used propecia for 5 days, after quitting side effects emerge

Member Stories
#1

  1. How did you find this forum?
    I actually found this forum BEFORE taking propecia, trying to figure out if I should really take it. I made a mistake :frowning:

  2. What is your current age, height, weight?
    20, 6’5, 235 lbs

  3. Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
    I do not exercise regularly, for one this it is summer and where I live it gets pretty hot, so i can’t go out and jog much.

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

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

  6. For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)? I took propecia for 1 day and stopped for about a week and a half, didn’t notice anything after that. then i got desperate and started taking it again for 5 days and stopped.

  7. How old were you when you started Finasteride?
    20

  8. How old were you when you quit? 20

  9. How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)? cold turkey (didn’t feel like I needed to taper off after 5 days!)

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

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

  12. How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects? the 3rd or fourth day I really started to notice things getting weird, by the last day i was taking my balls started to ache so i quit.

  13. What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation? balls ache, watery semen ( getting better), erectile problems.

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
[ ] Inability to Ejaculate / Orgasm
[ ] Reduced Sperm Count / Motility

Mental
[ x] 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
[x ] Depression / Melancholy

Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[ ] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x ] Testicular Pain
[x ] 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

[ ] Other (please explain)

  1. What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug? I haven’t started any yet.

  2. 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)?

  3. Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?

  4. Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

I started losing my hair (or at least noticing it) in the beginning of April. It was happening very fast and I was devastated, I was only 19 ( turned 20 in April) and couldn’t imagine how I could possibly be going bald. I started reading about rogaine and propecia. Propecia sounded great but I also started reading about the side effects, which made me VERY hesitant to take it. Last month I went to a dermatologist. He looked at my scalp for less than 30 seconds and said “your scalp is inflamed, here’s some shampoos to help” I appreciated that he was helping me with that problem, which is now much better but he never really addressed the hair loss. I went back 4 weeks later and my scalp was looking good, I told him my hair was still falling out. He offered me propecia and I said I would take it. He gave me 2 weeks worth of samples and a prescription. The samples sat on my bookshelf for the longest time, while I contemplated taking them. Then, the same week I got the samples I met a girl. We both really like each other. So about a week and a half after I met her, I took one pill because I was desperate to keep my hair for her. After one pill I decided it was a stupid idea. I didn’t notice any side effects from that. As we talked more and more I became more into her and more desperate. So about 2 weeks after I took the one pill I started again. Before taking it I was aware of all the potential side effects, I even read this forum. I felt like I was getting so much conflicting information that I might as well try it and see if anything happens. So, 5 days after starting it again I had watery semen, my balls ached all day, and my erections weren’t good. At that time my libido seemed pretty good.

So, I quit cold turkey (which I sort of regret). Then things got worse. My balls seemed to have shrunk and I can’t tell what’s going on with my libido, I think I still may have it but whenever I get aroused my dick doesnt do anything. One strange thing is that my penis seemed to get larger while flaccid, before propecia it was retracted pretty far ( which I never really had a problem with, because I could still get erections). It does hang far bellow my testicles though. One thing that started after I got off was burning sensation in my penis, It mostly feels like it’s at the end of it.

So I totally regret even thinking of going on it, since tomorrow I am supposed to see this girl that I like! I have nothing to offer her, in terms of sex! I guess people do stupid things when they are desperate. It has been four days since I’ve been off of propecia, I know this forum is mostly intended for people that are still experience side effects months or years after quitting, but I thought I’d tell my story, as it might help people. If things start to change, I will post in the recovery forum. As for now, I’m scared as hell. :cry:

#2

Please do not do this as the recovery forum is intended for people who have recovered or partially recovered after months/years of problems. It’s only been 4 days so you have no clue yet if your sides will fade away over the next few weeks or not. I realize that you are scared but try to calm down and realize that most guys who suffer sides have them eventually subside after they come off or soon after that so be patient before getting worked up.

#3

I got this too. Does it feel like your dick just doesn’t “respond” and is “disconnected”? My package is bigger now too, as it used to be humble while flaccid and it now feels “harder/rubbery”. I think it’s because of changes in the tissuses, hence the weird feelings down there. Give it time.

#4

I though I’d give an update on how I’m doing.

Right now my libido is back, seems to be all the way back. my balls are still shrunken, but they seem to fluctuate…? Sometimes they will hang pretty low and other times I will look like a child who’s balls haven’t dropped. I can get erections, but not fully I suppose. I am able to masturbate and ejaculate but the sensation isn’t the same, I don’t feel relieved or satisfied afterwards, sometimes I even getting a burning sensation afterwards. My level of semen has increased a bit since quitting and it isnt as watery. I get morning wood maybe every other day, but it isnt a full erection. my dick seems “responsive” now I guess, but it just doesn’t get up all the way. Although things have improved I suppose it’s still very depressing. It’s pretty hard having a sex drive but not being able to use your dick! I’m hoping things will still get better. I will be starting to get in shape soon (I’m getting a job in the california conservation corps) so I’m hoping that may help things get better.

#5

Things are starting to get worse I think. After experiencing what I thought was an almost full recovery, I feel it’s all going downhill again. It’s hard to tell if part of it is me being depressed though. It started going downhill about 2 weeks ago, after I masturbated twice in 1 day. Would that throw things off at all? Anyway, after that day it started to get worse again. Right now, it’s almost back to how it was a few days after I got off propecia. This is very devastating to me. Since taking propecia I have slowly sank into a deep deep depression. I know how it feels to be depressed since i was diagnosed with it, but I almost feel suicidal now. I went to see my girlfriend last weekend and I couldn’t perform, I was able to get somewhat hard, but it didn’t last. It was the worst feeling feeling ever. I feel totally burned out at just 20 years old. I’m thinking about trying to get out and start jogging/ biking, I was doing that about a week before I started to feel a recovery, so maybe some good exercise might help me get back to normal?

#6

Hey,

I have a similar time line, age, and symptoms. I took Fin for less than a week before I noticed the side effects. It has been about 6 days that I have been off Fin. I have noticed all physical side effects are gone, but my libido is absolutely no where to be found. Both Mew and Worried gave me a positive response, which I appreciate. But I am still feeling “not quite myself”. I just wanted to say good luck with your recovery. If it is any consolation, I feel like I am in the very same position you are. You have one person that understands where you are coming from. 21 yr old/1 weeker/life ruined for who knows how long!! Wish you a speedy recovery.