I took Propecia for 3 days, experienced Sexual Side effects & have a question...

General Discussion
#1

I had read there was a chance of sexual side effects before taking it, but my doctor and dermatologist assured me there was such a small percentage of men that experienced the side effects, they had never seen it happen first hand, and that I should not worry about it. I am 24 and have never had any sexual trouble before.

I took Propecia once a day as prescribed for hair loss, and felt pretty much normal for the first two days. I made a point to stay sexually active each day to sort of test myself. The third day I could not get an erection at all and it was the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I was even able to ejaculate after a long time of trying, without achieving any erection at all, which I have read is possible, but obviously not natural for a healthy 24 year old. My penis felt detached from my body, and numb. I felt sensitive in my nipple area, and a strange sensation like I had actual breasts, but I could not see any physical difference. I also felt a burning feeling in the center of my chest.

I stopped taking it right away, and went to the doctor office, even though I was sure the tablets must have already absorbed completely in to my bloodstream, that there would be nothing they could do. I was just hoping they would reassure me somehow. The doctor wrote the sexual side effects off as anxiety, and said the burning feeling was the pill’s coating stuck in my esophagus. They told me I had not been on the pills long enough for any side effects. So I left with a dirty, just been mugged feeling.

The feeling in my chest went away after about 2 days off the pills. The erectile problems slowly started improving, but wasn’t back to normal until about 7 days off the pills. That is over twice as long as I actually took them.

It has been about 4 months since I took the pills, and I have no problems now. I feel completely normal sexually and otherwise.

MY QUESTIONS TO EVERYONE HERE… is there anyone here that took the pills only a few days like me, and feels that they have permanent side effects. Or has anyone here stopped taking the pills, and felt like they went back to normal, then several months or years later felt like the side effects came back?

Should I just relax and assume that I am in the clear, and will not suffer anymore at the hands of this terrible drug/pharmacutical company?

Thanks, and I wish you all the best.

#2

If it’s been 4 months off the drug and you have no issues to speak of, I wouldn’t worry about things and just enjoy your life.

#3

Actually I am going to post my story to the “members story” section today. But if it is to say briefly I have been suffering sexual side effects nearly for three years which I took only 9 pills. And I’ve noticed these side effects in the second day. So everyone is different and I have no idea why I am effected so quickly.
It’s been very hard to find someone believe my case. Especially doctors. I am 33 years old now and smart enough to judge what happens a bit. I am no kid and no purpose to lie or trick anybody with such a miserable situation.
In my case after cessation of the medication it had taken 3 months to recover. But 3 months later the symptoms returned. And continued in a worsening fluctuated state till today.
In my opinion fin sufferers should wait for at least 6 months before declaration of their recovery because symptoms likely to be recurring.

If you haven’t experienced any side effects since that time, I think you have enough privileges to state that you’ve recovered.