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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?) Men’s Health Magazine article
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What is your current age, height, weight? 37, 5’10", 155 lbs.
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise? Yes. Running, pilates, weight training
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)? 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)? About 5 years
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride? 32
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit? 37, December 2011
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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 Generic
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)? 1mg/day
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? 3 years
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[x] 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
[x ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[x ] Confusion
[x ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[x ] 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
[ ] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] 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
[x ] Other (please explain)
Dizzy spells, loss of coordination
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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)?
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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.
I began taking the drug about five years ago. I seemed to tolerate it pretty well for the first few years. The only real symptoms I experienced at the beginning were less ejaculate and it would take me longer to reach orgasm. Then in the last two years I noticed fewer and fewer morning and spontaneous erections. I just thought it was due to age. Then the last year I was taking it, my speech was slurring and I felt like I was losing coordination. I didn’t think it had anything to do with the drug. Then about six weeks ago I saw the article in Men’s Health about the persistant side effects. I quit immediately. My slurring/studdering has gotten much worse after stopping it. Also, my concentration and memory has been horrible. I can hardly read anymore. I’m making too many mistakes at work. I’m almost not safe to do my job anymore. I’m afraid I won’t be able to pass my next round of training courses because of this.