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)?
USA
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 Search
What is your current age, height, weight?
33 5’8, 165lbs
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 daily
What condition was being treated with the drug?
Hair Loss
For how long did you take the drug (weeks/months/years)?
** Just over 6 months (200 days)**
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start the drug?
33
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
33 Augusts, 31, 2020
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold Turkey
How long into your usage did you notice the onset of side effects?
unsure probably early on but though nothing of it but started noticing more recently
What side effects did you experience that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Still early in process, but libido, mood, digestice issues, Etc
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 (Added)
[ ] Complete Impotence
[X ] Loss of Morning Erections
[X ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ X] Loss of Nocturnal Erections (Added)
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[X ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability or Difficulty to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[X ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[X ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfulness
[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
[X ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ ] Testicular Pain
[X ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ X] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease Added
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[X ] Muscle Wastage
[X ] Muscle Weakness
[ X] Joint Pain added
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[X ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[X ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[X ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets” Added
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Tinnitus (ringing or high pitched sound in ears)
[ ] Hearing loss
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[X ] Other (please explain)
I have developed GERD. I had a normal diet previous and now i am on a very strict diet.
Weight loss
What (if any) treatment have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since iscontinuation of the drug?
None
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)?
Had a blood test today(9/1/2020), waiting on results
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience?
Doctors told me the Fin is one of the safest drugs available and people are trying to make money of the pharma companies.
Prior to my HT and Fin i was on Sertraline and Trazadone for Depression from the divorce
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
I had a hair transplant procedure that was done in January. I told that surgeon that i did not want to go on Fin because of the side effects. I came to realize a few days later that this surgeon did a bad job on my transplant, so i got a second opinion from another clininc.
They mentioned that the only thing currently they could do is put me on finasteride to help induce hair growth. I was told Fin is extremely safe and the % of people that suffer is below 1%. I agreed.
I have been taking Fin since Feb 12 2020, missed a few doses in between and I stopped August 31, 2020. I have been on for 200 days. I feel like i started noticing symptoms probably a month in but thought nothing of it, until earlier this week when i just couldn’t get it fully going. I can still get erect but it is nowhere near what it used to be.
Im 33, recently divorced trying to date again and now I am dealing with this. Mentally i am devistated, I dont take medications as is normally when i go to the doctors unless absolutely necessary, I was just so distraught about my hair loss that I feel like i was taken advantage of and now i am paying the price.
Not only is my mental state terrible, my digestive health is brutal. Ive Developed either GERD or LPR on a diet that is fairly regular, mix of good(fix chicken, fruits veggies) and bad(pizza, burgers beer)
SO not only do i still have receding/balding hair, i cant go out for a beer, eat burger and do the normal dating scene. Super attractive for females. {major eye roll}
I see my doctor again tomorrow and I am going to express my extreme concern about this. I just hope i stopped before its too late and the damage is permanent. It appears I have a long road to recovery.
