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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?)
—Google search of “Propecia symptoms” which led me to propeciahelp.com’s discussion forum
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What is your current age, height, weight?
—27 years, 6’5", 195lbs
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Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
—Prior to 1/1/2012 crash was running 3-4 times/week, since crash - short run once a week as I’m trying to stay somewhat active
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What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
—Healthy diet, meat, fruits and vegetables all medium amount, also plenty of water and other liquids. Rarely organic. Rarely fast-food
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Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
—Hair loss as a 19 year old male
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For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
—8 years (beginning of 2004-beginning of 2012)
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How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
—19 years old (1/1/2004)
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How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
—27 years old (1/1/2012)
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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?
—First 4 years 1MG Propecia, last 4 years 1.25MG finasteride (5MG finasteride cut into quarters)
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What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
—First 4 years 1MG Propecia, last 4 years 1.25MG finasteride (5MG finasteride cut into quarters)
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How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
—During the 8 years, general lack of libido, less sex drive for person my age
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What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
—While on the drug - only sexual side effects, which have primary improved since coming off the drug
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
[ ] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[X] Watery Ejaculate
[X] Reduced Ejaculate
[X] 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
[X] 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
[X] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[ ] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[X] Muscle Weakness
[X] Joint Pain
[X] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[X] Prostate pain
[X] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[X] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[X] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[ ] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature
[ ] Other (please explain)
—groin pain after urinating
—neck stiffness, neck pain
—tightness and pain near pituitary and adrenal glands
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What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
—smart diet, tempered exercise
—plenty of consistent rest (unemployed)
—Armour Thyroid pill 60mg/day
—Vitamin B12 pill daily
—Vitamin D pill daily
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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)?
—unaware of pre-finasteride test numbers. Currently low T3, RANGE 85-220, MINE= <20
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Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
—Completely fatigued. Try to motivate myself to do tasks, then 20 minutes later have no interest or energy to complete them. Brain fog is a very real problem.
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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.
—Like most on this site, finasteride did wonders to curb my hair loss, however I am now paying the price in many other ways. I stopped taking the drug during the first few days of 2012 and since then my entire body has crashed. Brain fog, fatigue, inability to concentrate, memory loss, constipation, stomach pain, and love handle area pain are some of the primary symptoms, but others are too numerous to list.
Sexual side effects existed during the time I took the drug, and some have gotten better since stopping it, however the timing of the symptoms within days of coming off the medication- sexual, gastrointestinal, neurological etc are crushing. I have been off it for almost 3 months now (previously said Jan 15, 2012, but it was more accurately 1/1/2012) and have felt bad every day since.
I have undergone numerous tests, including brain CT and MRI, abdominal area CT scan and colonoscopy - all clean. In the past week I have dedicated many hours to learn more on this site, concerned about what propecia/finasteride can do to the body and would appreciate any help from other members.
Thanks.
