New to this

General Discussion
#1

Hi,
I am new to all of this. First time post.

I’m just turning 44 years of age. I started propecia 3.5 to 4 years ago after a stressful broken relationship left me devistated which left me feeling depressed, old, ugly and balding. I took 1 mg during that time with a missed day here and there and possibly a week off here and there while either trying to get a new prescription or funds. I have now been off of the drug for about five to six weeks mostly because of a lack of funds. This is the longest off the drug ever. So i decided to look online to see if there was a less expensive source and found your web sight which scared me from ever buying it again. I actually felt anxiety from the horrors stories of the other members experiences.

Looking back at it, my sex drive for the most part has always been good. I would feel the need to masturbate sometimes three times a day even just until recently. Okay my penis wasn’t hard as long as younger days from 18-30 and sometimes I would get disinterested but again we are all humans and no one is super horny all the time. So i never thought I had an issue especially now that I am 44.

I did notice however a more sensitivity to my left nipple. I play guitar and always have a guitar strap the goes across my left nipple so again not quit sure if this is the only cause. The other thing I am experiencing now is a feeling of ever so slight discomfort in the anus area as if my prostate is irritated or increasing in size from not taking the prostate reducing drug in Propecia as i am assuming. I haven’t seen a urologist as I am only noticing this now. This worries me especially after reading these posts

My questions:

1.I know we are all different and any drug including Propecia will effect us differently. Has anyone gotten off the drug who has never had any real issues while on the drug to only find a host of issues that you mention, popping up later down the road? From the post I gather that most had issues at some point while on propecia and once getting off, the issues either never went away or became much worse.

  1. How long after termination is one considered out of the woods? The idea that just getting off the drug can be horrible, is anxiety provoking at best and should one worry say 2-3-4-5 months later who has had no additional symptoms?

  2. I also understand that most who do have adverse propecia symptoms usually recover after a period of time, however not always to 100%. And that it can take sometimes a very long period of time as some still have issues years later?

  3. Also, in my life I have had periods of horrible anxiety and depression and their symptoms very closely resemble those described with propecia use. Lack of focus. Lost labido. High anxiety. Fatigue. A feeling of disconnection. Aches and pains in joints, digestive issues etc. Is anyone being treated for depression/anxiety as well? I mean having a bout of Ed is enough for anyone to have anxiety or depression and once experienced are themselves a self perpetuating process. A vicious cycle.

I will never go back to propecia. Again I am not experiencing the horrors like others other then the slight discomfort in the anus area that I am now just noticing but am still concerned as it has only been one just over one month and want to be vigilant for anything in the future.

Any advise or thought is welcomed. Mew you always say read the FAQ above but that page only relates to logging on or posting issues so I’m not sure where to go.

#2

Yes, those cases do exist. People who had no real issues but decided to come off and then got hit with the post-Fin crash and associated side effects. However again, we on this website are in the minority of Finasteride users worldwide.

In general it seems those destined to have no issues after quitting return to their former selves a few weeks/month after quitting and continue on as normal. However for those here, that recovery is short-lived and a crash in T levels and various other symptoms typically occur in the next 1-3 months after quitting.

Nobody can give you a definite answer but if you quit, feel fantastic and continue to feel great with no further issues, then I wouldn’t worry about it. If on the other hand within 1-3 months after quitting you experience a massive “crash”, experience complete loss of libido, penile shrinkage, impotence etc – then something is definitely up.

I’d say if things don’t go downhill after 6 months you can probably not worry about it and just go on with life.

Yes, for those who experience the “crash” post-Fin, it can take a long time to see improvements. How long is dependant on each individual – in most cases it’s months or years.

The drug has been linked to causing depression in of itself:
propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=38

Taking SSRIs (which also can cause sexual dysfunction) or other anti-depressants is not advised.

If you have “depression” post-Finasteride, look at natural ways to combat this – diet, excercise, fish oils.

The FAQ mentions quite a bit, not sure where you see it only talks about “logging on” or “posting”.

Here it is if you missed it:
propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7

Also:
propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3

#3

Mew.

Thanks for replying.

I understand that some, fewer then most who post here, “crashed” who really had no symptoms while on fin so I guess anything is possible.

I called my dermatologist who prescribed propecia to ask him if he knew of any side effects after quitting and he said that he has been prescribing propecia for over 20 years and as a doctor would surely be inundated with complaints which he certainly has not been. He also said that any sides would/should clear within a few months. It has been almost 6 weeks i have been off the drug. Again the only real symptom that I can tell different just in the last few days has been a slight discomfort in the rectum/prostate area and seems to come and go but seems to be better as the days are passing. I asked the Derm about possible prostate issues after fin and he said it doesn’t work that way it only lowers your pst’s? Again after reading this forum and having discomfort in the rectum, my anxiety levels are up which doesn’t help my labido at all.

I also made an appointment with my Urologist just to talk to him as well. It is in two weeks and I will post to let you know what he says.

Questions:

  1. Other then my fin/prostate concerns what other questions should I present to my Urologist? I mean any technical questions to not waste time and go right to the heart of the matter i believe is best. The more educated I am going in the better.

  2. Would you recommend a proactive effort now to maybe prevent any type of “crash” or any further issues with such things as working out, vitamins/suppliments, proper diets etc. to give my body the best chance to get it back to equalibrium as this seems to be recommended with most all in this forum? I have read that working out and a proper diet also helps the prostate stay healthy? Should I try the broccolli method?

Side note: During my life bouts with horrible anxiety/depression working out and proper diet was one of the main cure factors. I also realized that anxiety/depression is genetic and people are prone to it and I just happen to fall in that category. Fin I guess can cause anxiety/depression but so can stress and coffee etc. My point is since a/d causes the same symptoms as post fin it needs to be dealt with as well. One book that help me out is called “Feeling Good” by Br. David Burns. It is a proven drug free treatment that is now a staple for many anxiety/depression sufferers. I highly recommended it to all readers.

  1. I am also a chronic pot smoker and I realize it doesn’t help the labido and is anxiety provoking and lowers your ammune system etc. and so I have not smoked for a few days as well and maybe should lay off pot for the next few months to give my body the best chance at stabilizing back to normal?

Than you.