Also, here is another member’s story about eye problems thanks to Finasteride:
About two years into taking fin I developed floaters, and what appear to me to be small twirly lights when I look at bright white surfaces (namely, clouds). However, I was also overdosing on coffee at the time, and this is what I originally attributed it to.
I did go to an ophthalmologist about it…he explained that it was only floaters, nothing serious, and that it was just a normal part of aging. I didn’t really believe this at the time, as I was all of 22…but then again, for most people your standard myopia is a normal part of aging as well, so who knows.
I feel that I have lost a considerable amouont of subcutaneous fat from my face and especially from around my eyes. I noticed that I do not seem to be the only one (hence this thread).
My question is how many of you guys have noticed a loss in facial fat? And for the guys who noticed they had whilst on fin, did it come back after stopping finasteride?
This thread seems to have become inactive? Does anyone know if he problem was resolved??
I noticed this too, how can this happen? Have been off for six months and look far from what I was. Area around eyes and cheeks has taken the biggest hit, truly look like shit now.
Read my story. Was on for 4 months, took about one month to notice the face thing. Quit 6 months ago, has not come back - look completely different and tired
I (M, 38 years, healthy) took Cipla Fincar a generic Proscar (1.25 mg/day) for 4 months and stopped taking it some 2 weeks ago; most of all because I have dark circles under the eyes - people really asked me if I was sick.
I definitely got another “deep” wrinkle under both of my eyes - it looks like I’ve aged 5-10 years within 2 or 3 months. And it’s definitely a loss of fat around the eyes that makes this look - most of all under the eyes and towards the nose.
I used compresses from Optrex which helped temporarily (8-10 hrs) but you should only apply this for 2-3 days not longer so it’s no permanent relief.
I fear this so-called “sunken eye” phenomenon is mostly irreversible - at least postings in this forum and on alopezie.de concerning this issue and dark circles made me pessimistic.
Some days ago I found a recently published (Japanese?) study on an US site which clearly showed the connection of inhibiting DHT and the loss of fat around the eye. But I’m not able to find this study again (googled for almost an hour now).
I also had and still have some other side effects (I care less at the moment):
Please find that article. Although as it is such a common drug, I can’t imagine this problem being common.
I too had and still have problems with dry, lifeless looking skin and the “melting” of facial features: no structure anymore. “Sunken eyes” sounds about right. Used to have great strong and youthful facial features. Now: boring and flat.
I tried to make a comparison chart with pictures that were taken within 2 years before I started with finasteride (on the left) and a picture I took 3 days ago:
I believe these and all of the unlisted side effects should be filed as complaints and sent to an international health agency or in the US, the FDA. This drug has ruined many lives, including mine due to the 40+ year aging and permanet loss of libido side both of which are said to go away with cessation of use, but have not. To all who have been victimized by this poison, file a complaint ASAP!!!
I’m not sure that this can be attributed to Propecia. Ironically, I have experienced the very same thing, but it was along with generalized weight loss all over my body.
If DHT were really responsible for the maintenance of the fat layer around the eyes, wouldn’t females (who have very low DHT levels) all have these same syptoms?
Moreover, the conclusions of the Japanese study would also have to mean that eunichs, women, and anyone peforming a hormonal male to female “sex change” operation would also experience fat loss around the eye.
IMPORTANT WARNING:
I have taken finasteride (generic form of Propecia) for only thirteen days. I was alarmed to discover that I suddenly had wrinkles under my eyes, slightly hollowed eyes, and slightly sunken cheeks. The swiftness of the onset of hollowed eyes was stark. I’m nervous and depressed about this.
I stopped taking finasteride and right now I’m running and lifting hard, hoping that the effects will be reversed.
It seems that finasteride and Propecia causing wrinkles, hollowed eyes, and sunken cheeks has been well established among a significant proportion of its users. Be forewarned; I wish I had better researched it before diving in. I’m very thankful this forum is here! I googled finasteride and wrinkles and I was relieved to find that others could corroborate my peculiar symptoms exactly. Still, I would do anything to reverse this.
I’ll post later with an update. Please reply if you have any advice I may follow.
I learned my lesson: Big Pharma makes drugs to sell, & not to heal.
In the meantime I am:
running three miles a day: I always do this for better circulation
lifting hard, mostly squats which increase Testosterone
taking DHEA & L-Arginine
Bought a vaporizor to run at night
Use moisturizers morning and night
Getting a shorter hair cut and going bald gracefully
Fortythree,
I am with you bro. I have been on proscar for seven days and I am already seeing issues with sunken eyes, dark circles, red blotchy skin and excessively dry skin. Only 7 days!!! Of course, I am stopping proscar immediately. I would think we would both be safe after just a few days but who knows. Hopefully someone will chime in and let us know if we are OK.
We need to focus on how to reverse this, and spread the word. Humboldt seems to best articulate how the fat around the eyes is “melting away.” I’m trying to get a hold of him, but he stopped posting on this site. I estimate he stopped FIN over a year ago. He more frequently posted on the German site he listed in this topic.
Where you cutting the Proscar pills in half? Each pill is 5mg. I was doing Finpecia which is only 1mg.
For now, try to boost your testosterone. A cursory search I did revealed that doing squats and exercising large muscle groups helps boost T. I’ve been doing that for 2 days since I quit, along with other things I suggested above.
Many on this post that have been taking FIN for months are complaining that they have irreversible side effects. We need to find out things that reverse FIN’s 5alpha-reductase inhibition. A new drug boasts it has double the capacity of FIN: People need to know you could turn into Skeletor.
I sense Merck was aware of FIN’s effects. I never trusted the bogosphere before, and now I see it as the only vessel of truth.
Have you had any recent bloodwork performed? The first order of business is to get a baseline of your T, free T, E2, and DHT levels. Then, you will be able to tell if what you are doing is actually increasing your testosterone.
Correct. I’m looking for an M.D. in the DC area with a background in endocrinology and get blood work done.
I’m very certain the FIN causing my sunken eyes and leathery under-eye skin: I’ve never looked anything like this before, I noticed it on day nine, and the side effects of a handful of other members are exact (sunken eyes, sagging cheeks, larger pored and rougher skin under the eye with sudden wrinkles). I’m not on any other drugs or supplements and I run 3 miles a day.
Also, as a counter to this earlier argument:
"If DHT were really responsible for the maintenance of the fat layer around the eyes, wouldn’t females (who have very low DHT levels) all have these same syptoms?
Moreover, the conclusions of the Japanese study would also have to mean that eunichs, women, and anyone peforming a hormonal male to female “sex change” operation would also experience fat loss around the eye."
Beware that finasteride is a is a synthetic anti-androgen, it is not estrogen, it is not progesterone, and it does not occur in nature. FIN is a synthetic steroid, whose chemical formula was contrived to have a marketable effect. Therefore, any aberrant side-effect is possible, especially given the complexity of hormonal signaling in the endocrine system. Remember, the human body does not make FIN.
I suspect Merck knew there could be an issue when they did lipid plasma tests and then found them non-threatening.
We are on our own unless someone can find a person qualified to take a stab at how it is possible to reverse FIN effects.
Even if blood work is restored to what is was, the effects may persist. If that is the case, then the last hope is that the effects might be able to be countered by something else.
Even if blood work is restored to what is was, the effects may persist. If that is the case, then the last hope is that the effects might be able to be countered by something else.
