Anyone who had eliminated side effects of finasteride with lower dose

[fab]

So, just wanted to add and explain better, this is really interesting, as i said, something was always wrong with me and I always thought it was something else. As i said, anxiety, forgetfulness, emotional sensibility, depression, i had no idea what was, just thought i was always like that, but when I stopped Fin they went away (the sexual sides remain). So while on Fin, these sides were for years with me, i would have really bad anxiety issues, and everything related to that.

There are studies (example: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17026771), which proves that Finasteride mechanism of action also diminishes neurosteroids that regulate anxiety and depression. This is interesting also: http://www.baldingblog.com/2006/04/1...from-propecia/ so these are all side-effects that can happen, not only the sexual ones, very interesting.

And this is not all, prostate cancer is also one: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/MedWatch/S.../ucm258529.htm

The truth is, the side effects may be there, but you get by, or not, even the sexual sides might strike you a bit, in some part of your life, but they might not disturb you enough for you to notice or care about it.

[fab]

Check this out: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...563.x/abstract

Hi charger, this is good to know and I had an idea about it, but from my experience, when I 1st took this drug, years ago, my doc warned me and I read the label, I knew about the sexual side effects, I took it anyways, I had no problems, but i've always noticed that something was wrong (sometimes i'd have problems in getting it hard but didn't care about it because I thought it could be something else, but the truth is, Fin indeed got me a bit, but i could get by, and i also noticed a high incidence of anxiety, forgetfulness, emotional sensibility, depression, these last ones i didn't know what was. After years I went to know that these may also be caused/aggravated by Fin). And just recently they changed the label for this drug.

So just recently, i lots libido completely and ED has affected me, just out of the blue. I know it's hard to believe in that, and that's why I'm still investigating what could be.. As I said Fin has an affect on it, but it could also be something else, (some people say the problems are only Fin related but I want to confirm that before, people are different and one thing I learned, this drug affects different people in different ways) Read my other post here: http://www.baldtruthtalk.com/showthr...?t=8246&page=9

There is no studies about it long-term, over 10-15 years.

[chrisis]

The Charger, starting to think you must have a vested interest in defending Propecia. The amount of time you devote to interrogating people who've suffered from side effects is not normal. Let people have their say.

[the_charger]

Thank you for your explenations.

Well i guess i cannot be 100% sure it was Fin, but there are several things i did not mension in my first post, because I primarely wanted to share my good reaction to a lower dose.

It wasnt only erection problems but libido as well. I had no interest in sex and believe me when i say that i was horny all the time and my erections were extremely hard (Sorry for the dirty talk ) When i took my mind of the sexual aspect while being in bed with my girlfriend (lets say closing the blinds) the erection instantly became "weaker".

Check this out: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...563.x/abstract

It isnt a huge study, only done on around 100 guys, but it is still a very relevant example of those mental side effects.. it shows both ed and libido are effected by being told about the side effects.

though obviously propecia does cause side effects, because when studies are done properly with a placebo people who take propecia have around 2% higher rates of side effects.. but the study shows that its probabably much more likely if someone is having side effects its because its in their mind. fyi too, this isnt my theory, I learned about this from a doctor who had an interview with spencer about a year ago, and I completely agree with her.

but what I dont know if you can just snap out of it, or does this keep happening based on your mood, or if it happens is it there to stay until you stop taking the medication? this I dont know, maybe if we have some doctors or especially anyone that knows a lot about psychology reading this they can shine some light on it.

I am glad to learn that sides do not seem to be caused only by the low DHT. So i can still hope that 0.5 will do something for my hair i guess. (its more like 0.625 mg since i cut a proscar into 8 pieces)

in all likelyhood it should help your hair just the same! because your DHT is being lowered almost the same as if you were taking a full 1mg dose... but im not sure if there are any studies done on a lower dose to prove how effective it is

[tizzle]

Thank you for your explenations.

Well i guess i cannot be 100% sure it was Fin, but there are several things i did not mension in my first post, because I primarely wanted to share my good reaction to a lower dose.

It wasnt only erection problems but libido as well. I had no interest in sex and believe me when i say that i was horny all the time and my erections were extremely hard (Sorry for the dirty talk ) When i took my mind of the sexual aspect while being in bed with my girlfriend (lets say closing the blinds) the erection instantly became "weaker".

I am glad to learn that sides do not seem to be caused only by the low DHT. So i can still hope that 0.5 will do something for my hair i guess. (its more like 0.625 mg since i cut a proscar into 8 pieces)

[the_charger]

I made the account only to share this.

I startet losing hair very quick so i started to take finasteride 1.25 mg each day. My Doctor told me that sexual sides are often only in the head. But i took it over two months with no sides an i didnt give it another thought. So when i started to get less hard erections, it was definitely caused by Fin.

how did you know they were definitely caused by fin? just because sides might be in your head it doesnt mean that you even consciously know its happening... when your doctor says its in your head, he didnt mean people fake them or consciously decide to have side effects, its a subconscious thing actually

So i lowered the dose to 0.6 and within 1 week i got all my "strenght" back
I guess i came back so fast because i have been taking it for only 3 month before reducing the dose.

I am aware that on the DHT scale, 0.6 ist reducing DHT almost as much as 1mg.

i saw a DHT scale too, I am trying to find it again, but I remembe rthe difference between 0.5mg and 1mg is only a cople percentage difference.. I remember DHT is lowered by like 56% on 0.5 and by 60% on 1mg. this is almost insignificant, especially because your hormones fluctuate by even more than this throughout the day..

another thing to consider is side effects in men on 1mg compared to 5mg are pretty much exactly the same.. so as long as you are taking enough of the drug to lower DHT (again by that scale I think this was somewhere around 0.3mg or something) then the effect on your body is pretty much the same.

Therefore sides should be the same, since the sides are caused by lowering DHT right?

no, it is pretty clear that sides arent caused by lowering DHT alone. one example that this isnt the case is that there is another drug similar to finasteride called dutasteride, but that drug lowers DHT by 95%, but side effects are almost exactly the same as men who take finasteride and lower DHT by 60%

but yes, thanks for sharing your story with us, it is interesting to learn all these different experiences!

[chrisis]

Thanks for creating your account to share that Tizzle.

The more people who come forward, the more it becomes quite clear that the study numbers do not reflect reality.

I'm glad you managed to resolve your side effects.

fab, I will probably see a doctor and endocrinologist soon. I have to say though, I had no issues with my sexual health whatsoever until 2 months after taking this drug. I'd be shocked if it was something else.

[tizzle]

I made the account only to share this.

I startet losing hair very quick so i started to take finasteride 1.25 mg each day. My Doctor told me that sexual sides are often only in the head. But i took it over two months with no sides an i didnt give it another thought. So when i started to get less hard erections, it was definitely caused by Fin.

So i lowered the dose to 0.6 and within 1 week i got all my "strenght" back
I guess i came back so fast because i have been taking it for only 3 month before reducing the dose.

I am aware that on the DHT scale, 0.6 ist reducing DHT almost as much as 1mg. Therefore sides should be the same, since the sides are caused by lowering DHT right?

But nevertheless i wanted to share that in my case reducing the dose made all my sides go away

Unfortunately i think my hair loss isnt much better yet. Since reducing the dose i started Minoxidil too out of despair But i only startet in january, i guess i have to hang in there

[fab]

I took Finasteride 1mg for 10 years, I wanted to write my experience.

I'm also suffering from ED, loss of libido, lack of sex drive. Never had a problem that i noticed before, only noticed a year back it was slowly becoming a problem.

What I want to add is: Please go see a doctor, urologist, what ever it is, and do all the blood work for everything including thyroid function (there is a list of exams you can google), prostate ultrasound, urine exams, everything that can be done to see the root of the problem. Then come here and report your findings.

In my case, I took Finasteride and after 10 years I had problems, googled and assumed it's finasteride, but I'm going to do the exams to confirm that theory. And then come here and report.

I believe that Finasteride aggravates and/or generates problems that will cause the sexual dysfunction and these needs to be addressed.

I believe I have prostatitis (don't know how i acquired that). I'm going to do an ultrasound and will let you all know. This might have an effect on my ED, on top of finasteride.

My free T was also low, this as well has something to do.

So, in conclusion, It's not only Finasteride, it can be many other factors.

[chrisis]

hi Chrisis,

I'm new to this forum, have you since noticed any side effects subsiding?

Thanks!

Yeah very slowly! I still have less sensitivity and take longer to... you know.

There's not a single doubt in my head that it's 100% down to finasteride.

chrisis; found a post that might be of some interest to you.

Thanks clandestine. I'm just giving it time and hoping it'll all go back to normal. I'm about 80% function maybe. I try not to obsess on it, because that probably won't help. I can't forget about it though. The symptoms are as obvious to me as asking an amputee to forget he has a missing leg. I've no doubt given my experience that finasteride is a dangerous drug and one day I'll be vindicated. There's no way to know if you'll be in the % affected, so roll the dice: you feeling lucky punk?

[clandestine]

chrisis; found a post that might be of some interest to you.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15913872

Use the link above and see for yourself. Claritan (Loratadine) has been clinically determined to solve erectile dysfunction in men. I suffered from sexual dysfunction for many years after discontinuing propecia and stumbled upon this by accident. I tried Claritan for an allergy and the next day I noticed that I had regained full erectile function. Try it please and never give up hope.

[rjg1]

Title pretty much sums up this topic. I always do a lot of research before posting a question, but I'd like some more feedback on this if possible.

Are there any guys who have experienced side effects on the recommended dosage of finasteride (1mg-1.25mg), and then successfully eliminated them with a lower dose?

If so:

1) What was your new dose?
2) What did you notice in terms of your hair?
3) Did the side effects go away completely? Or is it a compromise?

My story:

Started taking finasteride in November.
Side effects hit me in February: fewer erections, less volume and thinner consistency of semen, lower libido/interest in sex.
Stopped taking finasteride this week and waiting for my libido to return before considering my options. I am still applying minoxidil and using Nizoral shampoo, as I assume they aren't responsible for the sides.

Thanks

P.S. I don't really want a debate on whether finasteride causes side effects or not! I've heard both sides of the argument and I'm simply interested in a solution to my situation

hi Chrisis,

I'm new to this forum, have you since noticed any side effects subsiding?

Thanks!

[chrisis]

^Chris, people that have sides are much more likely to come to forums and report them. Just think of how many people that take this drug and the number of people that come to these forums with complaints.
So you are right, there is a bias.

Wasn't the case with me. My sides came after I joined the forum. I know people offline who have sides and haven't posted to any forums about it. I rarely see people creating posts complaining just about sides, normally it's just a remark. People come to this forum for answers about their hair loss, not to specifically complain about finasteride. Also any bias is more than offset by the fact that many men won't mention it at all because they're either embarrassed or have learned to deal with it or compromise.

just a thought bro, just wait and don't stress out.

Thanks mate. Sounds like a plausible theory

[NotBelievingIt]

If you had very high DHT and had sides, I'm curious what the rest of your figures were for things like free test, estradiol and SHBG.

[Maradona]

Good to hear you resolved your issue Losing_it. Hoping I can do the same, but I'm still scared to touch finasteride if I'm honest. I don't think I'm 100% back to normal, and it's been around a month since I stopped

I do wonder if those who consistently stick their heads in the sands about the side effects of finasteride are reading these posts that keep coming up. It's like they have selective bias and stick their fingers in their ears - la la la I can't hear you!!!

Hello chris i think i know why you have side effects.

You said your hair loss was very slow right? it could be because even though your follicles were sensitive to DHT, you had a low DHT all this time since yours 20 and thats why you still have lots of hair now.

So your body has to work with that low DHT and finasteride took it away...you know? so thats why you had side effects.

Imo, it could take you up to a year to get back your normal self.

When I took fin and got sides i recovered quickly because I have very very high DHT.

just a thought bro, just wait and don't stress out.