Have you had any bad side effects from Propecia?

[Username1234]

Sorry if this is the wrong forum, it's just the most active and I'd like everyone's opinion. If you've been using Propecia, how long have you been using it for? Have you experienced any negative side effects?

I'm just concerned about the horror stories about permanent erectile dysfunction and all of that. I don't want to ruin my life over this!

[ryan555]

I took it for 12 years without any side effects. The stories about "permanent side effects" are bogus. And if you'll notice, all the guys who drop in on this thread and tell you how horrible the drug is thought the side effects were so unbearable that they took it for years themselves. They probably ended up on one of the anti-propecia hysteria websites one day and freaked themselves out so now they spend their time scaring guys out of taking the med. Just try the drug and assume you won't have any side effects. If you do, then stop the medication and you'll go back to normal within a few days.

[Spex]

I think its a fertility drug. I have taken it 10 years NO sides other than at first attempt struck gold with Twins.

Dont focus your mindset on the negatives (negative posts are easy to find on anything if you dig deep enough) as they are few and far between. Focus on the positives and what it can potentially do for you.

Ruin your life is a little dramatic. IF you go into taking meds expecting side effects - you will get them as the mind is a powerful tool.

I 100% agree with a post made by MattJ recently on another forum:

Young guys denying themselves the benefits of Propecia due to overexposure to the proportionally small number of severe side effect sufferers is the real horror story. I wouldn't go as far as to say that the horror stories are completely unfounded, but the majority of Propecia users are quietly keeping their hair and leaving the online anecdotal record skewed towards the negative.

You should at least give it a try.

Best
Spex

[JOE-91]

Just to give you another opinion,

I'm 19, took it for 5 months on and off in doses often no bigger than 0.2 mg and almost a year after quitting thew drug I am dealing with severe libido and erection issues.

[JOE-91]

Furthermore, the permanent side effects of finasteride are not "bogus" at all, I assume you have read these "horror stories" on propeciahelp or maybe even askaptient?

There are many men with blood results proving that they have hypogonadism, poor thyroids and other problems. I would definitely agree that they are rare, but no way are they bogus - 1600 users on the main propecia side effects website don't come for nothing, with users popping up all the time, young and old with horrific blood test results.

[ft7we]

I've been on it a month to the day and zero side effects. I would have started it much, much sooner had I not generally been a person averse to the idea of taking medication. It was only after it seemed like the hair loss was getting worse and it was obvious that the regimen I was using wasn't sufficient.

[morbby]

12 years no side effects that I know of

[ryan555]

Originally Posted by JOE-91

Furthermore, the permanent side effects of finasteride are not "bogus" at all, I assume you have read these "horror stories" on propeciahelp or maybe even askaptient?

There are many men with blood results proving that they have hypogonadism, poor thyroids and other problems. I would definitely agree that they are rare, but no way are they bogus - 1600 users on the main propecia side effects website don't come for nothing, with users popping up all the time, young and old with horrific blood test results.

You're right, I should not have said they are bogus. The hysteria about them is bogus, however. There are many, many drugs that carry a much larger risk of long term or permanent side effects that don't get nearly as much attention. Hypogonadism caused by Propecia is exceedingly rare and it's easy to test for. Many of the men who claim long term side effects have normal hormone levels, so it is almost certainly a psychological effect.

I do feel for the men who have suffered long term side effects, but the hysteria does not fairly represent reality. It would be like encouraging people not to drive a car because they might get in an accident.

[skipstah70]

Originally Posted by ryan555

I took it for 12 years without any side effects. The stories about "permanent side effects" are bogus. And if you'll notice, all the guys who drop in on this thread and tell you how horrible the drug is thought the side effects were so unbearable that they took it for years themselves. They probably ended up on one of the anti-propecia hysteria websites one day and freaked themselves out so now they spend their time scaring guys out of taking the med. Just try the drug and assume you won't have any side effects. If you do, then stop the medication and you'll go back to normal within a few days.

You really should know better than to make bullshit statements like this. People who have come forward with permanent side effects regarding Propecia have a right to make their claims, and I don't believe they are bogus as more than a few who are making claims are backed up by legit physicians. Time will tell. You speak with the authority of a doctor, but I'm pretty sure you ain't.

I'll qualify myself as one of the people who "drop in" and tell other guys how shit this drug made my life, and I took it for about about the same length as you (12 years). The reason I continued to take it, and endure the common ED side effects, was because while I knew it was causing grief in my sex life.. I knew it was working well for my hairline.. and I didn't want to lose that. It is a standard catch 22, but the hard choice has to be made at some point:

A. take the drug.. keep hair/ slow hairloss.. suffer from ED side effects.

B. quit the drug.. let MPB progress.. have full use of my dick.

There are only two options as far as I can see, and Viagra is no long term solution to option A. For me B was the only option. I'm glad more people seem to be coming forward and stating their honest experience with this drug.. there seem to be a lot more guys saying that they have issues with Prop. Still, I think the majority who try and experience probs with it will still just quit taking the drug and think screw this option all together, rather than come here and say anything.

[Thinning@30]

I recently quit propecia due to side effects. I took it for about 9 months, so I can't really say whether it worked for me, but I definitely did not regrow any hair in that time. I did notice a significant decrease in libido. I had less interest in sex, fewer spontaneous erections, and the erections I did have were less firm. This past year has been a very stressful time for me. I had a lot going on in terms of my career and buying a home, so I don't know whether this was from all my stress or from the propecia, but one that had to be from the propecia was a significant decrease in semen. It was so noticeable that my partners commented on it, and my significant other even became convinced that I was having secret affairs. To be fair though, now that I have been off it a month, things seem to be returning to normal.