I’m a swiss guy and I live in Zurich in Switzerland.
On the 11th of September/2013, I read a Swiss newspaper article taking about the high risks of depressions, suicidal thoughts and sexual disorders when being treated with finasterid (Propecia). So I found out then quite quickly on Internet that this forum does exist.
I’m 50, male, caucasian, 1,79 meter tall, 75 kilogramms.
I don’t do any special sport activities every week… but I like trecking in the Swiss mountains.
I’m a meat eater who also likes vegetables and fruits very much.
I took Finasteride (first Proscar from 1994 to 1999 then Propecia) for hair loss purposes.
Yes, believe it or not… but I took finasterid for 19 years! Without any interruptions. Day after day, months after months, years after years, decades after decades…
I was 31 when I begun to take finasterid in 1994.
I just quit a few weeks ago… with 50 on the 13th of September/2013.
I stopped my treatment from one day to the other (does it mean like a cold turkey?)
I first used from 1994 to 1999 proscar, then from 1999 propecia and since 2-3 years I eat a propecia generic.
I don’t remember what dosis I took with proscar… but with finasterid I first (from 1999 to 2004?) took 1mg per day… and then only 1mg every two days… I wanted to save some money… Was maybe not a bed idea?
From 1994 I have severe depressions and sexual disorders.
I have the feeling that my sexual disorders are getting slowly but surely better since I stopped the treatment (13th of September/2013).
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[X] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive - This problem is getting better since interruption
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[X] Loss of Morning Erections
[X] Loss of Spontaneous Erections - This problem is getting better since interruption
[X] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[X] Reduced Ejaculate - This problem is getting better since interruption
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[X] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[X] Confusion
[X] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[X] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[X] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[X] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks - This problem is getting better since interruption
[X] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[X] Suicidal Thoughts - This problem is getting better since interruption
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[X] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[X] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[X] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[X] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion - This problem is getting better since interruption
[X] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[X] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
As I have just stopped the treatment a few weeks ago, I haven’t undertaken at present any treatment to try to recover from my side effects. But I took contact with a Belgian Doctor recommended by the PFS Foundation. I want to have an apointment for further medical advices as soon as possible.
Since 19 years I have lost my sexual desires and was not able to have sex with anyone.
Since 19 years, I have faced severe depressions symptoms with suicidal thoughts. I have got at least 5 different psychiatrists during this long period and none of them could understand why I was having - years after years - rebounding periods of severe depressions. As I was economicaly and socialy well integrated.
Since the end of 1994, I’m declared 100% invalid thrugh the Swiss social security system.
And yes, America we do have in Europe good health and social systems which are looking for people like me who couldn’t work anymore! What a shame that (so?) many Americans can still be against the Obamacare laws!!!
My present psychiatrist - who is specialized in gerontopsychiatry - didn’t know that I was taking finasterid… as I was used to take it for such a long time… thinking that this was nothing else than a little medication without side effects…
Last week, I told my psychiatrist that I was feeling better (I mean I can now have an orgasmus within 10 minutes or I didn’t have any suicidal thoughts since weeks…) but I got the feeling that because of finasterid, I maybe lost my career and became an invalid person…
When you were used to live with depressions and suicidal thoughts since years… it’s quite difficult to notice after only a few weeks what really changed (or not) since stopping thre treatment.