Quit cold turkey...start taking again?

General Discussion
#1

Hi everyone. I am brand new to the forum and am terrified.

I took Propecia daily for 8 years without any noticeable side effects. About 3 weeks ago, I stopped taking the drug (quit cold turkey). Now for the past 4 days the common side effects mentioned on this site have kicked-in dramatically. I’m scheduled to see my primary care physician tomorrow but I am very pessimistic based on everyone else’s experiences that I’ve read.

My question is…does it make sense to resume taking the drug? I went cold turkey only 3 weeks ago and never experienced any problems until I actually quite. Is there any logic to start taking the drug again, with the hope of reversing the side effects that began once I quite the drug?

Maybe this is a dumb question, but I feel so desperate and helpless right now, so I figured I should ask.

Thank you.

#2

The finasteride is already out of your system and you’re on the hormonal roller coaster, no need to amplify the effects. Furthermore, there is a greater chance of increasing the side effects by taking finasteride again. Some people don’t develop sides the first time they start and stop, or some people develop sides the second time they go on and they never go away.

IMO stay off and study some healthful living options and hope the sides resove over time, they do for many.

Paleo diet, get enough sleep, no stress, avoid excessive masturbation, no alcohol, sugar, or caffeine.

#3

Thank you for the response. I just don’t know what to do…I feel very depressed and helpless. It has only been a few days, so is my only hope that the side effects will be temporary and I’ll somehow rebound? I’ve always had a very high sex drive and now have zero libido, have a mild pain/tingling in my testicles, and the mental/emotional effects from realizing my new reality/situation.

How can this happen to us? I am completely devastated.

#4

why did you stop fin?
this is very interesting that while on fin you were fine (8 years very long period) and you got sides after stopping.
what are your main sides? could you give some detail?
brotherly advice ! dont touch it ever gain.

#5

Thank you for the response. I’m still in a state of shock about everything.

I stopped Fin because I wasn’t as concerned about hair loss as when I originally started taking it, so I figured I could just stop. I also saw a headline recently suggesting that the drug may cause side effects for some people (I didn’t read into the details at the time)…clearly thinking it only affected people ON the drug, not once they stop taking it.

My symptoms: extreme decrease in libido (and I have always had a strong sex drive), inability to get an erection, and a mild pain/tingling in my testicles. This has resulted in depression and being close to some anxiety attacks. These symptoms have been consistent for 3 days now.

I feel like I should avoid this site for a bit as it only makes my mental symptoms worse…but I’m now obsessed with learning more as I’m completely terrified about this situation. I guess my best hope is for the side effects to be temporary…I’m trying to stay as positive as possible.

#6

Zipper12,
I found out about this site after I quit and after some of the most serious effects started. I have read some people advise that one try to go off fin gradually-but have not heard whether or not this helps. There have been so few published studies on fin that many of us are trying to understand what is happening to us by sharing our stories here at propeciahelp.com. Most doctors have no clue.
Three weeks ago I would have said ween yourself off gradually. At this point I don’t know. I hope someone who has more information will read your post and give you some good advice.
The worst time of my life is when I was where you are at right now. The only advice I can give you is try not to worry to much-stress and thinking about it all the time is its own a dick-softener. Try to meditate, do things you enjoy, keep occupied. Do not spend too much time on this site! Not at this point in your healing. For us with PFS it is all we have and we need it so that we can try to find healing. For you, the last thing you need is to be reading about this stuff all day long!
Good luck, thoughts and prayers to you.
Tlecum

Again, could someone with experience please advise Zipper12 please respond. Ought he still try to gradually wean himself off of fin?
Your advice could save someone suffering so please don’t hold back.

#7

Advice was already given. Finasteride is out of his system by now, no need to take it again to slowly stop taking it…again.

#8

It is amazing that a person can take it for 8 years without any issues and then suddenly after quitting - severe side effects set in.

MartinM’s advice is solid but personally i think going back on finasteride isn’t a bad call. I mean come on, the guy was on it for 8 years.

#9

i was on fin for 3 years and beaver had a problem. it was when i quit my life turned to hell. almost 2 years later and life is still hell. i am seriously thinking about going back on as i have tried all else.

#10

You might as well stick leeches on your dick for all the logic in that idea.

#11

Well do u have a better idea?

Anyway some people have seen benefits going back on. And in theory (only my theory) that goig back on fin and coming off again might this time restart things properly

Anyway im only thinkig about it right now.

#12

Count me in as one of the ones who was on a long (10 plus) with minimal side effects until the very end.

Post fin has been like my whole world ended. I have contemplated going back on but I will say most in our shoes this makes it worse (if that can be possible)

#13

Do you really think going back on fin is going to make your balls grow back?

Does anyone think that going back on fin will reverse sides like penile numbness, fibrosis, muscle wastage, fog, severe ED, screwed up T levels etc etc? Sorry, but the horse has bolted the stable now. This is simpleton’s stuff, come on.

I hate to state the obvious here, but is not going to help anyone who has truly crashed.

Personally I would have gone on it again between quitting and crashing, in that approx three week window between some normality and PFS, if I could go back in time. But once you hit the day of your crash that’s that chance gone forever.

#14

Zipper12

although a little lat but not too late.
Please go and get all blood tests given here+ANA+ESR etc
if in the future you get worse (hopefully you will get better) you will have some baseline to see what has changed.

#15

It worked for me for 10 days

It worked for Denarion

And i am in contact with a user who re took dutasteride and is feeling much better after coming off it

The way i see it is - if someone has been on it for 8 damn years, then going back on after crashing to see how things turn out is no biggie

#16

That is crazy!

#17

  1. And what happened after these 10 days?

  2. It is if his HPTA axis is trying to re-adust and going back on throws it completely off.

#18

I returned the to terrible state i was in before. However, Denarion didn’t and neither has the other user i am in contact with who has re taken dutasteride.

Look, again - i am not preaching this as a cure. I am just saying; the guy was on the drug for 8 years for god’s sake. Going back on finasteride could be worth a try.

Obviously the risk for Zipper is that he may get better in the coming days/ weeks/ months anyway and going back on finasteride may only offset a natural recovery.

#19

why is my post crazy? Are you saying we cannot get worse - perhaps…

#20

Because you took it for 10 years with no issues and then BOOM - your whole life changes.