- 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?)
By accident - google search - What is your current age, height, weight?
39y.o. 180cm 85kg - Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
No, no energy these days. At the time of taking Propecia 4-5 gym sessions per week. - What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
No particular diet but I try to avoid preservatives. - Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
Hair loss - For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
6-7 years - How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
From memory I was 25ish, around 1997-1998 - How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
32 - 2004 - How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold turkey - What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Propecia - What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
Cannot remember but it was once a day dose. Presume 1mg although thought there was a ‘5’ in there somewhere??? Will need to check. - How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
At the end - 6-7 years - What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Severe anxiety, brain fog, depression, vision problems.
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] 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
X Slurring of Speech
[ ] 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
X Muscle Weakness
X Joint Pain
X Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
X Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
X Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
x Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
-
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
Every antidepressant available without success. Psychologists/counselling. Acupuncture. -
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)?
-
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
Was not aware of this condition until now - 7 years after stopping treatment! -
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Took finasteride for 6-7 years starting at age 25, was the healthiest I have ever been at the time, extremely fit and athletic, gym 4-5 times per week with a body I would kill for these days! Out of nowhere I became permanently dizzy/off balance and was extremely fatigued, eyes were so sore and vision went downhill, frequent urination and poor sleep. Doctor assumed it was viral and that I would improve with time - didn’t happen. After 6 months of being exhausted, dizzy and feeling drunk I also became extremely anxious and started having massive panic attacks and horrific night terrors/dreams.
Anxiety and depression took over and I was forced to stop work for 4 months. My doctor put it all down to stress depite my insistance that I had been very happy and had no stressors at the time it started. I did manage to have my doctor refer me to a neurologist who ordered an MRI to rule out MS. Results came back negative and the specialist told me rather bluntly to “get on with my life and stop wasting my (or his?) time with tests”. I have also managed to get basic blood tests annually which always show extremely high liver function. Doctor can find no explanation for it, I had an ultrasound that showed numerous nodules on the liver but was told that was of no concern - “we will just keep monitoring it”. I have previously asked for hormone testing but my doctor refuses and told me that that was usually only for women.
Then started the rollercoaster of antidepressants and psychologists insisting that something major had triggered my stress. After constantly pushing my doctor on various theories and for various testing and insisting that something was ‘not right’ my medical records are now labelled OCD, Hypochondria and “seeks assurance”. I was forced to go the route of many different antidepressants to which I always have extreme reactions, but finally 3 years ago found one that I tolerated the side effects long enough that I now seem permanently “hooked” on it. Thousands of dollars of therapy and counselling failed to have any significant affect on my anxiety.
Earlier this year I thought my symptoms were starting to get back under control, the anxiety was less, I was sleeping better and concentration was good despite still lacking energy. About a month ago I started rapidly going downhill again and now seem to be nearly back where I started. That is what prompted me to start googling my symptoms and I came across the “Propecia link” and the many people with similar symptoms as mine. I had never heard of it. When my symptons first started I remember thinking there may have been a connection and that was when I stopped the Propecia as it was the only medication I was on at the time. I also remember asking my doctor if it could have been a cause (in my mind thinking it messes with hormones etc so was a possibility) but was quickly dismissed by my doc.
So 7 years after stopping Propecia I am no closer to feeling “normal” again. I no longer socialize and have a life that is not recognisable to that of the person I used to be. I feel like I have missed my 30’s and the opportunity to start a family and live a normal life. I look at other people with envy that it is so easy for them to go out and enjoy themselves and live life. After working all day I am so stressed and have no energy to consider doing anything else and by the end of each week I am so exhausted and uptight that I spend the weekend trying to relax and preparing myself for the following week. At least finding this site has given me some hope again and spurred me on to not give up just yet.