My story, 24 year old

Member Stories
#1

Welcome to our community. Please fill in the following template as a way of introducing yourself, and helping others to understand your background and situation.

Where are you from (country)? Scotland

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

What is your current age, height, weight?
24, 6ft, about 11stone
What specific drug did you use (finasteride, dutasteride, saw palmetto, isotretinoin/Accutane, fluoxetine, sertraline, citalopram, leuprorelin, etc…)? Finasteride

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

What condition was being treated with the drug? Male pattern baldness (receding hairline)

For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)? 8/9 months

How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug? 22, March 2019

How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 23, November 2019

How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold Turkey
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
Heart palpitations after a month, which passed, sexual sides about 7 months after starting
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Sexual dysfunction, numbness and pain
Check the boxes that apply. You can save your post first, then interactively check/uncheck the boxes by clicking on them. If your symptoms change, please update your list.

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

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

Physical
[x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[x ] 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
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)

Cold/numb/sore inner thighs.

Leaky urination after peeing occasionally

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

I tried Amino acids, tribulus and other supplements to no avail

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)?

I took a number of blood tests after fin, they came back with supposedly ‘normal’ hormones, but with low platelets and wbc but they’ve gone back to normal since my last test a few months ago.

Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?

I already suffer from depression and anxiety, however I included them in my symptoms as I believe they’ve definitely gotten worse as result of fin.

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

I started taking in March of 2019, to treat my receding hairline that I’ve been anxious of for years. I took them through a third party website (Dr Fox), however they informed my GP through the website in order to get the prescription, and my doctor didn’t prevent me from taking them.

I noticed heart palpitations at night a few weeks after starting fin, but they left after a short while. I didn’t have many sexual relationships till September so I didn’t notice much in the way of any red flags sexually through that time. Only when I started a relationship with my now ex fiancée, did it dawn on me that there was a problem. I struggled to get hard every time we had sex; I considered it being the fault of nerves which has happened before for me, but after it persisted for a long time I realised there was something wrong. Then I got this horrible numb feeling in my inner thighs and genitals. I went to the doctor who told me to stop taking fin and everything would go back to normal. This was in November, so I followed their advice and stopped immediately. After a week I noticed a brief return to normal. However this lasted a short while and everything became far far worse.

I found it literally impossible to have sex without tadalafil (cialis), I had gotten engaged around the time I noticed my PFS and it created an immediate strain on our relationship. I waited 3 months for things to get back to normal but they never did. I’m in a constant state of discomfort to the point it’s embarrassing to be in front of people as I constantly feel I have to adjust myself down there to deal with the numbness.

I went to the doctor again a number of times for help with what’s wrong with me, however they believe it’s all psychological. And as such I have no way of dealing with it medically.

I still occasionally get morning erections, however less frequently. And once they’re gone my penis goes cold and small permanently.

My fiancée and I broke up in August, for a number of reason, but I know PFS was a massive weight on our relationship and I don’t doubt that things would have turned out differently if it wasn’t for that burden.

After breaking up with my fiancée I started taking Prozac (4months ago), which I’m still on, I don’t know if this is making anything worse or not, I don’t feel I can sexually get much worse. I didn’t know they might make things worse as I didn’t want to feel the pain I’m going through emotionally, however I don’t know if it’s worth me giving up the SSRI’s anyway.

I’m pretty much at the end of my tether, I can’t motivate myself to even get out of bed these days. I lost my job to Covid and I’m broke and so it’s not like I can even afford any of the specific regimes anyone suggests.

I’m not sure why I bothered making this account. I guess if the worst comes to the worst and I can’t take it anymore, at least there’ll be some note of my story.

4 Likes
#2

Hello. First of all, thank you for sharing your story with us. I understand very well what you feel, also because I have experienced it too, because of Paroxetina. I too have lost my jobs and friendships. If I can give you some advice, it is to look for something that you are passionate about and make it the cornerstone of your life. Also, as soon as you feel a little better, you could fill in the survey that our administrators have made available on the forum. This will help the search.

5 Likes
#3

I’m sure that all of us here are glad that you made this account. It can be helpful just to get things down and although none of us wish to have found ourselves here, being part of a community does help. It’s still quite early for you and improvement can and does happen for a lot of the guys here. On a personal level, despite the circumstances, it’s good to see a fellow Scotsman. There are a few things you can do just now, like what @Rb26dett says by filling out the survey and also reporting your side effects: https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcards/reportmediator/

Both your work situation through Covid and the break up with your fiance will make things exponentially worse for you but these things will pass and I am sure that there will be much brighter days ahead. Hang in there.

1 Like
#4

Thank you all for the kind words and support, I have filled in the Yellow Card that you’ve sent me and given them permission to contact my GP (though I’m not sure if that’ll make them more likely to help, it’s worth a shot.)

I can’t seem to get access to the survey but I’ll fill it out as soon as the site allows me to.

2020 has been a rough year, though I’m aware that sounds banal at this point.

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#5

A brief history of posting on this site is a prerequisite to activate the survey. Thank you!

2 Likes
#6

I am taking Prozac as I mentioned in my story, that I’ve been taking for a few months. I’m unsure if it’s worth me stopping, as I don’t know if I feel any worse as a result of it. And it was only after I stopped fin completely that my symptoms manifested even stronger. I don’t want to repeat that problem with another medication

#7

It’s good that you are aware of the risks with antidepressants.

Do you feel any better because of taking it, or is it a risk with no reward?

#8

It’s hard to say, on the one hand obviously I feel terrible, as I’m here and emptying my heart out about everything. But on the other hand the fact I’m still semi-functional and able to socialise (as much as Covid allows), and have avoided some sort of breakdown, makes me feel like maybe it has prevented that. I’m not sure though, personally the idea of being on any long term medication with risky side effects is scary to me now.

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#9

Yeah. …I understand.

It was a bit of a rhetorical question.

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#10

Ahhh of course, sorry I missed that haha. Yeah absolutely that’s the sort of dilemma that is playing over in my head.

#11

I’m also completely ignorant of any of the science that more knowledgeable members might be aware of. I morning erections on occasion, I can sometimes get semi hard and even brief erections from physical stimulation during sexual activity, however unable to maintain erections for intercourse.

I’ve also had occasions where I’ve taken tadalafil one day and been able to have sex for a few days afterwards. The reason I’m pointing these things out is that I’m not completely static in terms of sides, they’re always bad but sometimes worse sometimes better. And I’m unsure if this information is helpful for any attempts at what I should do treatment wise (if anything)

#12

Also as another update, I’ve completed the Survey.

4 Likes
#13

Hey man, thanks for filling out the survey and thanks for sharing your story. Please report your drug reaction to the FDA website and report it to the Doctor who prescribed it and encourage them to report it also. This is extremely important and often overlooked.

I want to say I’m truly sorry to hear about this. I also took Finasteride for a very short period when I was 24.It certainly changed my life for the worse and it has been over 2 years now of trying to figure something out which will help. I hope your situation improves.

2 Likes
#14

Thank you all for the advice and the support. I’ve reported the drug through the yellow card link, however if I can report it to the FDA while being Scottish, I will do so!

I guess I’m keen to know what I should do from here given my situation. I know that’s a vague and broad question, but the whole situation has me feeling very lost

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#15

It’s good that you are able to have sex with PDE5i drugs and that the effect lasts that long for you. I noticed an effect from sildenafil up to 16 hours after taking it, but no longer.

Be careful with tolerance, as some guys here have experienced it with long-term or frequent PDE5i use.

1 Like
#16

I think one of the blessings of now being single is that I’m using the Cialis only when I feel I have to (which is rare these days haha), so I’ve noticed less of a tolerance recently.

Do you know if these facts about my condition (sides being manageable sometimes with PDE5, as well as the occasional nocturnal and morning erection), mean something particular with how I should approach treating myself? I’m sorry that’s such a tough question, I’m just trying to work out where I am and what I should start with

#17

The wild variation in reported results from particular treatments among post-drug patients makes it extremely difficult to recommend any course of treatment. It’s actually against the rules here because some people have severely worsened from treatments that have helped others.

I can say in my case, I was feeling better in every aspect at 6 months than I was at 4 months post-crash without doing anything out of the ordinary. Once I put the pieces together to link my symptoms to my past Accutane use, I began plowing through treatments like a mad man and have had an overall negative experience as opposed to the days I was just trying to be/live healthy in general with nutritious food and moderate exercise.

1 Like
#18

Do pde5is still have an effect on you? I’ve noticed 25mg sidenafil is adequate (for almost a full day) if I use it once a week or less. I was planning on going on daily Cialis to see if it improved erections after reading some studies about improvement in ed after prostate removal. I’m just concerned that I will build a tolerance.

#19

25mg was almost too much in my 20s. Now 50mg is sometimes not enough but the side effects at that dose are almost not worth it. I’ve never really used them more than once every couple weeks unless it was a brand new relationship. I think it’s age more than tolerance in my case.

Strangely, tadalafil didn’t work for me but sildenafil and vardenafil did.

1 Like
#20

So my symptoms have randomly worsened the last few days. I had a brief point a couple weeks ago when I felt quite a bit better, but now things are worse than before. I’m really worried and stressed and need some advice.

Even if I could just make the constant penile pain/discomfort stop, at least that’d be a start…