Crashed yesterday

Member Stories
#1

  1. Where are you from (country)? Sweden

  2. 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

  3. What is your current age, height, weight? 37/182/104

  4. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? swimming, badminton

  5. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? meat eater

  6. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? hair loss, burning / itching scalp

  7. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? 11,5 years

  8. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 26, March 2002

  9. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? September 2013

  10. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? cold turkey

  11. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? generic

  12. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1,25 mg appr. twice a week

  13. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? 3 months

  14. 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
[x ] Loss of Morning Erections
[x ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x ] 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
[x ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[x ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[x ] 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
[x ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[x ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[x ] Other (please explain)
Insomnia

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?

Drinking green tea

  1. 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)?

  2. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?

  3. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

Hi all,

I stopped using Finasteride in beginning of September, and crashed at 4am yesterday Monday. Had sex the previous day, which might have triggered it. At the beginnig of the crash I felt very energetic and could not sleep any more. After work I went jogging, and noticed that I can run as long as I want to without getting tired at all. I actually felt that i have to run, so I ran maybe 30 km yesterday evening.

Later yesterday evening the same anxiety over training continued, and I lifted weights compulsively. Could only sleep for 2 hours last night.

My penis and testicles are definately reacting. Blood circulation in the penis is bad and I have to warm my penis with my hand every now and then. Anxiety has become milder but I still feel hot (except the at tip of the penis). Penis seems more wrinkled and smaller and testicles are closer to the body. I think I also have gained fat in the pelvic area around the penis.

I am very worried about the situation and curse myself for taking the drug for so long. Went to the laboratory today to take a blood sample, and will see 2 doctors (first one described me the drug, the other is a sexual specialist) within next 2 weeks.

One option is to start Finasteride again. Does anybody know if this could still be reversed if I started again? How likely it is to recover after a crash like this? Any help would be appreciated.

#2

Update:

I took 2 pills of natural product that contains L-arginine, Maca and Tribulus Terrestium yesterday. This morning (1,5 days) from the crash I woke up with a normal size penis and testicles had lowered. Now 3 hours later, testicles are up again and I have got a burning feeling in my penis (same feeling when it shrunk the last time). Took one pill of the same product just recently.

Slept for 11 hours last night (probably normal since only slept 2 hours the 2 previous nights). I still have no libido.

#3

UPDATE:

I am feeling relatively normal now, but I am afraid of crashing again. Have a little restless feeling. Yesterdays crash was probably because I ate red meat at the lunch. I currently only drink water and eat very little fruit.

Last night I had pretty serious muscle spasms. Managed to sleep anyway, probably since I took a sleeping pill. My penis and testicles were normal during the night and I even had an erection at some point.

Lab results had arrrived (went to the lab on Tuesday):

  • LH is low (0.89, normally >2.5)
  • free testosterone very low (91 pmol/l, normally >250) a
  • DHEAS relavively high (11, normally <12). T

he doctor said that I suffer hypopituitarism and need treatment. However it is not urgent. I will see the doctor Thursday next week.

#4

Do you still have any prostate pain?

If its flares up again, try the brocolli treatment :
chronicprostatitis.com/broccoli.html

Here are the instructions:
Minimum 250 grams (approx. 9oz) broccoli should be boiled on low heat (closing the lid) in 1 liter (4.5 cups) water for 5 minutes. Half of the juice of the broccoli should be taken in the mornings (empty stomach) and the other half evenings (empty stomach). Use it all up each day and start fresh the next day. After consumption, do not eat or drink anything (except water) for 20 minutes. It is also very advantageous to eat the boiled Broccoli for lunch. Follow this regimen every day for one week. There is a 3 day break at the end of every 7th day. The regimen should be followed for 21 days in total, not counting the breaks

#5

Update again:

I have been ok for almost a day now. Erections have come back, and they are stronger than ever during taking finasteride. I am still afraid of eating red meat.

I went to the doctor who prescribed me the drug to get a second opinion, and he did not believe my problems were because of finasteride. However after he saw my lab results, he admitted something was wrong. He thanked me of visiting, and did not charge anything.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the following symptoms, which i have developed gradually over the years, are because of finasteride:

  • frequent urination
  • less urine pressure
  • dribbly penis
  • prostate pain
  • fat accumulation in thighs/buttocks/love handles
  • insomnia, irregular sleep
  • tiredness
  • depression
  • irregular heart rate
  • lowered sexuality
  • softer erections
  • watered ejaculations
  • gynecomastia
  • wrinkly skin in my face
  • worse color sight
  • weakening and ruptures of achilles tendons
  • lowered ambition

If I do not post again, it means I am completely healed. Currently I feel better than I have in years.

Thanks a lot for creating this site!

#6

Not anymore, but thanks for the recipe! I feel very lucky at the moment.

#7

Hi again,

Its been over a week since my last crash, and I am not afraid of crashing no more.

However some problems persist. I have heart palpitations and occasional heart pain/discomfort, as well as sleep problems. I can only sleep 3-4 hours at a time. My resting pulse has however normalized to 47-50 bpm, when it was around 60 for a few months after quitting. I also sometimes feel coldness in my hands and fingers and have to warm them.

I will write again if these symptoms do not heal soon.

#8

Hi,

I think my I still have hormonal imbalance. My hands are cold every now and then (right hand usually colder) and they sometimes tingle. I occasionally get the numb feeling in my nose and forehead (which was common during the crash) for a few minutes. I also sometimes feel anxious and just went to excercise for half an hour (which helped warm my hands).

Sleep seems to get better, last night I slept 5 and half hours, stayed up 1 and then slept 3 more.

#9

I am beginning to think that my body has some adrenalin / thyroid problems. I just woke up after 5 and half hours of sleep (first 3,5 hours good, then 2 hours of light) and felt really energetic. I had some muscle twitches and did some exercise. Since the crash I have had dark areas under my eyes (probably due to lack of proper sleep). Ill try to sleep a little more after writing this message.

#10

I think I am crashing again. My testicles are numb and close to the body. Penis is shrunk and wrinkly. I can do squats without getting tired. However the bloodflow to the penis is better and I can even get it erect.

I will not eat anything today, and see how this passes.

#11

I think my 3rd crash is gradually getting better. It was not as severe as the earlier crashes, and I did not feel a strong urge to exercise. Genitals only contracted for a couple of hours. I think the crash was caused because I ate a lot of tuna sushi for lunch the previous day. I will try to control my eating more carefully in the future, only small doses at a time.

I still have some anxiety, elevated heart rate, increased body temperature, muscle twitching as well as trouble getting to sleep. I am hopeful these will pass as they did during the end of earlier crashes.

#12

Did you crash and got better, then crashed again and got better 3 times?

When you feel better just keep a steady schedule and continue with everything in a rhytm. Sleep in regular patterns and dont sleep too little.
I wish you the best luck, lycka till!

#13

I crashed 3 times, libido did not recover between the 1st and 2nd crash, but it did between the 2nd and 3rd. Libido did not disappear during the 3rd crash, although other symptoms of previous crashes returned. I have felt quite good, although tired, after the 3rd crash.

#14

Forgot to thank you!

Some additional information: Since stopping finasteride, I have grown hair in my upper arms and back. Weight has dropped 7-8 kg, although I have gained muscle especially in my thighs due to the hard training during crashes. I also think my skin is getting greasier (and possibly also thicker), there are more pimples than usually. Hopefully these are signs to recovery. Hair on my head has not started falling out yet, but if it does, I do not care.

I currently follow a low calorie gluten-free vegan diet, it seems to help balancing the hormones.

#15

I am having a difficult night. I slept 3 hours, then stayed up 2 unable to sleep, after that I’ve managed to sleep two 30 minute periods, and now I am having body convulsions and powerful muscle twitches in my hands and legs. They are so bad I even have some trouble hitting the right keys on my keyboard. I made a mistake of having sex during the 2 sleepless hours, thought it might help me to get tired. I also ate a lot of pineapple, should have probably eaten something with less calories.

#16

I am crashing again. Felt good in the morning and genitals were normal after a total of 6 hours of sleep. Around midday I got an urge to take a walk, and now my genitals are again shrinking and testicles are up and numb. I can exercise again as much as I want without getting tired. I have only ate one banana the whole day and drunk mostly water and a little green tea. I am afraid Finasteride has messed up my body permanently.

#17

I am having a severe crash, genital contraction is even worse than during the first and second crashes. Testicles are really close to the body, and the whole penis is cold.

If I recover from this, I will not eat any more fast carbohydrates. I think the tuna sushi and pineapple caused this. I will also limit having sex much more than I did.

I’ve tried to exercise, it seems to help to lower testicles.

#18

I dont know if the crashes you are refering to is the standard. With that said I mean that you seem to have good hours and bad hours. That is what im experiencing. Sometimes I feel extremly depressed, brain fogged, and other times they all seem to just disappear.

#19

I have not noticed a constant brain fog. Maybe some depression and slurring of words, but they have been temporary.

My severe crash seems to have passed. My think it was triggered by:

  1. eating too much in general or eating too mush carbohydrates
  2. and having sex too often.

I fought the crash by furious exercise, drinking a lot of water, and not eating anything, and my theory is that exercise and fasting helped burn carbohydrates in the body, and after the carbohydrates were burned, the crash stopped.

At the moment I feel fine again. Genitals have normalized (I have slight discomfort in the left testicle though) and libido is working.

#20

Ok I dont dare to say what is right and what is not. I have also experienced similar symptoms regarding them going on and off.
I could have 6 hours of heavy brain fog and 6 hour of very improved mind the same day.

I am very new to these stuff. Since my “crash” just 4-5 days ago I am planning to fast, because when im hungry I feel alot better.

I found out that the following helps me:

garlic, onion and beetroot
Sun exposure
Exercise/walks
Cut out anything that stresses you, in my case studies, computer games.
calm music

I read somewhere that men who masturbate or have sex experience a crash.
You know yourself better and I have no comment on the tuna, sushi and pineapple. In my point of view fish and fruit should be good overall.
Avoid any stimulants, alcohol, refined sugar, milkchocolate or anything similar, fast carbs like you said.