New Here, A Question for EVERYONE

General Discussion
#1

Ok so at 24 years old, after starting to lose my hair line when I was 23, I was scheduled to begin taking Propecia in another few weeks. For many many months, I would talk on the hair loss help forums, and it always seemed like Propecia was a sure thing, and that it would save what I had, or at least there was a good chance of it. When my dermatologist looked me straight in the eye and told me not to worry about side effects and that none of his patients ever had any, I felt very confused. All I could think about were the sexual side effects reported on the forum. But of course, like people said there, and like in the MANY articles online and the booklet in the doctors waiting room, the side effects will be GONE after you stop!

So, when I began doing extra research on the drug just this past week, I came across some startling information, that there was this whole hidden world of post Finasteride users who lost there sex drive and other things as well. I was ABSOLUTELY SHOCKED, DISGUSTED, AND ANGRY all at the same time. Propecia was my one big hope in my opinion! (my whole hair loss story, even know its not that bad, is too long to write) but I can say that this just amazed me.

My question is this… After ALL these stories, and like i said, i’m shocked to see this many… [Size=4]Why isn’t this drug banned!?[/size]

#2

Similar question to yours, and answer:

propeciahelp.com/forum/viewt … ght=gamble

Short version: you won’t know if you are prone to side effects unless you take it, but even then, however rare, there is a possiblity that things may not resolve should you get side effects after quitting. If that possibility (whatever % it may be) is concerning enough to you, don’t take it.

As for legal action, there is a website requesting info from Canadian post-Finasteride sufferers for a possible class action in Canada – www.propeciaclassaction.com

#3

Who knows why its not banned. Probably cause it hasnt affected millions yet but eventually will. Theres new user always popping up on here all the time. All I can say is that every doctor I have tells me that they wouldnt take it and it can do all types of problems. My primary said that, er doctor said that, and my endo said that last week. It sucks cause they do a study with propecia and placebo probably out of 30 men or what not and see if it stops hair loss and what sides come out. Obviously some had hair stablization and some had improvement while others had sexual dysfunction and probably didnt start to notice other symptoms. Its a gradual thing for most people and even tho it may just hit you out of the blue. Who knows how long there study was for anyways. Could have been 3 months and then the drug is approved. I had all types of weird symptoms from it. Majority are gone but still trying to recover.

#4

I know only mostly the negative people come on the net to complain, but it certainly seems like a lot to me.

What do you mean when you had “all types” of weird symptoms?

and why would my dermatologist, like others from what i’ve heard, tell me straight up that I “wont have any side effects” and that he hasn’t had any patients with any of them??? He basically put over the drug like it was simply the cure for at least keeping the hair you have. I just dont get it

#5

Im going to answer the dermatologist question first. The reason is the dermatologist probably doesnt have that much knowledge of the drug. Plus I believe they get paid to push the drug. The thing is not everyone gets symptoms, however alot I think do. I first got my prescription from a dermatologist and I never went back to her to even tell her I think its a problem. So she probably doesnt even know… which she cant tell future patients. My primary doc and endo has been helping me. All three of my docs say they cannot tell what any drug will do to you. They do there lil study with a drug and placebo and once they show it works with so called minimal side effects, and then it gets to the streets. This is exactly what my doc told me lol.
Propecia messes with horomones and blocks DHT. Your body obviously needs DHT so why block it unless you want to risk problems.

As for symptoms lol… where do I start. First let me say that my current symptoms that are coming and going with e being off propecia for 4 months are… fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and depression.

Symptoms Ive had… depression, brain fog, slurred speech, muscle twitches, emotionally numb- have no pleasure, anxiety, fatigue, lost sex drive, weak erections, I swore my dick was bigger than now, dizziness, nausea, heart racing, breathing problems, a weird fluid that was in my sinuses whenever I ran or moved up and down fast, dark circles around eyes, muscle pains, digestive problems, food seemed to give me symptoms, headaches, probably a couple more but cant remember. However I was treated with drugs on all these symptoms that could have caused some or made some worse. It sucked though.

Its all up to you. I know how hair loss is, were all very vain thats why we paid the 60 bucks a month to get it. Ive had two Hair transplants and will probably get two more down the road just to fill in whatever falls out in the future.

PS: Tell your dermatologist to read whats on this site and also askapatient.com. <— sorry not trying to push to another website

#6

thank you for the reply man, but you can’t honestly tell me that you got ALL those side effects from Propecia.

Dark circles around your eyes? Thats one i’ve never heard

#7

Dark circles are from either allergies or fatigue and not sleeping well. Mine is definitely from sleep. I dont think all those symptoms are from propecia, like I said they were giving me meds to try to cover up symptoms and probably had side effects. But I do know once I stopped things got a lot lot better. You got to also understand when someone says they have anxiety ever since taking propecia. Well there are many symptoms that come from that. Same with Depression. Same with fatigue.

Below is an example.

-Anxiety causes-
Full blown panic attacks
Racing heart
vision problems
tingling sensations
headaches
nausea
Increase pulse rate
dizziness
aches and pains
emotional problems
slurred speech
brain fog
etc.

#8

Did you know all about this serious problem with Propecia though? I’m assuming you didnt if you continued to take the med after having several side effects

#9

Nope. I thought it only had small chance of lower libido which I didnt think was anything major. I took it for 4 years and have seen evey doctor to help explain my symptoms. However, everything kept coming back normal blood work wise. There was no way for them to really help me besides treating the symptoms which just put more meds in my body. I tried what they gave me but didnt seem to help much. I tried multiple anti depressants, allergy pills, thyroid meds, nausea meds etc. No one ever expected Propecia to be a cause. So about 4 months ago I was out drinking with my friends and was so pissed why I have weird symptoms and no one else does. Im young and shouldnt be dealing with this. The only two meds I was on is synthroid & propecia. I was also on a natural diet despite the drinking. So thats when I researched propecia side effects and found this site. I right away stopped taking the pills and noticed a huge difference within two weeks. Right now things just seem to be like a rollercoaster coming and going with symptoms.

You can try Propecia and see if it works for you, I just feel it robbed me of 4 years of my life and wont recommend it.

#10

Ok but what is your whole story?
you are off the drug and doing ok now?

and if the internet/this forum is any indication, you weren’t the only one experiencing several sides from Propecia

#11

Yes I am off the drug now. It has been 4 1/2 months since Ive been off. I have noticed alot of improvments with my symptoms, but Im still not 100%.

Symptoms that I have which will come and go: depression, fatigue, anxiety, and brain fog. My erections and sexual situation is fine unless the depression hits me.

If your wonder about my hair… its really no different from when I was on propecia.