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?)
Google search – I searched “finasteride long-term side effects still happening” and found this forum.
What is your current age, height, weight?
Age: 36
Height: 178 cm
Weight: ~95 kg
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)?
Finasteride (Propecia 1 mg initially, then generic finasteride 1 mg)
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1 mg per day.
What condition was being treated with the drug?
Male pattern baldness (hair loss).
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
First period: approximately 6–12 months in 2013
Second period: approximately 6 months (late 2016 → March 2017)
Date when you started the drug?
First period: 2013
Second period: Late 2016
Date when you quit the drug?
First period: 2013
Second period: March 2017
Age when you quit?
First period: Around 24
Second period: Around 28
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold turkey both times.
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
Within the first few months each time.
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
(You can tick these after posting by clicking the checkboxes.)
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
[ ] Other (ejaculation before orgasm, greatly reduced orgasm sensation, occasional penile discharge when aroused, genital shrinkage)
Mental
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Lack of Motivation
[ ] Severe Depression
[ ] Other (long-term mood decline)
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, reduced fullness)
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Muscle Weakness / Aches
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Other (fatigue)
Misc
[ ] Persistent Fatigue
[ ] Vision blurriness
[ ] Other (reduced orgasm sensation, ejaculation before orgasm, reduced semen volume)
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
None formally. Only lifestyle changes; symptoms have remained.
If you have pre or post-drug blood tests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (please post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
No blood test results available yet.
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?
Symptoms have persisted for years with no improvement.
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Tell us your story, in your own words:
I first took Propecia (finasteride 1 mg) in 2013 for hair loss and used it for around 6–12 months. During this period I began experiencing reduced libido, weaker erections, reduced orgasm sensation, reduced semen volume, genital shrinkage, mood changes and muscle aches.
I stopped, but in late 2016 I tried finasteride again (1 mg generic) and took it daily until March 2017. The same symptoms returned and worsened. I also developed occasional penile discharge when aroused, ejaculation occurring before orgasm, and a major reduction in orgasm intensity.
Since stopping in March 2017, these issues have persisted long-term. My sexual function has not returned to normal. Erections are weaker without medication, libido is low, orgasm sensation is minimal, semen volume is reduced, and genital changes have remained. Depression and muscle weakness have also continued.
I have not taken finasteride since 2017, but the symptoms have never resolved.