Propecia and its effects.

[Notbaldyet]

some thoughts

just for the guys suffering, i'll share my experience. i know how traumatic this can be. i went to a good doctor (a urologist) who had actually seen quite a few folks with this issue, and actually said that he had just seen somebody the week before i showed up, just to show you how common this is. he basically said that it is most likely that the hormonal changes that propecia causes leading to a decrease in function. without getting too graphic, many know that propecia will cause the elimination of morning wood. most people don't care, or don't notice, because what do you need it for? well, you need it -- getting good blood supply down there nightly keeps things healthy. without it, you get scar tissue formation and decrease in function. what he did for me was to do what happens with guys who get prostate surgery -- daily cialis. and, it worked! it took nearly 8 months (scary ass months) but things came back. so, thats what i would suggest. basically, even if you don't see a difference at first, if you keep taking the cialis, it promotes regrowth of blood vessels (so long as your hormones are ok).

[chrisis]

Nizoral is supposed to be a DHT blocker, which is what causes hair loss. It only works on the scalp itself, it's not actually going to inhibit the activity of DHT in your hormonal system, but I figure it's worth doing especially if you can't tolerate finasteride. There are claims it has secondary benefits of improving the cosmetic thickness of hair, but nobody knows how or why.

[Daneeka]

Aye just Minox, not gotten around to trying Nizoral. What's that supposed to do exactly. Reduce itching?

I'm fairly relaxed about the about the whole thing. If it goes, it goes. I'll be after a pair of decent clippers and a awesome hat. Not gonna risk my health anymore...

[chrisis]

I hope so.

Are you doing anything for your hair besides finasteride now? I'm still on minoxidil and Nizoral, but that's all.

[Daneeka]

I was on a lower dose than 1mg per day for a while before I stopped, so that would make sense. You'll be fine mate.

[chrisis]

It's been at least 6 weeks for me since I stopped finasteride and mine persist. Kinda concerning but I'm thinking if it took 2-3 months for them to begin, maybe it will take 2-3 months to get rid of them. Could it be that simple?

Definitely stick with the minoxidil. I noticed shed off that but got some fuzzy growing in now which is helping my hairline a little. That said 'the big 3' are starting to look very 'little' in my case. I will be reliant on getting a hair transplant to fix my hairline and will stay optimistic about Replicel and such.

[Daneeka]

Yep same sides -I'm definitely in the group that's susceptible. I'd noticed a lower libido for a long time but the reduced ejeculate, testical pain was newish when I really took notice. I feel I caught the symptoms early, as I've never been comfortable taking Propecia and was keeping an eye out for symptoms. That said I'd been taking it for a 3 (and a bit) years before and been fine. It definitely works up top...

Edit: been off it now for about 6 weeks and pretty much back to normal. I'd say there are mitigating factors to stuff like libido, etc. E.g. being in a long term relationship, stress. But for me anyway Propecia was having a definite physiological effect.

I was interested in the straw poll in the "All Propecia users,,, come here please !!!" thread. If folks have been answering honestly it's an interesting result. 40% have seen some sort of side effect.

Exercise takes a back seat from time to time with me -you actually sound more active. I run and it's great for a sense of general well being, which is why I asked.

Minoxidil is a new thing. Been on it for about 3 weeks. I'm only applying it to my hairline as that's where I'm receding. So I guess the finer hairs I've shed are more noticeable there. Too early to say for sure. It's not put me off, the experiment continues. ;-)

[chrisis]

Heyup Chrisis, I chimed in on one of your threads a while back. What you said definitely rings true. Been off the Propecia for probably a while before you. Thought I'd unlurk to offer a word of encouragement. My sides have pretty much subsided, are you exercising, eating right, etc?

My hairlines receding faster, but I think that's down to the Minoxidil. Mixed feelings about the stuff for for now!

That's good to hear Daneeka. How long did it take to return to normal? Did you have the same sides I've explained in graphic details?

I sometimes run but I'm currently transitioning between gyms and waiting for my new one to open in May, so neglecting that aspect a little. I eat relatively well. I wouldn't expect either exercise or diet to have an impact on me though, because I've been fairly consistent before, during and after taking finasteride. The prime suspect is the drug itself, so I guess it's just a case of waiting.

Why do you think your hair is receding due to the minoxidil? I notice a bit of shed but feel it's coming back now. I've been on it since January.

[Daneeka]

Heyup Chrisis, I chimed in on one of your threads a while back. What you said definitely rings true. Been off the Propecia for probably a while before you. Thought I'd unlurk to offer a word of encouragement. My sides have pretty much subsided, are you exercising, eating right, etc?

My hairlines receding faster, but I think that's down to the Minoxidil. Mixed feelings about the stuff for for now!

[NotBelievingIt]

Oh I'm fine with it...it was just written so frankly and unexpected to read, casually, about another mans...ya know haha

[chrisis]

Thanks, clandestine. I felt a bit awkward writing it, but **** it, it's an important topic and the only way I can relay the experience is to provide all of the info. Ultimately the details about the physical changes are what made me realise something had gone wrong, therefore describing it is crucial.

I think people need to ask themselves, if I wasn't sure that finasteride messed my sexual health up, why is it I've abandoned my remaining 2 months supply? If I had any doubts about my experience, I'd take the risk for sure, but I've got none. I still apply the minoxidil twice a day religiously, so it's not about lack of effort or discipline either.

Bottom line is, until this entire topic is cleared up we only have other people's experiences to rely on. The studies can't be trusted because the figures are all over the place, and you should definitely not trust people who pluck figures out the air or suggest that a drug that inherently disrupts the male hormonal system probably just causes side effects in a minority of men with over-active imaginations. Bullshit.

[clandestine]

I'm unhappy that things aren't how they were, but I can still function and I'm optimistic/hopeful that things will return to normal in time.

This is the right attitude.

@NotBelievingIt; I disagree. I think chrisis' post accurately demonstrates how finasteride has the potential to seriously impair sexual function in ways which are clearly in no way psychosomatic.

[NotBelievingIt]

TMI Chris, TMI!! LOL

[chrisis]

Just curious -- what were the circumstances of your "crash"? Were you just unable to achieve an erection one day and concluded that it was related to your finasteride use?

For the first month or so I actually experienced higher libido than usual and everything was fine. Side effects gradually creeped up on me. It may have been a few weeks of lower than usual libido before I was consciously even aware of it. This is graphic (but has to be to), the moment of realisation was one day when I hadn't came in awhile and my load was a pathetic drool and not very pleasurable. I realised my dick was starting to feel numb and libido was through the floor. I'd apparently been either ignoring it or denying it, but the lack of cum was a very real manifestation and sign that something wasn't right. I've been a heavy cummer ever since puberty.

I discontinued taking finasteride and more than a month later I know things still aren't right.

How much anxiety do you experience today over your sides? Is it something that you think about and stress over regularly throughout the day? Do finasteride-related thoughts/stress come to your mind while you attempt to masturbate or have sex now?

It's on my mind for sure. If I go to jerk off and my dick feels less sensitive than usual then how can it not be? I might even use vaseline or something to help it along. Then when my load is pathetic I realise I'm still stuck with these side effects. I don't actually feel stressed to be honest, just aware. I'm unhappy that things aren't how they were, but I can still function and I'm optimistic/hopeful that things will return to normal in time.

I've said it before, but I'm very confident that a portion of men who experience sides do so because they begin the drug expecting to.

This might be so if we're talking about the inability to pop a boner now and then or libido taking a bit of a dive, but how do you explain that pre-finasteride I had loads of precum and came loads, then post-finasteride, I get no precum, and a watery, pathetic dribble of a load. Yes I can still cum, but not gonna lie that I miss the explosive orgasms I used to have. You can't explain these physical changes saying I'm stressed and such. I've been through much more stress in my life before and never experienced such crazy problems.

I hope this clarifies things for you. Wish I was making it up.

[captainmoon]

As for anxiety/stress about hair loss causing an impairment to my sexual health: doubtful. As I've repeated on the forum several times, I didn't experience any problems until 2-3 months after starting finasteride. It's not like my stress suddenly heightened at that time. Makes no sense.

Just curious -- what were the circumstances of your "crash"? Were you just unable to achieve an erection one day and concluded that it was related to your finasteride use?

How much anxiety do you experience today over your sides? Is it something that you think about and stress over regularly throughout the day? Do finasteride-related thoughts/stress come to your mind while you attempt to masturbate or have sex now?

I think these are details that should be addressed. No normal person can be expected to have a functional sex life unless their minds are clear and free from distractions. Hell, I know I can barely get it up on days when I'm tired/stressed/annoyed/have a lot on my mind/etc. and I'm not even on finasteride.

I'm not trying to diagnose you, just want to know the details of your situation. These are questions I wish I could ask some of the members on the Propecia Help site. I've been on there quite a bit recently and I'm honestly appalled by it. So many young men who have absolutely nothing wrong with them (took finasteride for 2 days, claim their erections are "not at 100% anymore" ) and truly feel like their lives are over. They read about a certain side effect on there and suddenly realized they have it too, so on and so forth.

I've said it before, but I'm very confident that a portion of men who experience sides do so because they begin the drug expecting to. Having one bad day where they can't get it up throws them into a frenzy that they can't seem to recover from. It's like a domino-effect, and websites like Propecia Help do nothing but feed the fear and keep people like this sick.