New Member from UK

Member Stories
#1

Hi There,

New member from UK. Please see my story below. Am stopping TODAY after over 5 years on this drug. Any advice about UK medical support would be greatly appreciated. Am worried that because I’ve taken drug for such a long time that I’ve casused irrepairable damage.

JB

  1. How did you find this forum?
    Google

  2. What is your current age, height, weight?
    I’m 29, 5"8 and 12stone

  3. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
    Fairly reguarly - Football on Monday and Saturday and I ride my bike to work infrequently

  4. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
    Meat eater. Diet not great.

  5. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
    Hairloss at 24

  6. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
    For 5 Years

  7. How old were you when you started Finasteride?
    24

  8. How old were you when you quit?
    29

  9. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
    I think I’m going to go cold turkey - is this wise?

  10. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
    Propecia

  11. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
    1mg a day

  12. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
    Since summer of 2013 when I started long term relationship

  13. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
    Sexual libido and performance - struggle to maintain state of arousal, loss of libido (especially nocturnal).

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
[x ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[x] Reduced Ejaculate
[x] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Depression / Melancholy

Physical
[x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x] Testicular Pain
[x] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[x] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[x] Joint Pain
[x] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[ ] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
    None

  2. 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

  3. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?

  4. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
    This is a journey that I am about to embark on and I’m pretty nervous…for a long time I had coped with Propecia and seemed to be able to perform sexually however since my long term relationship began in June 2013 and my sexual activity increased my libidio has suffered and the problem has become much more noticeable and is now an issue for my gf and I. I have good days and bad days and seem to be better “equipped” in the mornings however the libido loss is a real worry and concern for me. I’m just not that interested and I don’t know why…this is event the case when I attempt to masturbate. There is definite shrinkage of my penis and inability to reach orgasm. I’m worried as 5years is a long time and there is potential for long term damage here…advice about what I do next is greatly appreciated.

#2

If I were you, I would try to prevent the endocrine crash (which usually happens a few days or weeks after stopping) by avoiding fast carbohydrates, aerobic sports and sex. To my understanding the crash is an excess release of cortisol, and anything that raises cortisol (even sexual stimulation without ejaculation), can start the crash. I have personally found green tea to be beneficial (it contains L-theanine which lowers cortisol), as well as following the advices by gefinauser below:

#3

JB

I’m from the Uk too

Send me a PM if I can be of any help?

I can always give you a call?

Regards Paul

#4

Thanks guys. I got my Propecia from the Boots (UK chemist) pharmacy. I think I’m going to book an appointment with them next week to discuss this and then perhaps go and see my doctor too.

I’m feeling pretty down about all of this. But good to know there is support out there.

How have you guys been coping?

#5

Hi TIGERSHULL and HOPINGFORACURE

Really appreciate your messages of support guys. I’m currently unable to send you both PM’s as I have not been a member of the forum for long enough but I would be keen to continue discussions with you both.

HOPINGFORACURE, many thanks for your PM. I had noticed that our PROPECIA usage cycle is very similar! I sent you an email but unsure whether you have received and then you sent me that PM which was spooky! Many thanks for your advice. Is there a way we can continue our discussions? I’m going to read what you’ve sent over now and try and get my head around it all but if there was another way we could talk then I would welcome that opportunity.

I stopped last Thursday, I’m waiting for this inevitable crash. So I’m pretty much all consumed by this issue right now (which I know is not helping)

Thanks again.
JB