Quitting Question for Mew

General Discussion
#1

I have been on Propecia for about 6 years, having taken time off for a week or so when i ran out of pills because i forgot to get the rx refilled etc.

Never really experienced any side effects, but have decided to quit because my wife and i are trying to have a child.

I have been off for only about 8 days and have some of the side effects, most notably the soft erection problems. I think I have been off for this long before without noticing and effects, so I wonder if it is in my head.

My main questino relates to whether I should maybe start taking a pill every couple of days to “ween” off as some have suggested or just keep off of it. I figured since it has only been 8 days i could maybe start again if you think it would be helpful.

I know it has only been 8 days, but starting to get nervous.

#2

Well, nobody really knows wether quitting cold turkey or “weening off” would have made a difference, since according to the data Merck submitted to the FDA, the drug has a near flat-dose response anyway (ie, even if you were taking 0.125mg every 3rd or 5th day, you’d still be inhibiting nearly same amount of DHT as 1mg or 5mg)… in other words, weening would make no difference:

physics.upenn.edu/facultyinf … peciafda2/

Although, this paints a different story, which would give creedence to the weening concept:
propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1170

What it really comes down to is the regeneration rate of the 5AR enzyme after Finasteride – I believe it’s approximately 10-14 days, but may take up to 30. Everytime you take Finasteride you start back over again with 5AR regenerating.

Since you are already at day 8, probably not advisable to jump back on and swing your DHT back down again and inhibit 5AR. Finally, Dr Goldstein has mentioned that as soon as one can get off, the better, no weening required.

It’s up to you.

#3

Thanks, I guess I’ll just keep off of it.

At what point would you say i need to see a doctor if the symptoms do not subside (i.e. normal amount of time to recover)?

#4

Actually I’d try and get bloodwork done ASAP so you can see what the Finasteride did to your hormones now that you’re coming off it.

There is only a short window of opportunity to do so (ie, as 5AR/DHT comes back), should you have problems further down the road, to compare to. Too bad you don’t have Pre-Fin bloodtests as a baseline…

If symptoms do not subside, I’d say within a month or two see a doc again.

#5

Thanks, do you just go to a regular doctor for that?

I was thinking of waiting a couple of weeks until my system gets back to a somewhat normal level and see where I am at.

Thanks for the advice.

#6

Yes any of the tests listed at top of Hormones section of this website can be ordered by a GP.

#7

I would try to get on a PCT (Post Cycle Therapy) Hormone Treatment, as soon as possible.
Propecia acts as a steroid, and when it is taken away, your body can crash. So when bodybuilders for example quit their steroid cycles, they always will do a PCT treatment of some sort, so their bodies do not go into a tail spin.
I dont think you see a steroid user EVER just stop w/o a follow PCT drug treatment of some sort.

Peace