-
Where are you from (country)?
USA -
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?)
“proscar impotence help” -
What is your current age, height, weight?
27 years, 6 feet (183 cm), 175 lb -
Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
Yes: Boxing, swimming, jogging, weight training. -
What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
Healthy diet: High protein, high fat, cycle carbs. -
Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
Hair loss -
For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
Oh lord… 5 years. -
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
I’d just turned 23… approximately June 15th 2006. -
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
Tonight, after discovering this site. I know, I’m an unbelievable idiot. So that would be May11th, 2011. -
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
I guess I’ll taper off, since that’s what’s recommended. But I’m not staying on this poison for more than a couple more days. -
What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Proscar. -
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1.25mg/day -
How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
It’s hard to tell, given that I never really put 2 and 2 together, and it was so long ago… But I’d say immediately. On week perhaps. -
What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
TBD. Although I have discontinued it a few times in the past due to running out (for periods of up to several weeks), and didn’t notice any difference. Hopefully I will this time.
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
[x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[x] Watery Ejaculate
[x] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility
Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[x] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[x] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[x] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[x] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[x] Depression / Melancholy
Physical
[x] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x] Testicular Pain
[x] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[ ] Weight Gain
[x] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[ ] Muscle Wastage
[ ] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[x] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[ ] Prostate pain
[x] Persistent Fatigue / Exhaustion
[ ] Stomach Pains / Digestion Problems
[ ] Constipation / “Poo Pellets”
[x] Vision - Acuity Decrease / Blurriness
[ ] Increased hair loss
[x] Frequent urination
[x] Lowered body temperature
[x] Other (please explain)
-
What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
Since discontinuation? Nothing yet, obviously. However, doctors have patiently explained to me that my ED was “all in my head” given my “normal” testosterone levels (newsflash: they used to be through the roof) and prescribed me Cialis, Levitra and Viagra, none of which have worked. -
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)?
Lower testosterone levels than previously is all I can remember offhand. I no longer have those test results. -
Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
The pain in my testicles has only recently, after nearly 5 years of usage, become unbearable, vice-like. -
Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
Wow… well discovering this site tonight has pretty much been an epiphany for me. I currently have no medical insurance so I was putting off going to see a doctor for the umpteenth time but after visiting this site I don’t even know what to think any more. The doctors had me convinced, or I had myself convinced, that my problems were genetic, maybe even in my head, and they’ve been too humiliating do really discuss with anyone other than medical professionals in the past 5 years. I know this is a cliche, but I went from being a sexually voracious, popular, academically successful guy to a complete train wreck. I couldn’t understand what was happening to me, given the abruptness of the transition in my life. I became depressed, could no longer have relations with women, lost my energy, dropped out of university, etc… etc… I know this sounds melodramatic and self-pitying but as many of you can surely attest, this crap is nothing if not dramatic. I started drinking far, far too much, lost all of the drive I once had. Anyway I’m sorry to be venting but I’m so ANGRY right now that I can barely contain myself. I realize that my failures to deal with some of these obstacles adequately are my own but THIS ISN"T RIGHT. I went to being an aggressively ambitious guy with a future to a goddamn quivering kitten overnight, and was admittedly too stupid to acknowledge the cause which was right in front of my nose. Because I trusted doctors. Somebody really, really needs to pay for costing so many of us these years of our lives, and potentially our futures.
This drug is pure evil. Right now I’m hopeful, now that I know I’m not crazy, but I’m very, very angry and afraid.