Mental Fog, Gyno, Bent Penis... My OCD went away

Symptoms Neurological
#1

Perhaps I was just living in denial, but I couldn’t imagine that all of these issues could be tied to a drug that was only supposed to have effects on the libido.

During my time of being on Propecia, which has been almost 5 years, my penis has been hurt repeatedly and bent. As I now know, there’s a direct correlation between Propecia’s effects on the penile tissue and it’s ability to regenerate.

I also had a small cyst-like breast growth that lasted for several months. I can now assume that this too was connected to the Finasteride.

The worst has been the mental fog. Until only recently, I hadn’t been able to find anything that connected the Propecia to the hormone levels in the brain. I thought I was simply losing my mind and motivation. I had been a wildly outgoing person. I used to to stand-up and improv comedy. Slowly but surely I lost interest in these things, until they felt impossible for me to do. Conversation became harder, with greater levels of anxiety (caused largely by my inability to have conversation well). My memory has ceratinly suffered.

Before coming on this forum, I thought that these were all isolated issues that came with aging, or maybe drinking. What blew me away was that finasteride impacts more than just the DHT, it impacts vital neural transmitters.

I quit using the drug three days ago.

Sex was okay for me, but not great.

I guess now I need to wait and see if all that I have lost comes back. Obviously, my penis is permanently bent at this point. I’m far more concerned about the mental clarity. It was such a slow process, it was hard to see myself slipping away. And since Propecia didn’t list this as a side effect, I thought the issue was likely coming from somewhere else.

One more thing. I used to be OCD. Almost all of my OCD tendencies have disappeared. Whether this is because of a mental numbness, or an impact on hormones that are related to what brings out OCD tendencies, I don’t know. I’ll be curious to see if my OCD comes back. Believe me, I would much rather live with being OCD and not have hair than deal with the host of long-term issues this drug is responsible for.

I’m only 26.

I’ll keep the forum updated on my progress from here.

Where’s the class action lawsuit?

#2

Hah, yes we’re working on mobilizing that, and there’s already one in Canada. It’s a matter of proving specific damage was caused by the drug, and while it is true that the drug caused this, in individual cases pointing to hormone levels or sexual dysfunction may not suffice or be concrete enough. However, with evidence showing that it can effect other aspects of the body than what Merck claimed, any real endocrinologist should be able to comprehend its hazardous risk on the body’s normal processes.

Plus, if it really does have the effects on the brain in humans that many studies have reported in animals, Propecia should be done for.

At any rate, sorry to hear about your experience but you’ve come to the right place. Remember, most men recover the damage without any problems and return to their normal selves, so you still may be fine without further treatment.

Welcome to the board.

#3

Well, it’s good to hear that most men recover hormonally. The question that keeps haunting me has to do with the lack of Gabba.

I read a report yesterday that used an analogy that compared the mental landscape of the brain to NYC traffic. In the report, it suggested that all of the lights are still there, but without the neurotransmitter, they’re not “on”. This basic concept being that damage has not occurred, but simply, the grid has been without power, and everything has slowed.

I prefer the analogy to something someone else on this forum stated, which was that irreversible brain damage occurred. Upon first read, that notion scared me. Upon further research and analysis, “inactivity” has never been a killer of brain cells. Lack of blood and nutrition can kill a brain cell. In this scenario, a vital hormone assisting in synapse had been severely lowered because of finatseride (based on the studies done on rats).

If anyone has more info on the subject of potential “brain damage” please let me know. But it seems that so long as we can get the DHT converting correctly again, that the chain kicks back into effect, and the GABA is produced. In which case, so long as the neurons are still there, their communication will be reactivated. Even if they haven’t been used in adequately in 4 or 5 years.

For the “bends” in my penis, I’m presently trying a variation of the Thacker Formula. 70% DMSO and 30% Organic Apple Cider Vinegar. The formula typically requires using castor oil at 10%; but since the collagen digesting enzymes (from what I’ve been able to gather) are in Vinegar, I’d rather not put a carcinogen on my penis. The ACV and DMSO are both 100% non-carcinogenic. The DMSO is the delivery agent that allows the enzymes access through the tissues layers. I’m unclear as to where exactly the “plaque” is. I’m unconvinced my penis was damaged in that way. So at night I will be using Thacker, and in the morning I will apply a Vitamin E cream. Hopefully quitting finatseride will allow for penile regrowth.

If a class action is being put together, please let me know what tests or other things are necessary for supporting such a case. No doubt, Propecia has been responsible for every sexual dysfunction I’ve had, and has altered my personality. Even if I can partially recover, years of my life were lost under the spell of this drug.

Reading many of the cases on this forum, I don’t have it as bad as some. Nonetheless, it’s insane that a company could profit so wildly off of a drug that causes so many issues. I have a feeling that there are many men using the drug who are unaware of its effects; or who think their problems are derived from a different source.

I wish everyone who is dealing with overcoming these side effects the best of luck. This is a very well-educated forum, and an invaluable resource. Thanks to all involved. Without this site, I undoubtedly would have continued using the drug, never knowing that all of my health and mental problems in the last few years derived from one very clear source.