Considering using propecia

General Discussion
#17

Hey mew, I read one of the links you provided…,

physics.upenn.edu/facultyinfo/frankel/papers/propeciafda2/

… and it said that

“The change dropped by 60 % for a .05 mg dose and stayed that way for all dosages up to 5 mg. Thus a 20 times smaller dose than PROPECIA had the same effect on the DHT”
and
“Thus the fact that the dosage has been set by the manufacturer at a level far larger than the level measured as necessary for the main function, has not been reported publicly. Yet, the vastly lower dosages, reported in the data submitted to the FDA, would be expected to reduce the chance of side effects.”

I know you said this is a place for people who have had persistent side effects with Propecia to post, so by all means if you rather use your time helping people who are having serious problems, I completely understand.

Obviously the key word is EXPECTED, but seriously, why the hell would these Merck bozo’s recommend such high doses when way lower doses have the same effect on DHT. Aren’t they basically taking a useless risk by doing this?

My original question was “Does easing your way into a Fin regimine make a difference? For example, taking half the reccomended dose every other day.” What I should have said was does it make a difference in your chances of experiencing side effects.

#18

Dan, generally speaking I don’t have the time nor interest to entertain questions from people choosing to use Finasteride for cosmetic purposes, especially considering the recent media awareness and FDA labeling warning updates on the drug which should give you pause for thought.

If you want to take it, that’s your prerogative, and if you do pls post on hair loss sites. If you don’t experience side effects, great. If you do, don’t say you weren’t warned in advance because you will have no recourse, legally or otherwise.

That said, here are some of Professor Frankel’s further thoughts on the matter of his initial analysis and additional incidents after publishing his original article:

physics.upenn.edu/facultyinfo/frankel/medres/propackedit1.htm
physics.upenn.edu/facultyinfo/frankel/medres/propcrapmerck.htm
physics.upenn.edu/facultyinfo/frankel/medres/annaluro4/

As mentioned earlier in this thread, there is NO TEST to determine who is susceptible to potential side effects, only for potential response to the drug from a hair loss perspective. Response to drug seems to be based on genetics. So until there is such a test that can determine who is susceptible to side effects (which may be never), it’s up to you if you want to take the risk of altering your hormones just to stop some hairs from falling out on your head.

As a parting thought, the hairdx.com test would at least tell you if you’ll be a good, average or poor responder for hair regrowth, so you can know in advance if it’s even worth taking the risk based on hair loss response (ie, no point taking it if you’ll be a poor/average responder for hair regrowth… and of course, I would not recommend you take it whatsoever no matter the potential response).

Good luck.

#19

Dan, I can’t believe the amount of attention this thread has garnered. Here’s some much-needed tough love for you and those like you:

YOU’D HAVE TO BE A FUCKING IDIOT TO SEE THE TOPIC HEADINGS ON THIS FORUM AND STILL PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR SEXUALITY OVER SAVING A FEW HAIRS. WE’RE MISERABLE IMPOTENT AND/OR BRAIN-FOGGED BASTARDS THAT WISH 1000 TIMES A DAY WE COULD GO BACK IN TIME AND NOT TAKE FINASTERIDE. WE DIDN’T KNOW BETTER. BUT YOU DO. THIS DRUG; DOES NOTHING BENEFICIAL FOR YOUR SEXUALITY OR GENITAL ANATOMY; IT WAS CONCEIVED BY MIMICKING A GENETIC DEFECT THAT PRODUCED HERMAPHRODITES. SHAVE IT AND GET ON WITH YOUR LIFE. I WISH SOMEBODY HAD SCREAMED THIS AT ME A DECADE OR SO AGO. I WOULD HAVE DEFINITELY LISTENED.

#20

Well said Xhorndog.

#21

My humble advice: don’t do it. But if you do not heed our warnings and suffer persisting sexual side-effects, I will be pleased to hear about your inability to have children, the world would be better off.

#22

Interesting. Since this post, the above links have been removed.

#23

there is no way to read it again? (and maybe save screenshot and post it here)

#24

This is wierd. After you showed me those links I would often post them on baldtruth to people that were planning to go on fin to just tell them if they are going to start low

I know this site if for people with PFS, but I came back to try and find out about these links and find it very odd they disappeared.

btw, I still never went on this drug lol… I was planning to go on a very low dosage with days in between, but only after getting full panel blood test + hormones and semen analysis, which no doctor would refer me to get done when I explained why I want it.

Just thought you may find it intersting the only thing my derm said apart from 2% sexual sides is ‘very limited evidence linking propecia use to high grade cancers in the future’, and my GP says this ‘no need for any tests…propecia such a small dose no real significant side effects. most of the side effects you read about finastermide is based on 5 mg/day NOT propecia 1 mg’

I pray for all of your guys health to get better and God bless.

#25

Listen to me buddy…I am going to tell you this straight. I took the drug for 9 years and I was feeling PERFECTLY fine, days after i STOPPED taking the drug everything crashed. DO NOT TAKE THIS DRUG FOR HAIRLOSS. This drug was meant to take for a long time to preserve hair loss…just wait until people STOP taking the drug…it will be an epidemic.

#26

Do.

Not.

Take.

Propecia.

Ever.

Under ANY circumstances.

If you want further proof, click on this link:

google.com/imgres?num=10&hl= … x=69&ty=89

That’s Mr. Kenneth C. Frazier, CEO of Merck.

Does it look to you like HE takes Propecia?

Of course not. He knows better. He knows the severe damage it can do.

The only thing he ever took is money from millions of men the world over who were stupid enough to believe that he is the head of a health care company.

When in fact he is the reincarnation of Dr. Josef Mengele.

#27

agreed!

kenneth frazier should be sentenced to life in prison, along with all of his minions!

who knows, it could happen :smiling_imp:

DOWN GOES FRAZIER, DOWN GOES FRAZIER !!!

:imp: :imp: :imp: :imp: :imp:

#28

Hey, if anyone can help me with a question I have not got a clear response to, it would be much appreciated!

My question is that if everyone got blood, hormone, semen analysis before using fin, what exactly would that do? Would it give Doc’s a better understanding of PFS? What would be the point of getting these tests done prior. I hear a lot of people who use it saying you should, but I am not so clear as to why.

Thanks

#29

So that you’ll have a baseline and know what your levels were before using Finasteride, should things go wrong while on or after stopping and your hormones get all screwed up. Having a baseline to compare against could provide treatment ideas based on your previously normal/healthy hormone values.

That said, if you are still considering using the drug, please post on hair loss sites.

#30

OK thank you very much my friend.

#31

dan26, as Mew pointed out it would only give you a baseline so that you can compare before, during, and after finasteride use. There are no tests or studies which indicate who is more inclined to be effecting by these side effects. The issue of persistent side effects is growing and growing and gaining more media attention. What does that mean? It means, more and more men like myself who ONLY have side effects upon discontinuation of the drug (I took it 9 years) are comming foward and looking for answers. If you lived one day in any of our lives post-finasteride use, you probably would never ever ever ever ever even mention the word finasteride or propecia again.

#32

Literally you are gambling with your life. Hope you arent as hard headed as i was. There are much worse things that can happen to you than going bald. If you get stuck with PFS youll just learn that the hard way.

#33

Why taking propecia? I have a simpler solution for you.

Just cut your balls off. 100% success in stopping hairloss, promise.

#34

I’m just concerned that you’re maybe still considering it despite your initial post being at the end of July. You really have been given a get out of jail free card here i.e. someone who is aware of what could happen whilst still not having touched the drug. Everyone on here would love to be in your position. Please don’t throw this lifeline away. As others have said, even if you don’t experience side effects whilst on the drug, a lot of people on here didn’t experience much whilst on the drug, only to experience major sides once off it. You really don’t know how it could mess with you, and even if there are no obvious sides whilst on propecia, that doesn’t automatically mean that you haven’t been compromised. And as you should know from this site, there isn’t a quick fix.

#35

Not true after puberty. Before it, sure, but then there wouldn’t be any reason to even consider Propecia anyway as the hair wouldn’t be lost.

#36

Hey guys, I know I am not really one of you, but I just wanted to share a few quick things.

I’ve been losing my hair for about a year, probably longer I just didn’t realize it. When it started getting noticeable to me I hit all the forums and tried to learn as much as I can before making a move. I’ve been researching a lot over the past 4-5 months and STILL haven’t done a thing to stop my hair loss, until now. I came to the conclusion that taking this stuff just isn’t a good idea, especially for someone my age (20). I was all ready to take it, had blood/hormone/sperm tests set up, was planning on a very low dose, but I couldn’t pull the trigger! I think a little bit of DHT reduction is actually healthy in terms of prostate health and longevity, but I feel anyone who is ‘happy’ or ‘content’ with the decision to be on such a drug is either delusional or does not understand the human body. I think the ONLY way I could ever bring myself to take this is if 1) it was my absolute only option and 2) I had FULL comprehensive blood/hormone/sperm tests before (baselines) as well as periodically while on the treatment. My doc was clueless and I had to argue with him for half an hour to even get some of the tests I did, which were not enough. I put it off long enough to the point where I finally discovered other more safer ways I can attempt to treat my hair loss, and if they are unsuccessful, move on. In closing, I just want to thank Mew who was kind enough to answer my questions and give me the means to educate and empower myself on this medication and my own personal health. Also anyone else who put a thoughtful response on this thread I appreciate it. You contributed to stopping me from taking this, and who knows what would have happened if I ended up on it. I been on all sorts of hair loss forums, spoke to a few different docs, and I’m sorry to say but they really don’t take your condition seriously and are very dismissive about it. They think it is all ‘fear mongering’ and attempts to get class action lawsuit’s. I admire the fact you are trying to push this message and it is very important your voice is heard. I sincerely wish all of you the best in fighting this affliction! STAY STRONG!

  • Dan