Now 34, at age 28, I took low dose Finateride .25mg per day for 7 months. I grew no hair but don’t think i lost any more. I started in 1999. So it has been 6 years since I stopped. During treatment, I had little libido, weak erections, loss of concentration - like a dizziness,spots (never had spots - only a couple during teenage years), slight breast enlargement and generally fatter, increased beard growth and increased chest hair growth - also had to urinate very often.
I stopped eventually and was shocked at how the side-effects did not go away at all. For two weeks i didn’t panic because as a physiologist I am aware how long it can take to flush medication from the system - but when things didn’t improve I went and saw a doctor.
Like most of you I imagine, the doctors were no real help. I had supposedly normal testosterone levels (a bit low) and the doctors were unaware of Finasteride really. I will dig out all the reports in due course and post to the group.
Another more senior endocrinologist and private doctor who had the time to help me was polite but frankly didn’t beleive this was happening. I made the point that I had always had very strong erections in fact it used to hurt they were so strong - i thought i would burst something! One thing I really notice was the amount of seminal fluid reduction ever since taking Finasteride.
So after a few months passed, the side-effects did ebb away to some degree but it took a year before I was about 80% ‘normal’. Ever since nothing has improved (or worsened).
Having had a long relationship since all of this, I can tell you that the loss of libido is a big problem. Once the initial passion wears off, it is only the testosterone that i guess keeps you wanting to have sex every night - in fact i could happily avoid sex for 2 weeks and my girlfriend was not impressed and despite being a sexy person - she was not a demanding person in that respect. I would have been in trouble with a less sensitive person.
Also the lack of erection power means that I have gone from a happy average size to an inch smaller which really doesn’t do much for the ego when that is what you need to get you going again.
The brain fog is the worst thing. I find it very hard to concentrate. I get dizzy alot and find that when scrolling a webpage, I get nausious and cannot track the movement easily. Also if I am driving and looking for a street name, the constant shifting of focus, is very straining. It is a bit like a constant hangover.
Always tired and lethagic. Following conversations is very difficult when they are spinning off in many directions. I am very forgetful and can’t grasp the words I want. I also find organisation and planning extremely difficult, even writing this report with any sense of good order as I would have done 10 years ago as a science student, is taxing.
Motivation is seriously lacking which is a shame because I have gleened that exercise could help with testosterone levels but it is very difficult to get started. This is what I will try to do next.
As far as any arthritic problems, I have weakened left knee and clicking joint in the wrist and ankles which I cannot attribute to anything logical.
I have been reading about testosterone supplemention as a way of getting things back on track and wonder if anyone has had any feedback on this.
Also I have been noticing a correlation between the post side-effects that differ between those who got hair regrowth and those that did not with those that did not having it a lot worse eg.
People like me who had no regrowth, got spots and beard growth and people who had great sucess with finasteride reported their acne
clearing up and having to shave less often.
Summary (* means it has recovered 1 year after stopping)
- Erectile Difficulties - 90% recovered
Penile Changes (shrinkage) - Gyno
Pain in Joints
Difficulty Focusing - VERY BAD - Testicular pain - totally fine now
Lacking Motivation - VERY BAD
Dizziness - VERY BAD - Acne (body or facial)- 95% recovered
Hair Falls out Slower - difficult to know ceteris parabis but think so
Gain of Body Hair - chest hair
Weight Gain - Yes but also due to the no motivation, no exercise cycle
Persistent or Unexplainable Fatigue - Loss of Libido - QUITE BAD
Reduced Ejaculate - ONLY 20% of PREVIOUS VOLUME - NO PRESSURE EITHER
Toby
- Just so you all know, my girlfriend got pregnant with all of this, so other than being a superhero in the bedroom which naturally helped
there doesn’t seem to be a problem with health of the sperm being produced despite the lowering seminal volume. Nor the delivery thereof despite the lowering pressure of release. In short - younger members don’t need to fear that this will affect their chances of having children if I am any measure.