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Where are you from (country)?
Australia -
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 -
What is your current age, height, weight?
38, 185cm, 82kg -
Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
Cardio, resistance exercise, walking -
What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
mostly healthy diet -
Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
other -
For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
approximately 6 years -
How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
about 32 -
How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
38
Feb, 2013 -
How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Bit of both, but mostly cold turkey -
What type of Finasteride did you use – Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Proscar, Fincar and generic at different times as prescribed only took label Propecia for the first one 3 month course -
What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
standard 1 mg/day -
How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
5 and a half - 6 years -
What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Put an X beside all that apply:
Sexual
[ ] Loss of Libido / Sex Drive
[ ] Erectile Dysfunction
[ ] Complete Impotence
[ ] Loss of Morning Erections
[ ] Loss of Spontaneous Erections
[ ] 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
[ ] Severe Depression / Melancholy
[ ] Suicidal Thoughts
Physical
[ ] Penile Tissue Changes (narrowing, shrinkage, wrinkled)
[x] Penis curvature / rotation on axis
[x] Testicular Pain
[x] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[x] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[x] Weight Gain
[x] Gynecomastia (male breasts)
[x] Muscle Wastage
[x] Muscle Weakness
[ ] Joint Pain
[ ] Dry / Dark Circles under eyes
Misc
[x] 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
[] Other (please explain)
- What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
- Treatment for systemic candidiasis / thrush including anti-candida diet and fluconazole
- Increased exercise
- Healthier eating
- Anti-estrogenic diet - brocolli, cauliflower, and cabbage
- Supplements - Saw palmetto extract, Melatonin, zinc, magnesium, horny goatweed, garlic, pea protein
- 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)?
- Low free testosterone (doc said it was just “within healthy range” but it is extreme borderline - will post full results and link later)
- Anything not listed in the above questions you’d like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
Mainly the sides that apparently appeared after discontinuation.
Parasthesia of crotch
Chronic fasciculation
Tinnitus
Dysuria
Rock hard testicles
My children, conceived while I was on the drug, both have developmental disorders, despite taking every precaution as directed, including quitting for a couple of weeks before conception, keeping crumbs from contact, using condoms during the pregnancy. I consulted the doctor I was told I was being overprecautionary. Though I am aware of its developmental effects and still unsure whether it was related to the drug.
- Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.
To be honest, I didn’t experience any adverse sides while using it for years. That is, apart from slightly watery semen - my virility was actually heightened while using it.
In the months leading up to quitting I became aware of rapid feminization of my body. My face and skin became softer and more feminine, I developed the classic violin shape female fat distribution pattern of pronounced buttocks, thighs, hips and breasts. Weight loss did not help and I lost patience with the doctors. Scans did not find gynecomastia, though, my breasts are very obvious and the endocrinologist diagnosed it as “lipomastia”. But my body fat percentage and weight remains similar to what I’ve been for decades at around 19% without the change in shape. As my symptoms appeared, I found this forum which described what I was going through but thought if I waited, my condition would improve. However more than six months my breasts have continued to grow and while other sides have have been on again off again, the end does not appear in sight at this stage.
A couple of weeks after I quit came a severe “crash”. I experienced what felt like a viral like illness much like glandular fever. My areola swelled, puffing right out and painful. I had severe hot flushes and night sweats which I was at odds to explain, periodic tingling and numbness down one side of my body and involuntary muscle twitching, severe muscle and joint aches and severe exhaustion. I was restless, anxious and unable to sleep. In addition, there was loss of libido accompanied by difficulty with erections, numbness, low intensity orgasms and weak ejaculation.
About four weeks in, a massive hormonal change/rush kicked in, in which I felt invigorated like puberty all over.
Within the weeks to follow, I took a change for the worse and developed symptoms in my testes and crotch which persist to an extent. They got so bad that I couldn’t sit or sleep. Testicular pain, scrotum itching and tingling, lymphatic like soreness around my chest area along with complete sexual dysfunction. Saw palmetto extract and horny goat weed seemed to help, but I became paranoid that I might only be worsening the situation, so I quit that also as I think that estrogen dominance is my main issue, my gut feeling is that some sort of chronic aromatization has been happening intermittently which has been putting my body out of whack.
The severe penile pain (fibrosis), crotch burning and scrotum paresthesia and stinging prostate which I still experience began after about one to two months off the drug. Along with a range of other sides which are now appearing the female fat distribution and breasts which I had developed during the later stages, this is a terrible curse.
I have broken down at times during the six month roller coaster. Some things have improved, for instance my mental state, although it dipped pretty badly. Supplements, while taking them have helped. But the worst of it has remained. I am considering expensive chest reduction surgery and liposuction of the lower abdomen. As for the discomfort of the other physical sides, I really fear that they may not be treatable. I can only hope that things change and I’m hoping to get some advice.
I also joined this forum to help others who, when deciding to take the drug take an “it won’t happen to me” attitude. I do not wish this upon anyone and if I had my time over, I definitely would not go anywhere near the stuff.