Dude , stay away from this drug. I was on it for .25/.5 every other day for a month. had severe insomnia and mood swings for a few weeks. I think Im getting a bit better. Get better man!
He is honestly being a terrible doctor. The label includes these side effects for a reason. If doctors are going to brush off and deny the side effects when they are right there on the label that’s just wilful ignorance and denial of established fact that puts a patient in danger.
That said, you’ve only experienced this for a couple of days. Chances are very strong that all these side effects will go away soon. Obviously, don’t even touch hairloss drugs ever again.
Also,
I’m the last type of guy on Earth that can pull off the bald look.
This isn’t true. This is what you tell yourself. The thing about the bald look is that literally everyone can rock it. Perhaps with a slight change of wardrobe. I encourage you to rethink your perspective, because you’re only going to fall from one hurdle into the next. Saw P and Minoxidil are just as poisonous as Fin and Hair transplants and systems all have their own problems. It sucks right now but sometimes acceptance is the real cure.
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Just an update for everyone - I fully recovered after whatever it was I went through (persistent dizziness, lightheadedness, unable to concentrate), however it took WAY longer than I would have liked. A good 4-5 days. Definitely not the next morning. I am still curious though, and a bit fascinated by what happened to me. I have spoken to NUMEROUS doctors both in person and online, as well as a few well respected posters or online guys who told me it is extremely unusual and basically impossible that I had these types of side effects almost instantly when popping Finasteride.
A few of them told me it could have been psychosomatic due to my underlying fears of the drug, regardless of how much of an open mind I had about it going in. I just don’t know. All I do know is that I’m devastated I couldn’t just take this medication and go on with my life. Something went wrong, and I’m just curious as to what. Sure the side effects I experienced are all on the label, but is it REALLY well documented in a massive way that you can experience significant sides even after taking one pill?
I’ll admit I’m toying with the idea of at least trying brand (Propecia) one time before finally giving up on Finasteride altogther. Previously the one I was taking was generic. Thanks in advance.
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For the love of God do not take it again
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Nope. The things that happened to me and other posters are not all in our heads.
I would bet money on your experience being worse the second time around and likely longer lasting.
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So you think it’s really possible that within under an HOUR this pill gave me these sides?
I’d agree with @Greek on this one.
It’s human nature to do what you’re doing. Since you really want to keep your hair your brain try to trivialize all the (potential) side effects. This is well documented aka “it won’t happen to me”.
If you really want to try it again, no one here can stop you. But taking the same compound just with another name on the box isn’t going to up your chances at all, that’s for sure.
I’d strongly advice you against trying it again, you don’t want long lasting effects on your ability to think, get aroused or get an erection. I can say that much, and I’m not even half as bad as some other people on here.
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In all honesty, we need more serious cases to raise awareness.
Go with it, you’re gonna screw your life but you’ll definitely help our cause.
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I had sides within a few hours after one pill which lasted many months, some of which still linger. I’d reconsider going back on it if I were you.
Don’t do it man. What’s the point of preventing hairloss when you will wreck havoc on your body? Seriosly, these side effects are no joke. Brain fog, genital numbness, dry skin, tinnitus, gut issues, insomnia etc. It is not worth it, trust me.
You’ve been given a warning by your experience. Don’t ignore it. Think how much you’d kick yourself then if you went against what your body was telling you. It does look like you are looking to disprove what has happened to you. You have definitely come to the right place here as this is the ungarnished truth. Seeking out answers elsewhere will, as others have said here, only tell you what you want to hear. Guys on hairloss chatrooms and most doctors haven’t a clue. It’s like going to a mechanic for your feet.
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I understand. I know my body was telling me to forget it. It’s just very difficult when I have drastic hair loss and there really aren’t many other solutions. Not really into dropping $500 on PRP only for it not to work. Rip off.
I wonder, is there a bit more of an acceptable to topical finasteride here? Perhaps I may respond better to that? Thanks.
Topical can also induce PFS. Look into hair systems.
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Stay away from anything anti-androgenic. Finasteride, regardless of whether it’s oral or topical, is going to have an anti-androgenic effect. Stay away from Saw Palmetto, Dutasteride, etc also. As others have commented, you’ve been given a warning and you’re lucky with such a severe and fast reaction to come out of it ok. Others have taken small doses spaced years apart and the second or third attempts induce severe, completely life-altering consequences.
Believe me, when I was 22 and my hair loss got aggressive, I thought my hair was an important part of my “look” and that no woman would ever want me if I was bald. Especially so young.
But since my hair loss continued with PFS anyway, I had to shave my head, and I absolutely dreaded it. However, many people including women tell me that I look better bald.
Just shave your head, hit the weights, and own it. A confident bald man > an unconfident man with hair every day of the week.
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Mac,
I understand your desire to want to try a topical solution, as instinctively it feels like a safe option. But 5ar inhibitors are extremely potent in small doses and they’re absorbed through your skin.
Consider that pregnant women are warned not to even touch Finasteride pills with their hands, as it might cause birth defects.
Mac - If you want an alternative treatment, one safe option that I’m considering trying is topical caffeine. It might not work. But I’d much rather continue balding than to risk touching a 5ar inhibitor again.
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Have you tried a close crop at all? You could maybe buy a pair of clippers and go over your hair with them. You don’t have to go really short, but short enough that you can see what you look like. Although you may hate it at first, try giving it a non-judgemental month of just living with it and see how you feel. Hair grows back anyway so it’s a no-risk trial. Speaking personally I am so much happier clippering my hair rather than the whole nonsense of hair spraying the little hair I had in place, then being neurotic about the wind etc. I am a lot happier and look better like this. Maybe it’s because I’ve lost hair myself, but as a gay man hair loss is no impediment to finding a guy attractive. In many ways a close crop can make someone more attractive. A lot of it is what we carry in our heads about what we think we’ll look like and how we think we will be so much less attractive. That’s why trialling out a short cut may be an option as it allows you time to try and recalibrate that thinking. Even if you don’t like it, I am sure that safer options will be available in the future. Just keep your mind and body well for this life by staying away from finasteride and anything like it.
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@Mac1100 You’ve got to be kidding. A lot of people would trade a arm and a leg to feel normal again and you are really considering continue taking this poison?
@TFD It would definitely be helpful for our case.
I appreciate everyone’s concern and responses. I currently do not plan on trying the drug again. With regards to shaving my head I must admit this is one topic like many hair loss sufferers annoys me. I am 36 years old. I know what I look like. Many men can pull off the shaved look. But many men cannot. I am in fact one of the last types who cannot. I am 6’2 thin as a rail underweight, big nose and growing genetic bags/dark circles under my eyes. It’s not even a consideration nor do I want it to be a discussion. So please, nobody tell me to “hit the gym” and shave my head anymore. Even if I ever DID shave it, I am completely bald up front so it would look twice as bad.
I am currently speaking with a hair transplant surgeon about potentially going forward with a hairline transplant with the possibiltiy of wearing a hair system behind it to cover the rest of my scalp. He wishes I could take Fin, but understands it was not for me. Thanks.
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I hope you can stay away from this. If I’m not mistaken you have to take fin after hairtransplant.
We were like you, afraid of going bald. Some dudes took the pills and they knew about pfs. Now we are all here in the same boat and regretting our decision.
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Most of us here considered losing our hair/shaving our head to be out-of-the-question before we tried fin. So we can relate to your apprehension.
But one thing I can say for sure is that if you develop PFS symptoms, you will be begging and praying to return to your pre-PFS self, minus the hair.
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