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How did you find this forum? I was searching around google about OTHER medication side effects and I stumbled upon this website spontaneously.
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What is your current age, height, weight? 26, 6’0" (and shrinking), 185lbs.
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? Yes, almost every day. I work out large muscle groups 4x a week, plus I skateboard, mtb and train for MMA.
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? Bodybuilders diet, very healthy. Lots of protein, meat, fruits, vegetables. I supplement vitamins, omega 3s, and protein.
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Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? Hair loss only.
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For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? A few months.
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How old were you when you started Finasteride? 23
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How old were you when you quit? 24
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How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? I was taking 1/4 pills for a while
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What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? Propecia
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg for a while, then switched to 0.5mg (pill cut in half to save money and possibly stop side effects), then 0.25mg at the very end.
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? I noticed sexual problems 2 days later, but I hoped they would dissipate. Things got a little better, but then other side effects kicked in.
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation? Everything below
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
[ X] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ X] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ X] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ X] 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
[ X] 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
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ X] Muscle Wastage
[ X] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ X] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ X] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ X] Frequent urination
[ X] 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?
After getting side effects, I made some life changes to become more healthy to try to overcome them, and it is what I am currently still doing. I used to be very unhealthy. I am putting in all this work to TRY and reach my previous state before I was taking this drug. -
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)?
I have only got my T levels checked. Seems like damn near every hormone in my body has been effected, and everything is slightly off. I just feel like an old man, despite my diet, exercise and overall healthy lifestyle. -
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
I have been through so much pain over the past 2 years. I never thought in a million years these other health issues I have could be related to fin. When I think back, my problems slowly starting coming after taking fin. First it was the sexual problems, then the mental problems, then the physical problems. Now that I am coming to this realization, it is very overwhelming. I have been on countless other medications to correct my “unrelated” issues, with no success. -
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
I went to the dermo when I was 23 because my hair was shedding and my hair line was starting to recede. She prescribed me propecia and I started the next day. 2 days later was my first failed attempt at getting an erection. I stayed persistent, because I heard the side effects would fade. About a month later, I developed an anxiety and mood disorder. I was getting horrible panic attacks, I was constantly convinced I was dying, with horrible mood swings and also insomnia. I was constantly seeing different doctors, getting different advice and diagnoses. After a year, I decided I was unhappy with my sex life (and life in general for that matter), and I tried taking 0.5mg instead. I felt a slight bump in libido and thought I was fine. Now that it has been over 2 years, I can say that everything is worse. I was in denial too, because my hair looks great. 99% of my hair grew back and its thick and healthy. But look at the checklist above, I have almost everything on the list. I have so many stories to tell, and I could ramble on for hours about all the details. I can only pray that I return to a normal state. Like I said before, I never thought all these other issues could be related. I look forward to discussing with you guys and I wish the best for you as well.