PROPECIAHELP: Persistent Finasteride Propecia Proscar side effects info & discussion forum

I really need help after discontinuation of propecia.
0) Where are you from (country)?
UK
I really need help after discontinuation of propecia.

0) Where are you from (country)?
UK
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 propecia help
2) What is your current age, height, weight?
28, 5'11, around 170lbs.
3) Do you excercise regularly? If so, what type of excercise?
Yes. Weightlifting
4) What type of diet do you eat (vegetarian, meat eater, raw, fast-food/organic healthy)?
Meat eater
5) Why did you take Finasteride (hair loss, BPH, other)?
hair loss treatment
6) For how long did you take Finasteride (weeks/months/years)?
5 years!
7) How old were you, and WHEN (date) did you start Finasteride?
23 y/o somewhere August of 2007
8) How old were you when you quit, and WHEN (date) did you quit?
28 years old just this February of this year
9) How did you quit (cold turkey or taper off)?
Cold Turkey. Complete cessation of treatment.
10) What type of Finasteride did you use - Propecia, Proscar, Fincar or other generic?
Propecia and some other generic
11) What dose did you take (eg. 1 mg/day, 1 mg every other day etc.)?
1 mg per day
12) How long into your use of Finasteride did you notice the onset of side effects?
after 2 months
13) What side effects did you experience while on the drug that have yet to resolve since discontinuation?
Decrease libido. no sexual desire and tender breast
Put an X beside all that apply:

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

Mental
[ ] Emotional Blunting / Emotionally Flat
[X] Difficulty Focusing / Concentrating
[X] 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
[X] Testicular Pain
[ ] Testicular Shrinkage / Loss of Fullness
[ ] Genital numbness / sensitivity decrease
[X] Weight Gain
[X] 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
[X] Increased hair loss
[ ] Frequent urination
[ ] Lowered body temperature

[ ] Other (please explain)


14) What (if any) treatments have you undertaken to recover from your side effects since discontinuation of the drug?
N/A
15) 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)?
N/A but am trying to submit a consultation with a doctor next week.
16) Anything not listed in the above questions you'd like to share about your experience with Finasteride?
I feel down and depressed with my situation. I have a very low confidence and just want to stay in my bed.
17) Tell us your story, in your own words, about your Finasteride usage and side effects experienced while on/off the drug.

Before I took Finasteride I was vigorous, focused and horny man with hardly any prior medical concerns, sexual or intellectual dysfunctions at all. Planning to cease my hairloss like several sufferers, I made a decision to have a prescription for Propecia in line with the promises by the manufacturer that adverse reactions only appear 2 percent of men and will clear up with discontinuation. Based upon these promises, I decided that by using the pill I wont lose anything, therefore, I sought a prescription through a doctor.

The outcome is actually a pain for an unidentified range of men who sadly are now struggling and battling through each day with several continual symptoms, decreased total well being and health problems, and frequently suffering alone due to insufficient medical knowledge on this detrimental outcome from 5 reductase enzyme inhibitor drugs like finasteride..

One thing i noticed after stopping propecia was that i could not tolerate alcohol.
For the next few months, I would avoid alcohol at all costs.

Also avoid excessive masturbation and too much sex, as this could lead to sexual exhaustion and additional strain on your body.
Go see your GP and get referred to an endocrinologist for hormone & thyroid blood tests.

Go easy with exercise - exercising for prolonged periods could make things worse. Moderate exercise only.

With regards to diet, google paleo diet.

Stay cool man and hopefully you will get back to your normal self soon.

Hi noniman,

Thanks for your quick reply to this post. I am so grateful for you advice. I only drink alcohol frequently and hopfefully I'm going to see an Endocrinologist next week as I am busy with my work. I only exercise about 1 hour in the Gym and taking whey protein supplements as well.

I hope I will be getting normal real soon. I cant masturbate and have sex because It wont stand and erect. What should I take to reverse this effect?

What should I take to reverse this effect?

Most guys on this forum badly need an answer to this question.

There is medical research in progress which will hopefully pinpoint what the problems are and how the drug has affected us:
The thread can be found here.
viewtopic.php?f=33&t=6581

In the meantime, follow the advice of your doctors and go for any of the tests that he/she recommends.
Hopefully your symptoms will improve with time.

You may want to make your doctors aware of the full extent of the problem by taking them print outs of Dr. Traish and Dr. Irwig's papers:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2011.02255.x/abstract
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2010.02157.x/abstract
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02846.x/abstract

Thank you noni,

I hope I can also find the remedies with my problem in this forum.

I am looking forward on it down the road. I am scheduled this monday and hopefull will let you know.

My GP tells my hormones are within the range, I was feeling even worse 5 months soon after propecia bring to an end but negative effects always distressing me. My major concerns are low libido and insufficient energy levels. I told him for a recommendation to an endocrinologist however it will definitely cost me some money.

Post your blood work if you can. Did you get your cortisol checked?

_________________
"Pituitary Gland Not Function As It Should To Low Androgens - Low Test, Low LH, Low FSH, Low HGH"

If your GP refers you to an NHS endocrinologist, then it should not cost you anything.

Ask your endo to check your adrenals, e.g. via a 24hr cortisol salivary test.
Also discuss with your endo whether an ACTH stimulation test would be worthwhile.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACTH_stimulation_test