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Where are you from (country)?
UK -
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 -
What is your current age, height, weight?
35, 5’9", 150lbs -
Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
Yes, weight training, running, sport since late teens -
What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
Healthy, higher protein -
Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
Hair loss -
For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
7years -
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
27, August 2005 -
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
34, July 2012 -
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold turkey -
What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Propecia -
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1mg/day -
How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
None during use, except for reduced / watery ejeculate -
What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
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
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] 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?
None -
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)?
Only basic thyroid function (normal) and total testosterone (31 nmol/L) -
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
See story below -
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Had an episode of ED 6 months ago whilst on propecia but it was almost certainly anxiety related as it was a new partner and someone I’d been friends with a long time (no ther issues). Still, it triggered me to quit the drug as I’d been thinking about it for a while.
Over the last 6 months my performance anxiety has grown and I’m at the point now where I have very low sex drive and struggle getting /maintaining an erection during foreplay and sex.
For the first 3-4months after quitting it was just an ED problem where I’d get aroused, get a full erection but lose it (most but not all the time). I was very conscious / worried during sex so I put this completely down to psychological factors.
Over the last month or so (4-5 months post quitting) I’ve noticed a real loss in sex drive. I’ve met a new partner during this time and find it very difficult to get aroused even though I fancy the pants off her. Again, I don’t know whether this is a mental thing because anything that reminds me of sex just turns my stomach.
I want to rule out physical / hormonal causes and coud really do with some advice where to start. I get morning erections literally every day and can masturbate/ejaculate (don’t feel the urge much now though). No symptoms other than the sex drive /ED. I respond very well to Viagra but noticed the last few times it’s been very difficult to climax (again i’m fine during masturbation and don’t need Viagra for that). On,y other thing I’ve noticed is an increase in body hair since stopping - I have very little body hair so it’s easy to notice.
I’ve had the standard tests done by a general doctor. My testosterone was 31nmol/L and this was taken at around 10.30am. Apparently this is quite healthy?
I’m happy to pay privately for tests and old do with some advice and the most important ones considering my symptoms.
Also, any advice from UK members with where to go (endocrinologist and/or testing lab) would be very helpful.
Probably trying to make myself feel better, but is it the case that most people who suffer side effects after stopping (none during) experience them quite soon after quitting? Seems out of character that my libido was fine for a good 3-4 months after stopping and maybe points to increasing anxiety over sex?