I contacted MEW about how (if all) I can recover from this damaging drug. He suggested I post this template questionnaire to you guys. So here is my completed questionnaire. I would like to know what I can do to RESOLVE my main side effect (altered skin and fat around body).
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Where are you from (country)? UK
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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?) Searched: unresolved finasteride side effects.
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What is your current age, height, weight? 22, 6 foot; 12 1/2 stone.
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? Yes; cardiovascular and weight training.
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? Mainly vegetarian; chicken and fish; maybe junk food once a week.
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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)? 2 and a half months; stopped for 6 months; started again for two months; stopped again for three months and started again for a few weeks then stopped again.
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 18/19
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 19
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How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? taper off
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What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic? propecia and generic
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? started on 1mg then went down to 0.25mg a day
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? a week
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation? dark circles under the eyes; stretch marks; generally seem to have a mild form of cushings syndrome.
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] 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
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] 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
[ ] 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? None
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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)? Slightly high cortisol but none which is concerning according to doctor.
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Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride? See below
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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.
Basically look older; skin is worse quality; dark circles under the eyes which got better but I simply do not look my youthful self I once did. Stetch marks over my body as well. I understand these are serious side effects but I want to try and do my best to resolve them. I understand this may be impossible though. Are there are doctors who are based in UK who don’t think you are mad when you tell them this drug caused these side effects? Also what can I do to prevent this getting worse? I exercise regularly eat lots of fruit and veg; use anti aging creams - all the usual shi*. Thanks and I hope someone can give me some informative information.