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Where are you from (country)? U.S
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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
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What is your current age, height, weight? 37, 6, 220
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? cardio 3 days a weel
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? pretty health
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Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)? hair loss
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For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? 5 years
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? about 30
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? stopped in May 2012
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How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? cold turkey
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What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? Propecia
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? 1 year
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[x] Confusion
[x ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ x] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[x ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts
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
[x ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[x ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
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What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug? xanax for the anxiety and panic
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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)? none
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Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
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Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
I was on the poison for about a year when I had my first panic attack in March 2008. I was positive I was dying or having a stoke, I couldn’t walk straight and was very confused so a coworker drove me to the hospital. They said it was a panic attack and sent me home with 10 xanax. About this time is when the brain fog started, I was like this for years- I would wake up and wait for the cloud to settle in my head- it would usually take about a half hour after waking up. I could barely make it through a work day but somehow forced myself. I had a few more severe panic attacks and ended up in the hospital. The brain fog and anxiety were with me all the time but the actual attacks were beyond anything- I can’t even put in to words how intense they were/are. I hope no one gets the attacks like I do- I know its common on this site but I think my attacks are probably on the more severe end- my blood pressure goes from 110/70 to 180/110 almost instantly, I am so dizzy I cannot walk. No matter how many times it happens each time I’m sure I’m dying and I actually hope I do die- every second of the attack is nothing short of torture. Thankfully Xanax helps. I stopped taking the poison in May 2012 a week after an attack and finding a link online to propecia and panic/anxiety- until then my doctor, a cardiologist, neurologist and one shrink all told me it was just anxiety and never said a word about propecia. About 6/8 months after stopping the poison the cloud started to lift- I went from taking 3 xanax (.25mg) every day to 1, and the attacks were fewer and fewer. I stopped drinking alcohol, lost 60 pounds, met a girl and eventually could even have sex with her- things are almost back to normal in that dept. The brain fog eventually lifted completely and overall anxiety was much better- I just about stopped taking the Xanax completely- I even got promoted at work. Then about 3 months ago the anxiety came back, I’m taking 2 xanax a day, one major panic attack and the brain fog shows up sometimes- although nowhere near as thick as before. I wasn’t completely healed from the anxiety before but now I would say that most of the metal progress has been erased. I had to walk out of the movies 2 months ago, the grocery store last month and had to leave during a nice dinner in the city last weekend. I also had to leave work a few times and small presentations (in front only a few people) that are part of my job which I have been doing with ease are now causing me to almost pass out. I’m just so discouraged because I was better off 18 months after stopping the poison that I am 22 months after stopping. I’m supposed to go vacation in June and there is no way I can handle getting on a plane when I can’t go out to dinner or sit in a crowded theater. I’m new to this site and I’m wondering if anyone has these kind of anxiety issues, how long they last and if there is anything I can do to aid the recovery.