Is this a "crash"?

General Discussion
#1

I think I may have experienced what you guys call a “crash”, but my experience is a little bit different. I took generic fin for only two weeks in August of 2015. I stopped because of sides. I took the drug again for two days in early October 2015 just to test it again. Both times I took the drug I got brain fog, frequent urination and ED so I stopped taking it. Side effects went away immediately except I permanently had watery semen.

I didn’t touch the drug again for 5 whole months and felt completely fine (except for the watery semen). I rarely even thought about the drug. I was done with it. I partied every weekend and ate unhealthy like I normally do.

Then, in late March, after going a night of drinking, I noticed the following…
-extreme fatigue
-severe depression and moderate anxiety (I normally don’t get anxiety EVER)
-nightmares almost every night
-low libido
-feeling very cold
-frequent urination
-and worst of all… brain fog. I don’t feel forgetful or stupid but I just have very cloudy thoughts and slightly blurry vision.

Is it possible for someone to crash after 5 months? I have been exercising and eating healthy lately and the symptoms are improving but are still there. I saw my doctor and he seems to think I have depression (I agree with him but I think there’s something else going on here!). I had a blood test done but haven’t got the results yet.

Can anyone give me advice? Please refrain from negative comments because honestly I am terrified right now… Since I’m early in the “crash” stage I’m optimistic that I can recover, but I need help and advice. Anything will help. Thanks in advance.

#2

Frequent urination is always a sign that your body is trying to get rid of something. Would be a good thing to examine your gut. Did you drink beer? That contains a lot of carbs and it triggered that’s what in your gut.

#3

Do you have any other cause that can explain that supposed depression? Is anybody in your family diagnosed with any psychiatric or mental disease?

I just ask this with the aim of helping and understanding you better. Anyway it is too soon to panic and it is partly up to you the way this can develop. So I wouldn’t be pessimistic and just think it is a bad moment not or little related to finasteride for the moment, (nothing is black or white, maybe finasteride made you just more vulnerable to alcohol or others, anyway you can improve anything with time) don’t read other stories and try to live the healthiest you can. Even if you have something related to this forum or you have nothing or others it is going to be good for you. Be pragmatic.

My personal recommendations: Sleep as much as you can, quit stress by quitting things which are stressful for you for a time (even quit from work or studies if you can, holidays, decrease its intensity…), -in my opinion those last two tips are the most important- eat fruits and vegetables, drink just water and at good amounts, try not to eat things you identify exacerbate the brainfog or just make you feel bad like fats, meat, gluten, lactose… I would take small amounts of foods but frequently along the day. Don’t take medicines, drugs, tabaco nor alcohol. Quit doing hard physical exercise and start walking and or swimming. Do things are easy to follow and enjoy with friends or family like going cinema, watching some sports, etc. Be entertained and run from exhaustion and stress. I wouldn’t take any medication, supplements, any therapy right now because that conditionate you. You don’t know yet if this is going to be persistent. Take it easy, make it be easy.

Personally, though I can be wrong, I think you are going to be okey soon (months in the worst case) and it is up to you your evolution. I took finasteride for 2 years at a very young age experimenting severe sides while on it and worse ones afterquitting and I am very good right now. Only after 23 months and I am good months ago. So you have to think you are going to be ok much much quicker than me.

Keep in touch, but I wouldn’t recommend you get involved in this for now because you are going to read things people said in their worst times, people with different cases from yours, you are going to read scientific facts or theorys you are going not to understand fully and you are going to be worry unnecessary for now and making all worse. Just try to relax and be healthy physically and mentally above all.

#4

mate if it was all of a sudden, then its prob pfs. i have crashed (i only recently understood it was a crash) 8months after

get tested for infections
clean your diet
sun
exercise

#5

UPDATE: It’s been 4 months since my crash. All my symptoms are pretty much gone except for ED and brain fog. I can live with the ED because it’s not too bad. However, the brain fog is really frustrating and it’s not going away.

Does anybody know anything that can help with brain fog? Please… I’m desperate

I’ve tried maca, coconut oil, niacin, zinc etc. and nothing seems to work well enough :frowning: