OK going to try to fix this, whatcha think?

Member Stories
#1
  1. Where are you from (country)?

United States

  1. 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

  1. What is your current age, height, weight?

27, 5’11" 215

  1. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?

Used to, since coming off fina… all motivation has been drained from me.

  1. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?

High protein, alternate between eating healthy and throwing in junk food every now and then.

  1. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?

Hair loss

  1. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?

3 months when 22, and another 3 months when 27

  1. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?

22 and 27

  1. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?

23, and 27

  1. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?

cold turkey

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

Propecia 1st time, generic proscar 2nd time

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

1 MG, and 1.25 MG

  1. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?

2 weeks in I had sleep and anxiety issues. 3 months in I had penile insensitivity/erection issues.

  1. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?

erection issues/loss of libido/unable to sleep more than 4-5 hours a night, reduced ejaculate, no morning wood, hard to maintain an erection.

Put an X beside all that apply:

Sexual
[x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[x] Loss of Morning Erections
[x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

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

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
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[x] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes

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

See my posts.

  1. 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)?

My testosterone is good and most everything I’ve had tested is normal or good except, my 3-Adiol-G is below range low, my cortisol is above range high, my T3 is also somewhat low.

Appears to be a marker for low 5AR2 activity.

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

Its ruined my life, made me miserable and suicidal.

  1. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

I’m 27, been into bodybuilding for years.

Hair was falling out like crazy, so I saw my doc and he gave me propecia, 3 months worth.

My junk shrank, mood was terrible, no libido, could still get erections.

I came off propecia (mostly because I was a broke college student and the $60/month was too much at the time.)

Things got somewhat better as far as erection strength, libido was still bad, mood was still bad too.

Fast forward to sept/2010, I have a good job now am making much more money decided to give fina another go. This time with generic stuff. Continued on with the fina not noticing any real sexual sides this time besides somewhat decreased libido, erections were strong and full. Anxiety was bad however after about 3 weeks and sleep was really bad. December 2010, the anxeity was terrible and I noticed my erections were not as full. I said to hell with this and came off fina for good. Thats when my search on the net began.

First week off I was ok, neck and joint pain. Than terrible depression for about a week libido gone, erections difficult. As I stand now being off for about a month, my libido is shot, erections are possible with lots of stimulation but they are weak and not as large. Testicles seem to be smaller as well, flacid penis is smaller as well. Sleep is still not that good, anxiety has lessened. I sweat a lot more at the gym as well.

Obviously I’m scared to death especially after reading other peoples issues this this stuff.

Went to Urologist, came off everything (letro, herbal stuff) for a week and had blood work run, still waiting on results. Went back on letro after test trying to keep estrogen low and free test up… taking very very small doses, I take a 2.5 mg pill, crush it mix it in water and drink it over the course of two weeks. I know letro destroys libido but I am trying to control the sides while my body readjusts to being off fina.

Well right now I am not entirely certain how to approach this. So I am waiting on my test results but am I preparing to run nolvadex, HcG and Clomid. Probably something like this…

Week 1
HcG 200ui/EOD
Novla 20mg/ED

Week 2: Same

Week 3: Same

Week 4:
Clomid 50mg/ED
Nolva 20mg/ED

Week 5: Same

Week 6: Same

I am considering waiting more before I run anything else. But I don’t want to be impotent for long. Mental Fogginess and word loss are definitely an issue as well. I’ve pretty much stopped alcohol consumption, penis and testicles are worse afterward… sucks because everyone I work with and friends think I’m messed up cause I wont drink anymore.

I’m also considering using Andractim for two weeks prior the HcG and nolva to jump start my prostate and androgen receptors in my body and brain.

What do ya guys think? My diet is ok, I try to eat little sugar and drink lots of water. I take multi vitamins, fish oil, protein supplements, and NO. I exercise 4-5 times a week. Heavy weight training and cardio/crossfit.

#2

There are many variables in your story besides Finasteride, but as Finasteride is a potential cause of many side effects, it could be a contributing factor.

#3

It does sound to me that you have been finasterided!

In a short while I am gonna try andractim low dose 4 days on 3 days of concommitant with sustain alpha. If that doesn’t work then I am gonna do pretty much what you are doing without the clomid.

I look forward to seeing your lab results

Good luck with it!

#4

Know what you mean about the depression in the first few weeks/months off Fin. Definately horrible.

Most everyone here says they can’t drink anymore either for the same reason.

I’ve been on HcG now for a couple days. Seems morning erections are better for me too, but I’m more narrow and shorter since Fin.

Since you’re making good money now you might want to consider a phone consult with Jacobs. Would be money well spent IMO.

Post your labs when you have them done. If you could post your story in the member story section would be helpful too.

Good Luck.

#5

I used to feel terrible after drinking, especially numbness, but on the flip side there has been two occasions after drinking ridiculous (college) quantities and getting bad sleep that I have had what has felt like brief recoveries, at least sexually. So I don’t know what to make of that? generally I live a very healthy lifestyle now, having cut out almost all sugar and caffeine and supplementing well.

#6

I have read time and time again about people getting their libido back after extremely heavy drinking sessions. I also get a spike in libido when I have bad hangovers. Since coming off of duts/fin I don’t get anywhere near as depressed on a hang over or in general. Thank god that side went away!

#7

Count me in as one who sees brief recovery after tying one on.

BTW - my navo/tamox is only 10 mg; it has lowered my E into range but still high at 36. What is the consensus on higher dose (20 mg)? When you say ED; I assume end of day - I have been taking in the morning - does it make a difference

Also, I would give anything to get someone who can giv me HCG before my balls are gone. Boston332 is using lozenges which I think are the same compound just maybe lower dosage? There is the HCG diet which is even lower dosage… Very confusing.

#8

Drinking alcohol may sometimes help libido because alcohol causes test levels to plummet. In response the body releases large amounts of LH in an attempt to increase testosterone levels.

I had some bloodwork done by a different urologist some years ago… after the first fina use. These tests are from 2/2009. Here’s what I got:

LH: 4.8 (1.5-9.3)
FSH: 3.9 (1.4-18.1)
Test, Serum: 551 (241-827)
Free Test: 12.1 (9.3-26.5)
Prolactin: 5.9 (2.1-17.7)

Still waiting on my new tests…

I have been reading up on the androgen desensitization theory. The more I read the more this seems to be the most likely culprit. Woke up this morning “dead dick”. Doc gave me prescription for some viagra, hopefully this works somewhat, its expensive thou and my insurance doesn’t cover it.

#9

Give me a shout if you want to know a pharmacy that sells cheap generics. I can’t remember the name now. It’s in my emails somewhere, if you are interested I’ll dig it out.

The only things I’ll buy from internet pharmacies is viagra or cialis cos you know that the work or not quickly and easily.

#10

Wow, this not only happened to me, but at the same time too (Sept 2010). Pharmacist suddenly suggested I take the generic stuff (called Sandoz-Proscar). It was cheaper and I didn’t think twice because I’d been on fin before with no problems. Famous last words! Interesting.

How specifically does the hcg help you? Just wondering.

#11

I was getting rock hard morning erections while on HcG and my testicle size increased… just wish I had never done the fina again… or in the first place for that matter.

#12

Going back over the last month in my mind (which is fairly difficult because I feel mentally screwed up lately), I am beginning to see how things happened piece by piece. I came off Fina between December 26-29 2010. Right away I didn’t have any truly bad side effects… about 3 days later I start having anxiety. Flew back to Texas from NY Jan 2nd.

Got back started to feel really emotional, called up girl I had been dating, got into an argument (which has basically ended things between us.) Following 4-5 days were complete hell emotionally… didn’t even want to get out of bed could barely work. But sexually I was ok, could still get erections.

About a week later, I felt much better emotionally… but this is when sexual sides began to become evident. Noticed I was sweating a lot more in the gym… initially thought this was good because it showed my DHT was back in action.

Last week and half, sexual sides have been really bad, and mood is pretty bad too… though it has a lot to do with the sexual sides, I still just don’t feel “right” in the head like foggy, confused, desperate.

I find myself calling NY to talk to family now cause I have very few people to turn to about this. I’m single and living far from what I consider home.

I’m terrified because I know what I will do if I can’t fix this somehow.

I can only hope that my Clomid gets here soon as I have read that the sooner you take it after coming off the better your potential recovery.

#13

Changed my mind about the cycle I’m gonna run…

Started 50mg Clomid and 10mg Tamoxifen today.

I’m gonna taper it down over the next 6-8 weeks to gauge results.

At the same time I am taking:

Alpha Sustain
Toco-8
ALCAR
Milk Thistle
Fish Oils (not everyday, depending on fat intake)
Vitamin D
B12
NO2 (for the gym)
DHEA
St. Johns Wort

I consider everything except the clomid and tamox to be pretty much standard/natural supps… even the alpha and DHEA I don’t expect much from but every little bit helps.

Give it sometime and see where this goes…

#14

why don’t expect much from the alpha. For the price of it I am kinda expecting a lot. Also I have heard good reviews from it.

All that stuff you’re taking you wont have a clue what works and what doesn’t!?

#15

I have found over the years with various OTC supplements like alpha, that price does not equate to effectiveness.

Only ingredient in alpha that is of any importance is Benzoflavone, and I found little information about it.

I am probably going to cut the alpha and DHEA out thou, I could use them while coming off so I don’t go totally flat.

#16

how long have you been using the alpha for?

#17

Two Weeks on the alpha.

However, something great to report. It has been about 60 hours since I started my 50mg clomid 10 mg tamox regimen.

After 30 hours, I started to have a warm calm sense in my head… my remaining nervousness and anxiety seemed to dissipate over the course of two hours late Tuesday night. The next day, the slight dull “ache” in my junk was gone and mentally felt very good.

Today Thursday morning I woke up to something I haven’t in quite sometime lol. Big ole morning erection, that didn’t go down till after I went piss.

I don’t want to jump the gun too much because I still don’t feel a super libido or anything but its been less than 3 days on the clomid and tamox and I’m holding out for more.

Anyway, best of luck to everyone I will post in as the days/weeks go by with my results.

#18

I had a similar experience with clomid. I take my less though and EOD. I believe less is more.

Ahh the good ole days. Congrats.

#19

Taking more drugs scares the shit out of me these days.

#20

“To be honest my crash was directly after I added isoflavons to my regimen. I think it might have done something very bed to my body together with dutasteride. I think that suplements together with fin/dut, especialy those raising Testosterone may do a lot of harm. I think this might be very close to adding fin/du to HRT, and might generate these nasty effects. I think of establishing a topic about anything that was taking together with fin just before crash. I also know a guy from Polish hairloss forum who used Fin together with soy isoflavons and got into the same permanent problems.”

Since I took HcG while on fin this might explain why I am having such a bad reaction vs when I took it when I was 23.