Used Finasteride Gel

[german]

0. Where are you from (country)?

Germany

1. 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

2. What is your current age, height, weight?

37 years, 180cm, 62kg

3. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?

4. What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?

5. Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?

hair loss

6. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?

two days

7. How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?

37 years September 2011

8. How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?

37 years September 2011

9. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?

feel a loss of libido and have erection problems

10. What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?

generic

11. What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?

1mg/day

12. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?

two days

13. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?

feel a loss of libido and have erection problems

Sexual
[x] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[x] Erectile Dysfunction
[x] Complete Impotence
[x] Loss of Morning Erections
[x] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[x] Loss of Nocturnal Erections
[ ] Watery Ejaculate
[ ] Reduced Ejaculate
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[ ] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[ ] Confusion
[ ] Memory Loss / Forgetfullness
[ ] Stumbling over Words / Losing Train of Thought
[ ] Slurring of Speech
[ ] Lack of Motivation / Feeling Passive / Complacency
[ ] Extreme Anxiety / Panic Attacks
[ ] Depression / Melancholy

Physical
[ ] 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
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

Hello - I’ve been Finastrid gel twice since the wall and feel a loss of libido and have erection problems. The application is now already 8 weeks ago - this is possibly due to finasteride or?

[keepup]

Hi,
I am from Germany, too. If you want to get in contact send me a personal message.

[martinM]

Do you mean you took finasteride pills (tablets)? Or is there another finasteride “gel” in Germany?

Firstly, don’t panic. Finasteride is known to cause erection and libido problems. For many the problems are temporary. Start by getting blood tests if you can. You can find a list here:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=92

In the mean time some things that can help are eating well (google “paleo diet”), moderate exercise and getting enough sleep, and eliminating caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and any foods you might be allergic to. It’s likely that you will recover over time. Try to give your body the best chance possible. If the sides persist read the main site, propeciahelp.com, before beginning on the forum.

[german]

Yes, it is a gel for application to the scalp - I’ve used it twice. Can it be that the side-effects occur after such a short period of use?

[german]

I have a question for understanding the following legend

"Post-Finasteride / 5ARI Syndrome - Symptoms Legend:

Post-drug: symptoms start to manifest within weeks of quitting drug (typically when Testosterone levels drop)
On drug + post-drug: symptoms manifested while on drug"

Is it so that only the blue side effects during treatment, side effects can occur red only after the use of finasteride?

[Mew]

Yes, it is a gel for application to the scalp - I’ve used it twice. Can it be that the side-effects occur after such a short period of use?

For side effects from Finasteride to occur, the Finasteride would have to penetrate your skin and get into the bloodstream.

Are there any published studies documenting this possibility?

Are you sure you have eliminated all other variables for your issues?
Are you/were you on any other medications or supplements during usage of the gel?
Do you have any pre-existing medical or psychological conditions that might explain your issues?

2 applications isn’t much and its not the same as taking it orally, so it wouldn’t seem likely… however only you know for sure if the issues you are experiencing could be linked to your usage of the product considering the above criteria.

Is it so that only the blue side effects during treatment, side effects can occur red only after the use of finasteride?

Referring to propeciahelp.com/symptoms — yes, typically that is the pattern for many men (like me).

[german]

That’s scalp from the blood has been spilled into the ground but probably, or?

“Are there any published studies documenting this possibility?” I dont know!?

Why is the use of topical / oral differently?

[Mew]

That’s scalp from the blood has been spilled into the ground but probably, or?

I don’t understand your sentence/question. If you are asking if the Finasteride pentrated your scalp skin to get into your blood, I don’t know. That’s why I was asking if you’re aware of any studies about this possibility.

Why is the use of topical / oral differently?

Oral is a direct route into the body/bloodstream.
Topical is (generally) not a direct route, due to the protection of skin.

Also, you did not answer the following questions

• Are you sure you have eliminated all other variables for your issues?
• Are you/were you on any other medications or supplements during 2x usage of the gel?
• Do you have any pre-existing medical or psychological conditions that might explain your issues?

[martinM]

The patient information leaflet for Propecia indicates that pregnant women should not handle the chemical due to risks to the unborn fetus. Though it doesn’t cite a study this suggests that the manufacturer is aware that it can pass through the skin into the bloodstream.

A warning about PROPECIA and pregnancy. • Women who are or may potentially be pregnant:

-must not use PROPECIA

-should not handle crushed or broken tablets of PROPECIA.

If a woman who is pregnant with a male baby absorbs the active ingredient in PROPECIA, either by swallowing or through the skin, it may cause abnormalities of a male baby’s sex organs. If a woman who is pregnant comes into contact with the active ingredient in PROPECIA, a doctor should be consulted. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets are not broken or crushed.

From the prescribing information leaflet:

Women should not handle crushed or broken PROPECIA tablets when they are pregnant or may potentially be pregnant because of the possibility of absorption of finasteride and the subsequent potential risk to a male fetus. PROPECIA tablets are coated and will prevent contact with the active ingredient during normal handling, provided that the tablets are not broken or crushed.

[german]

@Mew

That’s scalp from the blood has been spilled into the ground but probably, or?

I don’t understand your sentence/question. If you are asking if the Finasteride pentrated your scalp skin to get into your blood, I don’t know. That’s why I was asking if you’re aware of any studies about this possibility.

Why is the use of topical / oral differently?

Oral is a direct route into the body/bloodstream.
Topical is (generally) not a direct route, due to the protection of skin.

But also through the scalp but the active ingredient gets into the bloodstream, or?

• Are you sure you have eliminated all other variables for your issues?
• Are you/were you on any other medications or supplements during 2x usage of the gel?
• Do you have any pre-existing medical or psychological conditions that might explain your issues?

• No, im not sure
• No
• No

[Mew]

But also through the scalp but the active ingredient gets into the bloodstream, or?

For the 3rd time already, I don’t know. The only way to know would have been to get tested for DHT when you were on the gel and see if it was surpressed.

MartinM’s post above states women should avoid touching crushed tablets due to the possibility of Finasteride being absorbed through the skin, so that might be something to consider.

Please read all information that is posted before asking the same question 3 times.

[german]

Gibt es denn Erfahrungen darüber ab welchem Anwendungszeitraum Nebenwirkungen bei oral/topisch zu erwarten sind?

[german]

Hi - what is the timeline to understand the post side effects?

• Latest taking finasteride
• Next 14 days to return DHT (side effects?)
• 7 day normal state (no side effects?)
• If the post side effects one month after

a) lastest taking finasteride
b) after the 14 days
c) after the 21 days

on?

[german]

Hi,

can it be that occur while taking finasteride libido and only settle for Erectile Dysfunction and added more side effects - or are the Nachnebenwirkungen only during the application?

[martinM]

Please post a copy of the drug fact sheet for the transdermal finasteride that you took.

@german

can it be that occur while taking finasteride libido and only settle for Erectile Dysfunction and added more side effects - or are the Nachnebenwirkungen only during the application?

Additional side effects can develop after discontinuing the medication over time judging by reports posted in this forum. Some people get better then crash, or develop worse side effects than they experienced on the drug.

@german

Hi - what is the timeline to understand the post side effects?

• Latest taking finasteride
• Next 14 days to return DHT (side effects?)
• 7 day normal state (no side effects?)
• If the post side effects one month after

a) lastest taking finasteride
b) after the 14 days
c) after the 21 days

on?

You are approximately correct.

propeciahelp.com/symptoms

Post-Finasteride / 5ARI Syndrome - Timeline

The below common hypogonadal symptoms affect the vast majority of men who experience the Post-Finasteride Syndrome. Onset of symptoms may manifest while on the drug (Propecia or Proscar), but typically follows a common pattern whereby:

Within 10-14 days of quitting there is a surge/return of DHT in the body (as 5AR2 is supposedly no longer inhibited by Finasteride)
Brief resolution of side effects (as the manufacturer claims should occur) takes place over the following week (days 15-21).
Unfortunately this androgen surge and resolution of symptoms is short-lived, as the feelings/effects of androgen (DHT) returning to the body begin to fade over the next few days/weeks.
Concurrent with this ebbing away of androgenic action is an "endocrine system crash", followed by return of symptoms in full-force and worsening of the patient's condition -- including complete loss of libido, penile/scrotal atrophy, and host of other side effects.
Bloodwork at this stage often reveals a massive decrease in endogeneous Testosterone, LH and FSH production, often to hypogonadal levels along with numerous other hormone imbalances.

The reason(s) for this adverse post-drug reaction, and why treatments designed to restore androgenic action in these men often meet with little to variable success, remains unknown.

[spstriken]

german is absolutely right. I have read a post where a guy cut open saw palmetto soft gel capsules and applied the liquid on his scalp for few weeks and got the same sides which finestaride cuauses. Unfourtunately I dont have the link but I am sure some people have seen this post.