Anyone who had eliminated side effects of finasteride with lower dose

[Jcm800]

Where do you get your Fin from? I was tempted a couple of years ago to go on the Boots hair retention programme, bottled out tho. I even asked my GP about Fin and he said "go for it". He was of the opinion at the time that many patients took Proscar and didn't complain, so Fin shouldn't be a worry.

[chrisis]

Indeed! Well I'm happy to say that my side effects are pretty much gone now I think. I will soon be trialing finasteride again at 0.25 or 0.5mg. What dose you on, DepressedByHairLoss?

[DepressedByHairLoss]

And also as a sidenote, I started taking Propecia well before I even started researching its side effects on the web. I've been taking Propecia since mid 2010 and I didn't even sign up on here until 2011.

[DepressedByHairLoss]

I agree with this Chrisis. I think that constant trolls on here who are very extreme in their anti-Propecia stances give guys like you and me a bad name (sensible guys who are truly experiencing side effects from Propecia). I myself am experiencing side effects from Propecia yet I continue to take it because I am absolutely scared to death of going bald. But I know Propecia is causing side effects with me, and I really do believe with strong conviction that Propecia does cause side effects in way more than 3% of men (the number that Merck gives us). When you drastically curtail the production of an essential male hormone throughout the entire body, the body is not just going to have no reaction whatsoever, I believe.

[chrisis]

Listening to people like STTB, telling people they are screwed and will now "never" recover cause they injested poision, is not going to help combat side effects.

Well I agree. We need to strike a balance between advocating the use of finasteride to prevent hair loss and warning about potential side effects.

[25 going on 65]

I am quite suspicious of Dr. Crisler's intentions.

[khan]

Yes they are probably not psychological but in such a situtation, the only person that can help you is a Doctor, and positive thinking. Listening to people like STTB, telling people they are screwed and will now "never" recover cause they injested poision, is not going to help combat side effects.

There are worse drugs that people take and recover 100% in time. I don't understand how telling people there life is screwed forever helps anyone (and thats what people like STTB have been doing). Even John Crisler has the same attitude.

I don't mean to be rude but some of you are pretty clueless.

Consider the following:

• almost total lack of penis sensitivity
• pitiful amount of semen
• interest in sex virtually NONE to the extent that even masturbating is a chore

It's not just an issue of not popping a boner one day.

I experienced the above side effects 2-3 months after taking finasteride. I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago and I'm slowly but surely getting back to normal. If, as some of you suggest, the side effects were purely psychological then this presents the question as to why a psychological issue about taking a drug would take weeks to resolve. It strongly suggests that the drug has a has a very real impact on the body's hormonal system to the extent that the drug manifests physical side effects.

I can only conclude that some of you are willingly sticking your head in the sand. Fine, but if you're one of the men susceptible to side effects you will suffer them regardless.

[chrisis]

I don't mean to be rude but some of you are pretty clueless.

Consider the following:

• almost total lack of penis sensitivity
• pitiful amount of semen
• interest in sex virtually NONE to the extent that even masturbating is a chore

It's not just an issue of not popping a boner one day.

I experienced the above side effects 2-3 months after taking finasteride. I stopped taking it 3 weeks ago and I'm slowly but surely getting back to normal. If, as some of you suggest, the side effects were purely psychological then this presents the question as to why a psychological issue about taking a drug would take weeks to resolve. It strongly suggests that the drug has a has a very real impact on the body's hormonal system to the extent that the drug manifests physical side effects.

I can only conclude that some of you are willingly sticking your head in the sand. Fine, but if you're one of the men susceptible to side effects you will suffer them regardless.

[jayth]

Chris, I know it can be extremely tough, coping with side and waiting for them to go away. And maybe its not my place to comment here, since I haven't had any (yet), but just as a friendly suggestion, why don't you take some time off worrying. Hanging around these threads listening to people talk about them isn't going to make things better, its definitely not going to make side go away. I know someone who recovered in about 3 months time, and he said it was very gradual road to recovery.
Anyways, its up to you man, you know whats best.

Great advice khan. I think I'm gonna do just that. If a bunch of people tell you that you WILL have sides the chances are you will. I noticed after reading on here that the day I started Fin I was convinced I could'nt get a hard on lol Guess what. I had difficulty getting an erection that night. What are the chances of sides on day 1?? I would say slim to none.

[chrisis]

I
Don't worry about it.
It's mostly in guys heads.

Speak for yourself. Not everyone is the same.

Khan: I don't think I'm around these threads enough for them to manifest in my sexual life, but I appreciate the advice. I was hanging around this forum for awhile before my side effects kicked in.

I know the drug itself made a difference.

[bob13]

I quit for 6 months after being on it for 5 years.
I had no difference except my hair started to thin.

Don't worry about it.
It's mostly in guys heads.

[khan]

Still got my sides, which is weird because it's supposed to be "all in my head" so surely they should have stopped by now......................

Glad to hear your sides are better with 0.25mg dose! How much better are they? What do you notice in terms of the difference between 1mg and how you felt before taking it at all?

Chris, I know it can be extremely tough, coping with side and waiting for them to go away. And maybe its not my place to comment here, since I haven't had any (yet), but just as a friendly suggestion, why don't you take some time off worrying. Hanging around these threads listening to people talk about them isn't going to make things better, its definitely not going to make side go away. I know someone who recovered in about 3 months time, and he said it was very gradual road to recovery.
Anyways, its up to you man, you know whats best.

[chrisis]

Hi Chrisis

Looks like we're in a simmilar situation regards Fin and hairloss type. How are you getting on with the sides after stopping cold?

I started proscar (5ths 1mg) in beginning nov '11 and soon developed same sides as you after 1-2 months. Worst thing being the testicular pain and hard to get erection.

Reduced dosage gradually rather than stopping cold and now on approx 0.25mg every day as best I can measure Sides are better but not 100% I'd say compared to before Fin. Still shedding too

Still got my sides, which is weird because it's supposed to be "all in my head" so surely they should have stopped by now......................

Glad to hear your sides are better with 0.25mg dose! How much better are they? What do you notice in terms of the difference between 1mg and how you felt before taking it at all?

[ryan555]

I think some guys attribute everything that happens to them to this drug, especially those who anticipate side effects because they read these horror stories online. I experienced a pretty long bout of depression when I was younger before I ever took fin. In fact, I've had all kinds of weird, unexplained ailments during my life. Some of them happened before I took the drug, some happened during and then went away while I was still on it. The human body is not a perfect machine and things go wrong sometimes.

I am sure that this drug has more common side effects than originally stated by Merck. I had several side effects while on the drug but I never gave them a second thought because I never read any of these terrible stories and I assumed the drug to be safe. And I was fortunate that the effects all went away shortly after I stopped the drug. However, I can tell you for certain that many, MANY drugs on the market are much more dangerous than this one and that it is not uncommon to experience side effects long after you stop them. Common tranquilizers that Americans pop like candy can cause horrific neurological syndromes and take years to recover from. Anti-depressants can wreak havoc on people and make depression worse for months after stopping. Birth control pills cause hormonal side effects in almost 100% of women who take them. There is an entire class of antibiotic drugs that are widely known to cause severe neurological damage in 5 - 10% of people who take them and they are still on the market. There are dozens of drugs that are commonly prescribed that have "black box" warnings because they can cause deadly rejection syndromes. Many psychiatric drugs have long been known to cause permanent neurological twitches in most people who take them long term and they are still prescribed. And more people die from Tylenol every year than just about any drug on the market.

The point is, taking a drug is a serious decision and you generally have to accept some side effects. You have to weigh the cost vs. the benefit. However, in the scheme of things, this drug is really pretty benign for the vast majority of people who take it.

[alex82]

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

Looks like we're in a simmilar situation regards Fin and hairloss type. How are you getting on with the sides after stopping cold?

I started proscar (5ths 1mg) in beginning nov '11 and soon developed same sides as you after 1-2 months. Worst thing being the testicular pain and hard to get erection.

Reduced dosage gradually rather than stopping cold and now on approx 0.25mg every day as best I can measure Sides are better but not 100% I'd say compared to before Fin. Still shedding too