My scary story. . .

Member Stories
#1

In retrospect, I don’t see how I made it through all these years!

I began using finasteride around 1999, back then I bought proscar online and split it into 5’s. I’m not sure when exactly I started in that year, but I do know that I had a nervous breakdown losing my girlfriend and had a terrible time in college when everything usually came easy to me.

Throughout the years I would experience tiredness at work. I would eat something or drink coffee in order to combat the tiredness, but these only seemed to make it worse, and from reading caffeine makes it worse. NOTHING helped my tiredness.

I developed joint aches later on (around 2004) and I attributed this to aspartame which I think contributed to it. I also started glucosamine condroitin which helped my symptoms.

I treated myself for depression by taking saint johns wort.

This past year I developed severe tiredness mid-day and I would go home and sleep almost everyday. I also had brain fog. I try to think and it seems like my brain throbs and it spits nothing out. I had a terrible time remembering what all I had done throughout the day. I stumble over my words and have a hard time figuring out what word I want to use, hell, I was making up words that didn’t exist. Sometimes I feel like someone is walking me and I’m just in autopilot, like I’m watching from afar. My eyes seem to see things but it isn’t going to my brain. I’ve also experienced ear crackling, tingling on my back and dizziness (I’m not sure if it was fin or minoxidil since I do take minoxidil also).

I stopped fin a few days ago when my work suffered so much that I said " I feel like I’m taking crazy pills." That statement made me think. A moment of clarity.

I’m a medical personnel who needs to be 100% alert at work and my manager has noticed my poor performance and I can’t blame her. She’s been riding my ass for months.

I’ve been off finasteride for about 3 days now. The first 2 were better. I feel more alert and I feel like I took myself to work lol. I do many interviews and this is taxing, but it seemed better. Today I was fatigued mentally and physically, I did take a nap.

I hope my symptoms subside and don’t last years like some of you all. I am slightly better so far, but, then again, I had good days sometimes on finasteride.

YEARS OF THIS! Ugh. Maybe I have better days ahead?

I want to note that the development of my symptoms may have gotten worse after I switched to Fincar recently.

I see all your stories and now I have hope that this is what is causing my torture. I just hope this isn’t permanent.

  1. How did you find this forum?
    search

  2. What is your current age, height, weight?
    33 5’7" 157#

  3. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
    I ride my bike about 4 miles a day.

  4. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
    I eat healthy food, as much organic as I can.

  5. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
    hair loss

  6. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
    about 7 years.

  7. How old were you when you started Finasteride?
    about 27

  8. How old were you when you quit?
    33

  9. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
    cold turkey

  10. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
    proscar cut in 5’s for about 5-6 years, and fincar for about the last year

  11. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg/day

  12. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
    It’s hard for me to tell as I didn’t correlate fin to my symptoms for 7 years since I denied that this was the culprit. The pharmaceutical industry kinda side-tracked me.

  13. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
    brain fog,

Put an X beside all that apply:

Sexual
[ x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ x] Loss of Morning Erections
[ x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ x] Watery Ejaculate
[ x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[x ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ x] Confusion
[ x] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ x] Slurring of Speech
[ x] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ x] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ x] Depression / Melancholy

Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ x] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ x] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?

I did take some DHEA to try to jump start my brain.

  1. If you have pre or post-Finasteride bloodtests, what hormonal changes have you encountered since discontinuing the drug (pls post your test results in the “Blood Tests” section and link to them in your post)?
    I haven’t taken any yet as I don’t want to get caught up in the pharmaceutical tango again.

  2. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
    It is poison!

  3. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

#2

Welcome to the forum, glad you could share your story with us. The only thing I want to comment on is this:

… I’d like to say that you should consider getting bloodtests ASAP to see what Finasteride has doen to your hormones, in the unlikely event things DON’T reverse for you.

It has nothing to do with “getting caught up in the pharmaceutical tango again”. Blood tests will be YOUR PROOF that you’ll need to deal with doctors in the future, that things aren’t “in your head” as they will likely claim.

So the sooner you can get them done after having quit (ideally you should have taken them before and while on the drug, in addition to after quitting), the better. Tests to get are outlined in the Hormones & Bloodtests section.

#3

Wow, how do you manage to ride ur bike when u are so brainfogged and tired?

#4

I wasn’t always 100% brainfogged, and I wasn’t always 100% tired. My tiredness wouldn’t be physical as I haven’t missed a day of work in over a year. My brain gets tired, more tired and then wants to shut off.

I’ll tell you that I’ve been a trooper this whole time trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I didn’t want to leave any stone unturned and I didn’t want lack of exercise to be an excuse for my brainfog. So I rode my bike to work and back for the past 2 or 3 weeks. I’m in fairly great shape physically, except for the stated symptoms.

If merck would have reported these as symptoms, then I would have figured this out a long time ago, but they don’t and I didn’t.

My fatigue would get worse around noon and then be in full force by the time I got home. I would lay down on the couch and have no choice but to fall asleep after work.

I’ve been off finasteride for about 4 or 5 days and some symptoms have subsided. I’ve only took a nap one of those days. My brain fog seems to be moderate instead of severe.

I still feel like my brain is a battery that is getting ready to go dead. If someone asks me an unexpected question or a series of questions the fog quickly forms in my brain.

I feel like my eyes are focusing better and I’m able to look people in the eyes when I found it hard to before.

#5

Wow, so propecia is making you go brain dead? That’s what the brain shutting off would yield, correct?

Have you seen another MD to discuss your concerns? Or will you seek alternative methods due to the dishonesty of Merck and the physician who prescribed it to you?

#6

I’m just going to get off of the stuff for now and see how I am in a few months.

I’m taking Mew’s advice into consideration, but I’m not the kind of person to see doctors. The doctor could tell me that my hormones are all messed up and I’m still not going to want to take anything.

I guess vanity was the only thing that could get me to take a pill :cry:

I see very slight progress already.

I not sure if Merck was dishonest. I know these symptoms are stealthy and they make you blame the symptoms on lack of sleep, hunger, caffeine withdrawal, etc. . . The only thing is nothing helps and it gets worse under stress. It got worse over time for me. It took 6 or 7 years to progress to the point of having something obviously wrong.

#7

It’s been just over 2 weeks. I have to say that the first week was not much different, except that I felt a little more alert and less “separated” from myself. I did go home and take a nap a few times, but not from the exhausted-overwhelming urge to sleep as before.

At the beginning of the first week I took 100 mg of DHEA because I’ve read others DHEA counts were low. I felt no side effects of that dose. I took another 100mg at the end of the first week and experienced severe nervousness to the point of a severe headache. I haven’t taken anymore.

The second week has been more positive since I have started taking l-tyrosine. I feel SO much more awake and focused. I gave up caffeine completely and won’t even think about it. Tyrosine has given me a “burning” and a “desire” for life feeling that I haven’t felt for years. Well…it’s either the tyrosine or getting off fin-nasty-ride, or the combination.

At this point, I would recommend l-tyrosine to anyone experiencing brain-fog, and mental fatigue. It does make me a little jittery and my hands are a little shakey and I’m a little edgy but i’ll adjust the dose (1000 mg in the morning and 1000 mg around mid-day) down a little here soon. Kinda like a huge caffeine rush without the withdrawal side effects. I woke up feeling the same way as I felt the day before which is great.

I keep you posted if I start feeling any side-effects to the tyrosine. I do fear i’ll get addicted to it, but hey, I’m off all the other stuff: fin-nasty-ride, saint johns wort, glucosamine (my joints are starting to ache off the gluc-chondroitin at the end of the 2 weeks still), vitamins.

I’m also doing a full-body cleanse which has liver detox in it, which could be making me feel better also.

I’ve switched my hair regimen from 1mg Fin-nasty-ride and 1ml of Kirkland liquid minoxidil twice a day to Rogaine Foam once or twice a day, and Nizoral 2% shampoo every other day (so far I’m tolerating the nizoral 2% very well). I haven’t had any sign of a major shed yet at 2 weeks. I’m not sure when I should shed if I do?

#8

L-tyrosine continues to be like a near miracle to me. Just be careful not to over-due it because one time I experienced pretty bad agitation (similar to DHEA side effect). I will also monitor my blood pressure to see if it goes up…which would be a good thing to an extent because it had been really low (side effect from minoxidil?).

I really owe this forum my life!

If anyone knows why this may be working for me please explain. This works much better than saint johns wort, and it seems to make me feel like my old self. This is the kind of stuff that I wouldn’t mind being on for life because it makes me feel awesome. So the future isn’t so scary for me right now.

#9

It may be working because testosterone modulates the level of dopamine in the brain. Have you had labs done? If you have low testosterone, it may be manifesting itself as low dopamine. By taking the precursor, you’re simply “replacing” dopamine. The true, sustainable, way of going about this then might be to confront the testosterone problem instead, and see dopamine improve as a result.

#10

Wouldn’t getting off fin-nasty-ride do this? I’ve read that it takes about a month before hormones start getting back to normal.

In the mean time, tyrosine, which is inexpensive, is working for me. So why mess with a good thing?

I’m thinking if I supplement with testosterone, then my body would get used to the supplemented testosterone and cease to produce it itself, therefore impeding my recovery from fin-nasty-ride.

All I know is that I’m feeling much better, now 3 weeks off fin-nasty-ride.

#11

Propecia reduces the ability to cope with highly stressful situations and has been linked with depression because of that. That’s good that you’ve decided to stop taking it, but continue using Rogaine 5% 1ml twice a day, and you will most likely make a full recovery within a year, don’t worry about experiencing permanent side effects, it wont help, you’ve stopped, so let it slide.

#12

Over a month off fin-nasty-ride and I’m feeling much much better. My brain is working as I can concentrate and recall memory much better.

My energy levels are up. My narcolepsy-like symptoms are diminished to the point of an occasional nap, maybe twice a week after work.

I’m using less tyrosine to be effective. I hardly use any on my days off and I’m doing ok with that.

My sex drive is much better. It’s strange that I didn’t miss it for that long of a time. Now it’s like, wow, how did I go without that? Morning wood, spontaneous errections, going out on the prowl…all things I didn’t have on fin-nasty-ride and I didn’t even realize it for 5 or 6 years. Gosh I’m stupid. This is probably the reason I’m still single really.

My work situation has improved tremendously.

Thank God for this site! I had serious worries about my health and didn’t even question the fin-nasty-ride because of the so-called few side effects.

All is better now and I’m on the road to recovery!

#13

Glad to hear it, hope you continue to improve. The fact you have morning erections and a decent sex drive is definitely a good sign, as many of us here do not.

Perhaps consider weening off all supplements and see how you do “naturally”, just on your own. Judging from what you wrote I’d say you are well on your way to being back to normal.

#14

4 month follow-up.

I’m still having some difficulty with short-term memory. I still have some fatigue. Some stuttering. I do get some mild to moderate headaches which I never had had before - kinda like pressure on the top of my head.

At this point I’d say I’ve improved 50%.

I’m wondering if there is some non-prescription ways to get your testosterone levels up?

L-tyrosine doesn’t seem to have the magic it once had for me. I still take it every once in a while though. At first it gave me a huge rush, but not anymore.

#15

After doing some reading I realize that it is common to have a period where you feel great and then BAM! the symptoms are worse.

This is what probably happened with me. I doubt tyrosine was what made me feel like a champ when I first got off fin-nasty-ride.

ANYWAYS! Six months and I still have days where I feel like I lost my memory. This is especially the case when I’m feeling tired at the end of a day, but sometimes just the whole day in general. Some days I actually wake up KNOWING I’m going to be in a cross-eyed daze for the duration.

I was freaked out the other day when I was playing cards and I forgot how to play texas hold 'em! THAT is very very scary to me. Granted, I was playing a variety of games including Omaha. I couldn’t for the life of me figure out whether I needed to play both cards in my hand or not…

I sat there…my brain not reacting to my question…frozen and scared. I was very tired though, but that is just an example of how my brain doesn’t work. When it doesn’t work it plain DOESN’T work!

QUESTION! I drink grapefruit juice in the morning. At six months off fin-nasty-ride, should I still stop drinking grapefruit juice (grapefruit juice may inhibit the elimination of propecia)? Could propecia still be in me at this point?

#16

Today was a bad day for me. Typically Mondays and Tuesdays are the worst days of the week.

A mild headache seems to accompany my brainfog. Nothing seems to help when I get like this. 1000mg of tyrosine hasn’t helped. Maybe I’ll up the dose.

I still have hope that one day this all will be behind me. It’s a struggle at work on days like this.

Although today was a bad day, it still is better than before.

#17

Hey good to hear your progress buddy. If I can say one thing, purchase a bottle of Pharmaceutical Grade Fish Oil. Two companies sell this: Omegabrite and Dr. Sears Zone Labs. Use this at a high dose (15ml a day) and tell me how you feel in two weeks. Your brain is 60% fatty tissue and the american diet significantly lacks omega-3’s. EPA/DHA has been shown in several studies to help repair the brain and improve neurological conditions including anxiety, depression, and ADD. When I started using it within the first week my brain fog had lifted. I am too in the medical field and this was the first time ever since coming off the Fin that I was able to think clearly again. Good luck!

#18

I just got some labs done (yearly employee labs that are available for me to get - I haven’t got them done for probably over 10 years lol).

My AST is 87 (15-37 u/l norm)

So, at this point, 6 months off fin-nasty-ride, I’m thinking that my liver should have gotten back to normal.

Then again, I was in pretty bad shape.

Is this a crazy high number for this stage of the game?

Yes, I’m seeing my doctor at the end of the month. I’m not sure what to tell her at this point. I am feeling much better since starting fish oil twice a day.

#19

Get a full liver function test (LFT) done:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver_function_tests

AST
ALT
ALP
GGT
Bilirubin

Get a liver ultrasound done to check for cirrhosis or other such issues.

The drug is metabolized extensively in the liver and affects hepatic 5AR metabolism, seems your liver has taken a beating from Finasteride based on that result. Need proof for doc, do a search here for “liver” or “hepatic” under Finasteride Studies section.

nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency … 003472.htm

#20

I think the fish oil and milk thistle has been doing good for me. Ever since I started concentrating on getting my liver healthy I’ve been able to function at work better.

I’m just hoping it was the fin-nasty-ride that was irritating my liver and I’m hoping my liver isn’t permanently damaged.

People that are experiencing the mental side of side effects from fin-nasty-ride parallel the symptoms of liver impairment.

I’m going to see my doctor on friday. I’ll talk to her about all this then.

also, just to note that my hair has been thinning out pretty much lately (7 months or so after stopping fin-nasty-ride). It’s not like all my hair fell out. But it is thinner. I think fin-nasty-ride was slowing down my hairline from receding as all those little hairs fell out.

I think my DHT is starting to come back with a vengence. oh well…this experience has made me realize the virtues of health over vanity.