Is Propecia Really safe?

I have a history of sexual side effects from propecia, including no more erections during the morning, and difficulty maintaining one even if I manage to get one in the first place. I stopped eventually, but realizing that it was my last hope for stopping hairloss as rogaine and lasercomb didn't work either, I started taking propecia again, but this time .5 mg every other day to start. Still, I am experiencing side effects as close to one and a half weeks following the start of my regimen.

So I have 3 main worries/questions.

1) if I am getting side effects, should I carry on taking drug, and what percentage of men are able to get over the side effects after continued use.

2) There is news on the web of a Swedish Medical Products agency concluding a safety investigation of Propecia, advising that sexual side effects may be persistent even after the stopping of Finasteride intake.
Wikipedia has even noted it in its side effects column.

3) Even if Propecia is FDA approved, its Longer term effects are still unknown. Seeing as it was only introduced in 1997, it is still a relatively new and untested drug.

So in the end, is PROPECIA REALLY SAFE? I ask myself - what will i do now if in a few years I am both bald AND impotent? Are there other people out there who worry about the severity of these consequences?

Thanks for your time everyone.

It must be safe otherwise it wouldn't be FDA approved or we hope so anyway. There have been cases of drugs being approved to later discover that certain side effects have been over-looked - Vioxx was a case of medication being found later to be dangerous. Funny enough it was a Merck drug.
As for propecia, I am using it but only the doctors and long term users here can comment on it's safety.

Doc, i myself have been using propecia since 1998 with no neg. side affects, i do have a two questions for you. 1. doe's propecia lose it's effectiveness over a long period of use, i've been reading from many postings that this is so. 2. how do you feel about using proscar, inplace of propecia. please reply. thanks

My husband tried propecia for a couple years, but it didn't work for him. Are there any other types of drugs like this that are better?

Thanks in advance,
Tricia
CrazyTikiLady

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Originally Posted by Robert Haber, MD

John

To my knowledge, there is only one long term study on finasteride, and it demonstrated continued effectiveness through about 9 years. I think any other information is anecdotal, therefore hard to trust. I myself have not noticed any decreased effectiveness in the 10 years I've been using finasteride, and I certainly hope it will continue to work forever. Remember that finasteride sometime just slows down hair loss as opposed to stopping it altogether, so that continued thinning may still continue, just over a much longer time frame. That's not the same as losing its effectiveness.

Regarding Proscar cut up into 4 pieces as an alternative to Propecia, I think that probably works as well, and I do have patients on that regimen.

Sincerely

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Doc. thanks for your reply. if you don't mind i have other questions. i'm thinking of adding rogain foam to my regimen, will i still go through a shedding faze even though i think (can't remember) i went through it with propecia many years ago, and would you recommend using nizoral 1% shampoo 2x per week. all i'm taking at this time is the propecia. also have you ever heard of Thomas lab. hair treatments out of Chicago Ill., if so your opinion.

Doc. thank you very much for your answering my questions so quickly, if you don't mind i know in the near future i will have more questions for you. thanks again for your time. john

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Originally Posted by john6776

Doc. thank you very much for your answering my questions so quickly, if you don't mind i know in the near future i will have more questions for you. thanks again for your time. john

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Hello Doc, i been reading about a procedure called BRP, what is your opinion and comments about this. thanks john

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Originally Posted by Taka4312

I have a history of sexual side effects from propecia, including no more erections during the morning, and difficulty maintaining one even if I manage to get one in the first place. I stopped eventually, but realizing that it was my last hope for stopping hairloss as rogaine and lasercomb didn't work either, I started taking propecia again, but this time .5 mg every other day to start. Still, I am experiencing side effects as close to one and a half weeks following the start of my regimen.

So I have 3 main worries/questions.

1) if I am getting side effects, should I carry on taking drug, and what percentage of men are able to get over the side effects after continued use.

2) There is news on the web of a Swedish Medical Products agency concluding a safety investigation of Propecia, advising that sexual side effects may be persistent even after the stopping of Finasteride intake.
Wikipedia has even noted it in its side effects column.

3) Even if Propecia is FDA approved, its Longer term effects are still unknown. Seeing as it was only introduced in 1997, it is still a relatively new and untested drug.

So in the end, is PROPECIA REALLY SAFE? I ask myself - what will i do now if in a few years I am both bald AND impotent? Are there other people out there who worry about the severity of these consequences?

Thanks for your time everyone.

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I started using Propecia in 1997 to 2006, and experienced a different side effect than inability to get or maintain an erection. I had difficulty ejaculating while on the drug and have since been told that this may be one of the long-term side-effects. Once I stopped using Propecia, the problem went away. Fortunately, I haven't noticed appreciable hair loss since I stopped using it.

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Originally Posted by john6776

Hello Doc, i been reading about a procedure called BRP, what is your opinion and comments about this. thanks john

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Hello Doc, my mistake i meant to type PRP. thanks john

Hi.

I would like to make a simple question. They said that the side effects appear on the begginning of the treatment. But when more? In the first month? In the first two weeks?

I´ve been on finesteride for about 4 months. In the beggining I felt no side effects.When I say beggining I say in the first 2/3 months. But now I think I think I feel a reduction of my sexual desire. I don´t know if it happenned because of a failed sexual experience and the worries about it or if it happened because of the drug. The fact is that the more I think about it the less I felt desire. Anyway they said that the effects when they happen they go away after a few time. Is that true?

My last worry is how can I know that this drug is or is not affecting me? Can I do a simply blood test?

I hope you can help me.

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Originally Posted by Robert Haber, MD

Henrique:

Side effects from Propecia are rare. When they occur, onset can be very variable, with some patients experiencing issues within months, and others only after a few years of treatment. That's why its difficult to know if Propecia or other factors are to blame. 60% of patients who have problems find that the problems disappear spontaneously, even continuing the drug. However, since Propecia is out of your system within a few days, I generally recommend discontinuing the drug until symptoms resolve. Then I recommend restarting the drug. If the symptoms recur, then its reasonable to blame the drug.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

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It really helped me, altough it´s hard for me to descontinuate the treatment as it has been effective. I can do a blood test to see if my testosterone is in the right levels can ´t I? Another question is, how can be this side effects related to the drug itself if it is said that they happen in the beggining of the treatment. What is the placebo effect?

Thanks

Propecia worked magic for me. There was a difference in 2 weeks. I was nearly bald (thinned all over). I took propecia, and 1 year later, whole head of hair. There is always give an take. Give was hair, take was boobs and sex drive (5' 11'', 170, so not heavy, should not have boobs). I spent 7K on surgery to get rid of the boobs. So, my advise, if you REALLY want hair, but willing to have a non exsistant sex drive, and man boobs, go for it. You will have hair for sure.

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Originally Posted by selfmade

Propecia worked magic for me. There was a difference in 2 weeks. I was nearly bald (thinned all over). I took propecia, and 1 year later, whole head of hair. There is always give an take. Give was hair, take was boobs and sex drive (5' 11'', 170, so not heavy, should not have boobs). I spent 7K on surgery to get rid of the boobs. So, my advise, if you REALLY want hair, but willing to have a non exsistant sex drive, and man boobs, go for it. You will have hair for sure.

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When I am with a girl everything is normal. I have an erection and I perform at least two times. The problem is when I try to masturbate, nothing happens. I just can´t feel nothing.

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Originally Posted by Robert Haber, MD

Taka:

You didn’t mention if your performance problem resolved while you were off the drug.

The most common reported side effects of finasteride are loss of sex drive and the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. The incidence of these problems however is very small. For men taking finasteride for five years, the difference between the treatment group and the placebo group was only 0.3%. In comparison, the incidence of these complaints in men not on finasteride is as high as 10-15%, particularly for men over 40. Notably, 60% of patients experiencing a sexual side effect found that the problem resolved spontaneously, even if the drug was continued. I’m not aware of any reputable study that has associated a permanent sexual problem with the use of finasteride. Wikipedia is not a reliable source of medical information.

I’ve prescribed finasteride to many thousands of men, and less than 1% of my patients have complained about sexual problems. The only way to manage decreased libido is to decrease the dose of finasteride, or stop it altogether. For problems with performance, I usually prescribe Cialis or Viagra, which allows the continuation of finasteride as well as robust sexual performance.

I’m in my 10th year of finasteride use myself, and I continue to have the utmost confidence in its safety and effectiveness.

All that said, any side effect from any drug should be evaluated by a physician, preferably the one who prescribed the medication, so that other causes can be considered, and a treatment plan developed.

I hope that helps!

Sincerely,

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Dr. Haber - in light of the new information on propecia in the last year or so - do you still feel the same (utmost) confidence in its safety?

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Originally Posted by blakes33

Dr. Haber - in light of the new information on propecia in the last year or so - do you still feel the same (utmost) confidence in its safety?

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I can probably answer for him and say yes.

Though new information on the potential for permanent or long standing persistence may lead to a better understanding of *why*

IMO they should have figured out why in the first place rather then just go "yah it might happen, but small chance"

Ultimately thats what I hope comes of the lawsuits - it'll take awhile for the science but thats what will happen.

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Originally Posted by blakes33

Dr. Haber - in light of the new information on propecia in the last year or so - do you still feel the same (utmost) confidence in its safety?

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Dude why did you have to post this? Now, this doctor is going to get attacked all over the internet. And by that I mean personal attacks, labelling him a Merk employee, immoral, big pharma puppet, unprofessional...and on

He has absolutely no right to express his professional opinion. How dare he say anything postive based on his personal experience of prescribing the drug!

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Originally Posted by khan

Dude why did you have to post this? Now, this doctor is going to get attacked all over the internet. And by that I mean personal attacks, labelling him a Merk employee, immoral, big pharma puppet, unprofessional...and on

He has absolutely no right to express his professional opinion. How dare he say anything postive based on his personal experience of prescribing the drug!

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I didn't mean that as a personal attack or to put him on the spot negatively!! I too am trying to sift through and understand what has come out about the SE's (believe me, I have skin in the game here too). I would be interested to hear a Doctor's opinion (like his) who has prescribed to so many men with good results to see if he still feels the drug is safe or if perhaps he now feels differently... that's all.

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Originally Posted by blakes33

I didn't mean that as a personal attack or to put him on the spot negatively!! I too am trying to sift through and understand what has come out about the SE's (believe me, I have skin in the game here too). I would be interested to hear a Doctor's opinion (like his) who has prescribed to so many men with good results to see if he still feels the drug is safe or if perhaps he now feels differently... that's all.

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I know you didn't, but with statements like this he will get butchered on the internet by the anti-Propecia bullies.
Try searching for the thread on this forum where Dr.Sara Wasserbauer was interviewed. Or check out some of Dr Rassman thread...and so on...

No doctor has a right to say anything positive on the internet, without getting personally attacked.

I am sure most doctors feel the same way. Like any other drug on the market there will be people that have very bad side effects. It’s all based on percentages. A percentage of people will react very badly to sleeping pills and sleep drive into a telephone poll. If that person is you, it’s very possible that you might be angry at the drug company or start an anti sleeping pill movement on the internet or try to put a class action law suit together with all the other people who sleep drove into telephone polls. When you choose to take any medication you risk side effects. That is just the way it is.

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Originally Posted by NotBelievingIt

I can probably answer for him and say yes.

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You really are in no position to be answering for him.

Dr.Haber,
Thanks alot for sharing your opinion. Its nice to see an actual doctor give his opinion on the drug, specially someone that has had experience prescribing it.
So thanks for that!

Thanks a lot for your post, Dr. Haber. You are truly taking a risk by posting your professional opinion, as I believe you are about to be the victim of a number of personal attacks! However, it is much appreciated to hear your thoughts.

There is really so much negativity out there about Propecia, but as you mentioned, people fail to realize that PFS has yet to be demonstrated in a clinical setting! Also, no data exists that proves that people are experiencing these side effects as a result of taking the drug. For all anybody knows everybody could be experiencing different medical problems and just believe Propecia caused them because it’s something they all had in common.

The word of a medical professional is much more powerful than a thousand anonymous know it all’s on a forum. Not to mention dr. Haber is using his real name, his picture, and basically putting his reputation on the line… Plus he himself and his own son are taking the medication! I don’t think any doctor would do this without having the utmost confidence in the drug. That’s why I sleep easy taking Propecia and enjoy the hair that is growing back thicker every day. I think many more people would be able to reap the same benefits if they just weren’t so damn afraid to try it.

Dr. Haber, among you and your colleagues, approximately how many patients total do you believe have been prescribed Propecia? I understand in an interview with Dr. Wasserbauer posted last year, she had prescribed Propecia to thousands of men without a single report of long term symptoms. I am wondering approximately how many men exist in your sample?

Thanks!

I do not think that anyone will have the audacity to personally attack Dr. Haber for stating his honest opinion about a drug that he is willing to prescribe to his own son. The anti propecia camp would lose any credibility that they are attempting to establish if they would stoop so low.

^I hope you're right, but maybe you are overestimating them. In my search I have found anti-propecia posters, wishing the same side effects on users that promote the safe use of this drug. Which I think is a pretty nasty and mean thing to say to anyone, regardless of how you feel about the drug itself. So I wouldn't put this past some of them.

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Originally Posted by khan

In my search I have found anti-propecia posters, wishing the same side effects on users that promote the safe use of this drug. Which I think is a pretty nasty and mean thing to say to anyone, regardless of how you feel about the drug itself. So I wouldn't put this past some of them.

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I have not seen anything of this sort in my online reading. On the contrary, I have seen a lot of ignorant people insult those who are suffering by telling them they are just hypochondriacs or fearmongerers. I could see why the discussion would become so heating and emotional especially when the stakes in question are so high.

Dr. Haber is entitled to his opinion, which I believe is well-intentioned, but I don't hold it to high standards or agree that he is even objective on the matter. If you look at this CV - you will see he spoke at a handful of roundtable discussions that were sponsored by Merck to which he was most likely handsomely compensated. This isn't really some vast conspiracy, but the pharmaceutical industry is infamous for devising ways to get physicians to drink from the kool-aid.

While he says there is no credible evidence that permanent side effects from finasteride exist, he does not seem to be well read on the subject. There are a handful of studies that exist, including the largest study conducted to date by Merck that shows evidence of such side effects. It has also been reported that the FDA has found enough evidence to conduct a routine investigation on the matter, which will hopefully settle the situation once and for all in the near future. In addition to all of the above, there are ongoing and completed studies that have shown evidence of such matters but have yet to be published.

I am against finasteride use for male pattern baldness but would certainly not wish side effects on Dr. Haber and especially not his son. It would be such a devastating outcome if his son become permanently disabled from a cosmetic drug prescribed by his father. Good luck.

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Originally Posted by the_charger

Thanks a lot for your post, Dr. Haber. You are truly taking a risk by posting your professional opinion, as I believe you are about to be the victim of a number of personal attacks! However, it is much appreciated to hear your thoughts.

There is really so much negativity out there about Propecia, but as you mentioned, people fail to realize that PFS has yet to be demonstrated in a clinical setting! Also, no data exists that proves that people are experiencing these side effects as a result of taking the drug. For all anybody knows everybody could be experiencing different medical problems and just believe Propecia caused them because it’s something they all had in common.

The word of a medical professional is much more powerful than a thousand anonymous know it all’s on a forum. Not to mention dr. Haber is using his real name, his picture, and basically putting his reputation on the line… Plus he himself and his own son are taking the medication! I don’t think any doctor would do this without having the utmost confidence in the drug. That’s why I sleep easy taking Propecia and enjoy the hair that is growing back thicker every day. I think many more people would be able to reap the same benefits if they just weren’t so damn afraid to try it.

Dr. Haber, among you and your colleagues, approximately how many patients total do you believe have been prescribed Propecia? I understand in an interview with Dr. Wasserbauer posted last year, she had prescribed Propecia to thousands of men without a single report of long term symptoms. I am wondering approximately how many men exist in your sample?

Thanks!

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Charger- I've seen you on this forum before. You were bashing another doctor who claimed he had seen many men with long-term side effects due to Propecia. And you ripped him apart. Why doesn't his opinion matter, yet this Dr. Haber, who is pro-Propecia, get your utmost respect? If I didn't know better - I would think you had an agenda....

操他妈的！你是恐怖分子！

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Originally Posted by Robert Haber, MD

Taka:

You didn’t mention if your performance problem resolved while you were off the drug.

The most common reported side effects of finasteride are loss of sex drive and the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. The incidence of these problems however is very small. For men taking finasteride for five years, the difference between the treatment group and the placebo group was only 0.3%. In comparison, the incidence of these complaints in men not on finasteride is as high as 10-15%, particularly for men over 40. Notably, 60% of patients experiencing a sexual side effect found that the problem resolved spontaneously, even if the drug was continued. I’m not aware of any reputable study that has associated a permanent sexual problem with the use of finasteride. Wikipedia is not a reliable source of medical information.

I’ve prescribed finasteride to many thousands of men, and less than 1% of my patients have complained about sexual problems. The only way to manage decreased libido is to decrease the dose of finasteride, or stop it altogether. For problems with performance, I usually prescribe Cialis or Viagra, which allows the continuation of finasteride as well as robust sexual performance.

I’m in my 10th year of finasteride use myself, and I continue to have the utmost confidence in its safety and effectiveness.

All that said, any side effect from any drug should be evaluated by a physician, preferably the one who prescribed the medication, so that other causes can be considered, and a treatment plan developed.

I hope that helps!

Sincerely,

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The vast majority of men reporting "side effects" from finasteride is just making them up in their neurotic minds. In recent years, the flood of all those absurd "side effects" ceases to be funny. Consider that some psychotic donkeys start to report impotence even after minoxidil.

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Originally Posted by jorbie

Charger- I've seen you on this forum before. You were bashing another doctor who claimed he had seen many men with long-term side effects due to Propecia. And you ripped him apart. Why doesn't his opinion matter, yet this Dr. Haber, who is pro-Propecia, get your utmost respect? If I didn't know better - I would think you had an agenda....

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Has your penis already fallen off? I see you didn't realize that you were on a wrong forum. You need to find a forum for psychiatric patients, with qualified psychologists and psychiatrists, who can answer your silly questions.

Wow....sorry if I touched a nerve Warlord. Why are you so defensive? Geez...is that kind of behavior appropriate?

I haven't posted in this forum before...but its time I told my story. A few years ago I started taking Propecia after noticing some thinning of my hair. I did my research - checked out the Propecia website, read the insert front to back (I have done that for every drug I've ever taken) and started taking 1 mg a day with little worry. The insert said that in the small percentage of men that experience side effects, just stop taking the drug and they will go away. Before taking this, I was the picture of health - mental and physical. I had a strong libido, and never had any mental health issues. As I write this, I am in the middle of my second year of pure hell. I have a penis that no longer has sensation, and while I can get erections sometimes, I have no desire for sex. I only masturbate now once a week - on a good week - and have no real desire to date anymore. I occasionally try to go out - but it always ends up frustrating me because that familiar tingle I used get, that sexual energy coursing through my body - is no longer there - so I will kiss the girl on the cheek and say goodnight. As harsh as it may sound - I don't think its far from the truth - PFS is essentially chemical castration. Read about Depo Provera - the drug they give pedophiles to castrate them - and the side effects are very similar. The only thing - Depo Provera side effects go away when you stop taking it. Ironic.....
Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is reach down and touch my genitals. I keep thinking that this is all a bad dream, and maybe THIS is the morning I will wake up and everything will go back to normal. I've contemplated suicide, and despite a great career, wonderful family and supportive friends, I'm afraid someday I might actually follow through with it. PFS has to be one of the cruelest fates that can be bestowed upon a young man - yet that is exactly the market for this poison. At some point a critical mass will be reached, so many young men will be made sick that all the Trolls in the world won't be able to silence their suffering, and when that day comes, I hope justice will be served to the company that knowingly sold a medicine that causes permanent damage in some men, and they sold that drug without warnings of such permanent damage. My hope is that at least one man will read this and not make the same tragic mistake I made years ago. This drug is like playing Russian Roulette with your health - is that a risk you want to take for hair?

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Originally Posted by WarLord

The vast majority of men reporting "side effects" from finasteride is just making them up in their neurotic minds. In recent years, the flood of all those absurd "side effects" ceases to be funny. Consider that some psychotic donkeys start to report impotence even after minoxidil.

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Warlord you're an idiot. You on Propecia's payroll?? It's FACT Propecia has been known to cause sexual side effects or sides effects in general in certain men. I understand that those that experienced them tend to make their voice heard louder than those that don't, but to dismiss it as false, untrue, or in their minds is blatantly wrong.

Your rambling attempt at forming a point above is insulting and paints the picture to others you are a naive fool. I myself have experienced side effects from Propecia but that doesn't mean Jack across the street will. Propecia is a powerful drug that can yeild fantastic results for many users. I don't dismiss that. BUT that doesn't change the fact that Propecia unfortunately clearly caused side effects for me personally. Somebody claiming they had sides doesn't make them insane or a liar.

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Originally Posted by StayThick

I myself have experienced side effects from Propecia but that doesn't mean Jack across the street will. Propecia is a powerful drug that can yeild fantastic results for many users. I don't dismiss that. BUT that doesn't change the fact that Propecia unfortunately clearly caused side effects for me personally. Somebody claiming they had sides doesn't make them insane or a liar.

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This is exactly how I feel, however unfortunately this community prefers to villainise sufferers.

Current evidence suggests propecia is safe. It has a long history and the sides statistically speaking are minor. That being said I would not want to use it long term and I completely understand men doing nothing and doctors not wanting to prescribe it. Its just a fact what DHT does is largely unknown but it is found all over.
Do no harm should be everyone motto so messing with a hormone we clearly dont understand should be avoided by anyone with common sense. We could easily find out next week DHT plays a crucial role in something we never knew about

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Originally Posted by StayThick

Warlord you're an idiot. You on Propecia's payroll?? It's FACT Propecia has been known to cause sexual side effects or sides effects in general in certain men. I understand that those that experienced them tend to make their voice heard louder than those that don't, but to dismiss it as false, untrue, or in their minds is blatantly wrong.

Your rambling attempt at forming a point above is insulting and paints the picture to others you are a naive fool. I myself have experienced side effects from Propecia but that doesn't mean Jack across the street will. Propecia is a powerful drug that can yeild fantastic results for many users. I don't dismiss that. BUT that doesn't change the fact that Propecia unfortunately clearly caused side effects for me personally. Somebody claiming they had sides doesn't make them insane or a liar.

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The problem is that almost all these "side effects" are "feelings" and are unprovable. If your penis fell off, then we would have some evidence. But claims that you suffer from impotence or a lack of libido can't simply be taken as any proof.

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Originally Posted by WarLord

The problem is that almost all these "side effects" are "feelings" and are unprovable. If your penis fell off, then we would have some evidence. But claims that you suffer from impotence or a lack of libido can't simply be taken as any proof.

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A lot of physical and psychological problems aren't "provable". Do you tell people with depression that you aren't able to take them seriously?

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Originally Posted by chrisis

A lot of physical and psychological problems aren't "provable". Do you tell people with depression that you aren't able to take them seriously?

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Not people suffering from depression caused by finasteride. I don't take these reports seriously anymore, because the whole issue became grotesque. Go figure, several days ago I read a post from a guy "suffering from ball ache" after minoxidil. Forums like this contain 90% thrash and only 10% useful information.

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Originally Posted by burtandernie

Current evidence suggests propecia is safe. It has a long history and the sides statistically speaking are minor. That being said I would not want to use it long term and I completely understand men doing nothing and doctors not wanting to prescribe it. Its just a fact what DHT does is largely unknown but it is found all over.
Do no harm should be everyone motto so messing with a hormone we clearly dont understand should be avoided by anyone with common sense. We could easily find out next week DHT plays a crucial role in something we never knew about

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You can make a research in all those 100.000 pseudoherms from the Dominacan republic. They completely lack 5-AR2. But they mysteriously survive somehow.

Actually WarLord most of our symptoms can be proven - but why would we need to? We are just men telling our story - and we know what's changed and we just want to warn other men. You don't have to listen to us - but you've been warned.
And besides - many things are difficult to prove - it doesn't make them untrue. Prove you love your dog. Or even better, prove you have a brain.

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Originally Posted by jorbie

Actually WarLord most of our symptoms can be proven - but why would we need to? We are just men telling our story - and we know what's changed and we just want to warn other men. You don't have to listen to us - but you've been warned.
And besides - many things are difficult to prove - it doesn't make them untrue. Prove you love your dog. Or even better, prove you have a brain.

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You don't need to prove anything. I don't take anything that is presented here seriously. The posts simply became too ridiculous.

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Originally Posted by jorbie

Wow....sorry if I touched a nerve Warlord. Why are you so defensive? Geez...is that kind of behavior appropriate?

I haven't posted in this forum before...but its time I told my story. A few years ago I started taking Propecia after noticing some thinning of my hair. I did my research - checked out the Propecia website, read the insert front to back (I have done that for every drug I've ever taken) and started taking 1 mg a day with little worry. The insert said that in the small percentage of men that experience side effects, just stop taking the drug and they will go away. Before taking this, I was the picture of health - mental and physical. I had a strong libido, and never had any mental health issues. As I write this, I am in the middle of my second year of pure hell. I have a penis that no longer has sensation, and while I can get erections sometimes, I have no desire for sex. I only masturbate now once a week - on a good week - and have no real desire to date anymore. I occasionally try to go out - but it always ends up frustrating me because that familiar tingle I used get, that sexual energy coursing through my body - is no longer there - so I will kiss the girl on the cheek and say goodnight. As harsh as it may sound - I don't think its far from the truth - PFS is essentially chemical castration. Read about Depo Provera - the drug they give pedophiles to castrate them - and the side effects are very similar. The only thing - Depo Provera side effects go away when you stop taking it. Ironic.....
Every morning I wake up and the first thing I do is reach down and touch my genitals. I keep thinking that this is all a bad dream, and maybe THIS is the morning I will wake up and everything will go back to normal. I've contemplated suicide, and despite a great career, wonderful family and supportive friends, I'm afraid someday I might actually follow through with it. PFS has to be one of the cruelest fates that can be bestowed upon a young man - yet that is exactly the market for this poison. At some point a critical mass will be reached, so many young men will be made sick that all the Trolls in the world won't be able to silence their suffering, and when that day comes, I hope justice will be served to the company that knowingly sold a medicine that causes permanent damage in some men, and they sold that drug without warnings of such permanent damage. My hope is that at least one man will read this and not make the same tragic mistake I made years ago. This drug is like playing Russian Roulette with your health - is that a risk you want to take for hair?

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I don't recall that I would respond by these words. But it may have been my weak moment, because I am already annoyed by all those hysterical posts. I am sorry.

But go figure - even if all these "side effects" were true, they sound absolutely ridiculous to me. I would sacrifice everything, only to avoid the devastating fate - to look like a circus clown with a horseshoe of hairs around my head. If finasteride works for you, then stick with it and be glad that you don't have to follow the destiny of many millions of men before.

By the way, I jumped on dutasteride 5 weeks ago and the only change that I have observed so far was an increase in libido.