- Where are you from (country)?
Australia
- 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?)
Was informed by my Doctor that it might be good to take a break from propecia because I had constant chest issues and he said it could be causing it. i was surprised as I thought the only side effects were libido/erections. Came home, google search propecia side effects, came here and had the bejesus scared out of me. Stopped taking propecia.
- What is your current age, height, weight?
36, 178cms, 76kg
- Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
yes, jogging, boxing, some weights
- What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
Meat eater, pretty healthy
- Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
Hair Loss
- For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
3 years approx
- How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
33…haven’t really kept track
- How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
36, April 20 2009 (2 months ago)
- How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Mild taper off, one pill every two days for about 3 days then cold turkey
- What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Propecia
- What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1 pill a day
- How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
Can’t really place it
- What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Slight depression/anxiety
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ X] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] 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
[X ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ X] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[X ] Confusion
[X ] 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
[X ] Depression / Melancholy
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[X ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[X ] Weight Gain
[ ] 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
[ ] Other (please explain)
- What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
None
- 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)?
No tests
- Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
i didn’t think it was hurting me until I really started to think about stuff. I was wondering why I didn’t feel as cocky and sure of myself as I did a few years ago. Still not 100% it’s propecias fault but I am feeling better now.
- Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Scariest thing is I have battled a cough, depression, anxiety for a while. I thought it was just work and I guess it might have been.
Co-incidentally my work conditions changed about hte time I got off propecia so I guess I won’t know for a while.
Biggest thing I noticed when I stopped was the way my prostrate behaved. i developed a definite pain down there and urinating became not as easy and often. I was worried I had messed myself up for good but it’s fixed itself over the last week or two.
I find I get erections a lot easier now and in the morning more often.
Overall I just feel a lot better and am glad i’m not putting this stuff in my body and can’t believe i risked my health for hair.