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Where are you from (country)?USA
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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 search term “propecia and ED and libido”
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What is your current age, height, weight? 40, 6’1’’ 195
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? no
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? Meat eater, healthy
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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)? 8 yrs
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 31 yrs old
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 39 yrs old
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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 and Proscar
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1 mg/day
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? Long slow quiet decline of libido, function,
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Loss of libido/ED/insensitivity/Pain in the groin/prostate
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ x] 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
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Depression / Melancholy
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[ x] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[x ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] 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? I have been on T-replacement for a few months, It seems has at times been some increase in libido.
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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)? Very low T levels, elevated estrogen,
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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. My decline was slow and gradual. It was so slow that I didn’t really notice what was happening. When I started having difficulty obtaining an erection a couple years back I was prescribed Viagra. This helped and I chugged along for a couple of years until I could no longer get a consistent erection with Viagra. My libido was all but gone.
It was then that I started to really worry. I had once heard from someone that propecia could cause problems with libido/ED but had never thought much about it-I recalled reading the labels and not finding anything that frightened me. Following my hunch I discontinued propecia and two months later found I could not even get an erection nor did I have any sexual desire left.
I then did a google search using the terms “ED, libido, propecia” and found this site. I was devastated. It became quite clear to me that I had put something in my mouth for 8 years that had “chemically castrated” me. I honestly wanted to die.
The past year has been difficult for me. There is not an hour that goes by that I do not think about what has been lost. About a dimension in life (the biggest dimension) that I am no longer a part of. My brother who is a doctor said to me “It’s not like you lost a leg or something” I know by his statement he has no idea what has been lost.
I have started T replacement and had slight improvement in libido. I get (3/4)morning erections and can get an (60%) erection 60% of the time in order to satisfy my very understanding/loving girlfriend. I have very little feeling/sensitivity on my penis-so much so I cant tell if I am inside of her sometimes.
There is much to be hopeful for. Some doctors are starting to take us serious. Crucial research is beginning. Our story is starting to get out. Merck is changing it’s labeling.
I believe our stories get better.
I want to thank the founders administrators and moderators for all you are doing for us. I want to thank the doctors who are advocating for us and performing crucial necessary research.
Chris/Tlecum