Hormonal imbalance( new member)

Member Stories Lab Tests
#1

New member here and wanted to share my story.
Been taking finasteride for 6-7 yrs now with now major side effects( that i noticed) . Last year diagnosed with hashimotos thyroiditis, while trying to get treatment, took adrenal tests( showing fatigue) then got full panel done of sexual hormones:
Total test was low 317 (250-1000)
DHT was below normal 13 (25-75) while still on Propecia
estadiol Ultra sens. 23 ( less than or = to 29)

I’ve been getting gyno over the last few months, also have had brain fog, fatigue, low libido and other symptoms. I attributed this to the thyroid disorder.
After seeing these #'s I then thought of the finasteride possibly causing a hormonal imbalance. I’m coming off fin and going to retest in a few weeks.
couple questions:
1-Do fin users usually have a drop in test POST- fin , where as mine would drop even lower?. :open_mouth:
2-How long to wait to have to tetest?
3-Also, i’ve cut down to every other day fin and even gone several days at times without, is it better to wean off or stop cold turkey and why?

Thanks so much in advance—Rob

#2

Did you read the FAQ at the top of this forum? Many of your answers may lie there.

We suggest weening off slowly over the coming weeks/month or two… if you are destined to recover you shouldn’t have any issues with your T levels crashing after fin. But for some guys they do and side effects persist. Suggest getting tested 3 weeks-month after coming off Fin to see whats going on, and then a month after that.

Good to see that your blood test results thus far have been taken ON Finasteride, if that is indeed the cause of your low T, that is some pretty compelling proof… especially if it goes back up after quitting.

Keep us updated.

#3

I would spend maybe a good two-three months tapering off (after 6-7 years). It can take months for a body to repair and adjust. Many of us were just like hit with a train wreck after stopping cold turkey.

But anyway, try not to worry too much, just eat very healthy, stay active, walk a lot, hopefully you will be fine.

If symptoms aren’t bad after stopping, and because of the cost of comprehensive blood work, I would wait a good month or two to get bloods after stopping, then do another round after like 3-4 months. But Mew may have other reasons.

Good luck anyway!

#4

i took propecia as long as u did with no side effects for the first 5-6 years. than gradually out of nowhere i started having ED issues (low libido followed but it was more inability to perform on demand).

I had T checked prior to quitting and it was 276 (rr 260-1000). after quitting and retesting one month later it was 484 (rr 240-847)…so it was promising that T was growing. 1 year later it still hovers around the same level. just fyi is all.

i don’t think weening off makes much a difference. if propecia is in fact causing ur issues than quitting immediately makes sense. my Dr recommended to stop after other blood tests showed no reason for my T to be low and so concluded it was probably the propecia.

good luck in whatever u choose.

#5

If propecia can fuck up your prostate, like it did mine, in three weeks time, its gotta be doing something strong. It manipulates the size of your organ so quickly. If your prostate has been receiving a steady influx of Propecia for a good 6-7 years, I wouldn’t just shock your system and the organ by stopping cold turkey! Definately not! You could send it into shock! See I think I took it for three weeks, it started to shrink a little, I stpped and it shocked and enlarged a little. Now I have the urinary signs, and I think they are signs of BPH.
But I think they will go away.

#6

Rockin… this is great that you have some actual proof that your T levels declined while ON the drug. This kind of evidence, plus your doctor’s own conclusions, would be of great help should this thing ever get to a class action stage.

Just something to keep in mind…

#7

Mew, are you contacting the lawyer as well? I haven’t called the onw josh has found yet, you??

#8

Mew

I’ve always had my blood work posted (in my posts on yahoo) referencing my T levels increasing after quitting propecia. however the jump is very minimal as i’m still on the low normal side of the range. the most important piece of info is T levels prior to starting propecia…which I don’t have.

As for proof that propecia lowered my T…well, it’s not spelled out in the side effects of the med but prior to starting I did know (as we all did) that propecia will alter your hormones that may lead to sexual side effects.

#9

Boston

Regarding your prostate being all messed up. Can you post your PSA scores suggesting this. Also, did you have a Urologist (or other licensed medical professional) confirm you have a prostate condition?

I think getting BPH diagnosed is not subjective and Dr should be able to confirm it.

Just a thought

Jack

#10

My blood tests are from 2+ months agao at 3 weeks off. I didn’t have as many urinary symptoms and I just checked, my PSA was 0.4 (0-4) range. Also, WBC’s were low.

But I am still convinced. Its like whenever I am having the discomfort, I am having penis problems. Urinary symptoms get back at times. I feel it is definately related. I think if my prostate settles down I will be fine. But there is till some kind of spastic thing going on. It just acts up.
This may sound kind of weird, but I almost feel like if I could just sleep, long long and hard, I would recover easier. Because things are much better when I take it easy and am well rested, Stay chill.

But I will ask my doctor (urologist) all about this when I see him, you are right.
I just hope they have a better way of taking care of an injured prostate other than fin…!