Just a few questions from a Ponderer

General Discussion
#1

OK first of all Im in my mid twenties, I have had hairloss but very slow hairloss since I was mid teens, Im a NW2/3, not particually sure which one but I started taking Propecia 5 months ago.

I decided the other day I shouldnt take it anymore, why your probably not wondering-its because Im worried about the potential side effects I may gain through taking this pill for the next 30+ years of my life, I mean it isnt natural to take something every so often but everyday, I just thought it would F*CK me up if I continue with it.

But what are the actual proven side effects? There are alot of ones listed on this forum but Im not too sure whether its just hearsay, paranoia, hyperchondriacs(sp?) or actual truth.

The things Ive noticed are that I have slightly swollen nipples and Ive been very lethargic lately oh and Im horny as hell 24/7, but that could just be random time of the year

#2

There aren’t any Company studies of “Proven” side effects, especially the ones we mention here.

There has not been any studies done by the company as they claim side effects affect 2% of the users.
That is what the “Claim”

After reading others stories and
directly linking my symptoms to the drug - decided to tamper off of it.

It was a tough decision for the drug is working wonders on my head but for me personally the risks outweigh the rewards.

These are hormones we are dealing with…

Its your choice and you might have no problems in 1 year you just never know.

#3

Those that are listed by the drug manufacturer, and in all the studies on this site. Then there are those that have yet to be published in any study, but have been corroborated by many people suffering here and on numerous other websites, myself included.

If you choose not to believe these side effects can occur, that’s fine and hopefully you will never experience them. But I and many others can assure you they do exist, as can a number of doctors that many ex-Fin users have been seeing to treat them.

Really, it’s not like I want to be here, researching the effects of this drug. If I had recovered after I took it, I wouldn’t be here and spending countless hours trying to figure out how to get better. But the fact this forum exists at all should tell you something, that this drug can have a profound negative effect on some men, and that not everything is as Merck claims it to be.

I most certainly not a liar, nor a hypochondriac, nor a paranoist fear-monger. I am simply a guy, like you, that took this drug for hairloss at age 25 for 11 months, got side effects which didn’t resolve after I quit, had my Testosterone levels crash after I quit and am trying to recover my sexual function. I and many others also have the bloodwork that consistently shows similar patterns after the use of this drug for those that did not recover: low T, low LH, low FSH, often high E2 and SHBG.

If you are getting swollen nipples you are likely getting increased Estrogen levels from the Fin’s upregulation of Testosterone, and lack of DHT (which keeps Estrogens in check). You should get blood tests as outlined on this website to see what is going on with your hormones, you may need to get your Estradiol under control or you may end up with gynocemastia.

The fact you are horny is a good thing, hopefully if you quit you won’t lose your sex drive like some of us, since we are in the small minority.

I advise you to read through thise site more thoroughly as many of your questions will have likely been answered already. We are not here to try and “prove” to people wether these side effects exist or not – we know they do, because they affected us and never resolved after we quit. So arguing about it is a moot point, for those who choose not to believe our stories. But I am telling you, for those unfortunate enough to get these problems, this is 100% real.

Best of luck in your decision to quit the drug.

#4

Cheers guys for your responses

I think this single simple sentence can sum it all up for me

Why play around with your hormones when you have 40+ more years to deal with it.

Ive made my decision for sure, Im giving up the pills. I know Ill look good with a shaved head so I havent really got any issues apart from vanity and looking metrosexual(lol)

Good luck with beating the sides that youve all suffered, but I think Ill learn from other peoples experiences and not put my body through an unnecessary habit/trial.

p.s. I think the sides are probably alot higher for extended users(1year+) and probably alot higher than the 5%. This drug is only about 10 years old(am I right?) so sides arent fully know for when youve used the drugs for a long long time and the results arent really wonderful.