Luckfax:
Even though accutane and propecia have somewhat similar effects on 5-AR and DHT production, from my understanding, the side effects are not necessarily completely identical. Deep depression has always gone hand in hand with my erectile dysfunction/lack of libido. My body has wasted away over the past 15 years in terms of muscle tissue, but I was skinny to begin with, so it’s not that noticeable. I have extremely dry skin and no longer sweat–doesn’t sound that bad, but it’s not good. I can no longer feel emotion for the most part, but that’s most likely a symptom of depression/neurotransmitters. Physically, I’m assuming the consistently low DHT levels for 15 years are the primary cause of my symptoms.
In other words, I’m physically able to go to work and go through the motions of life, but not able to enjoy it. This happened when I was 21 and I’m now 36, so I had the same fears in the beginning years. I do remember what it was once like to feel like a normal human being (again, not to be dramatic) but it has been 15 years, and in a way, this is the only life I know.
I will give out this encouragement, however. Medical treatment of erectile dysfunction/lack of libido has progressed quite a bit since 1995–I’ve witnessed it. Back then, most general practitioners would tend to dismiss these concerns as psychological and encourage an individual to move on with their life. I know that’s a blanket statement. Medical information is also much more readily available through the internet now.
Roger