Is Propecia Really safe?

[StayThick]

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.

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.

[chrisis]

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.

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

[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

[WarLord]

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.

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.

[chrisis]

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.

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?

[WarLord]

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?

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.

[WarLord]

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

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.

[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.

[WarLord]

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.

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

[WarLord]

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?

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.

[Campbell22]

I can say hand on heart that propecia seriously fked up my sexual life and despite being off it for over a year probably I still don't think things are completely back to normal. Actually I know they aren't.

The side effects are not rare. I reckon if you asked half the people who have ever taken it they will report erectile dysfunction and drop in libido. Its indicated for enlarged prostates for gods sake and changes sex hormones. Its hardly vitamin C. I'm a student pharmacist and looking in the BNF it categorically states that the side effects of dutasteride and finasteride include impotence, decreased libido, ejaculation disorders. In that order. These are not 1in 100 occurances. Unlike the states due to our socialist medicine POM medicines can not be advertised so the data collected is unbiased as best as can be and those are the cold hard facts.

[burtandernie]

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.

I am aware of this, but a drug is a gamble anyway you slice it. That model is not 100 percent for sure correct. Its our current guess based off what we knew at the time. Every drug is like this.
Did these guys lack the 5-ar2 but also have an unknown 5-ar3 enzyme that we never knew about it that contributes to that profile of not losing hair? Sure could we have an incomplete map and we make our best guesses trying to help people with no better options. If you have bad MPB significantly affecting your life then by all means use it but minor slow loss I think waiting is a fine option.
The propecia patent is nearly out I promise new treatments are in the works as we speak and in 5 or less years we will have something significantly better or safer.

[Aeroes]

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.

Dude you are making stupid statements. Go and do your homework and look up the actions of DHT besides from making your hair fall out. Your telling me a hormone more potent than testosterone has no effect on your sexual function, your offending a lot of people and being a douchebag about it.

[hhoward77]

I've been taking propecia @ 0.25mg/0.33mg depending on how the pill breaks for 4/5 months now, and the only side effect i can say i've noticed is a slight reduction in ejaculate.
My hair feels fuller, it looks darker, hairs have nearly all stopped falling out when i run my hands through my hair, i have tiny hairs what look like they're growing at the hairline.

About a month or so in i thought propecia was ****ing up my willy, i had penis discharge all the time, it was hurting to urinate, i couldn't get hard, lack of interest in sex blah blah blah... turns out i just had gonorrhoea!!! So i took the antibiotics and all went away and was fine. At the time i was 100% certain propecia was to blame, but infact i was 100% wrong, propecia was not to blame.

anyway....

its a slow process.

Some will have side effects, some wont, some will have mild side effects.. everybody is different.

if you're gonna take it, start low like i did, it's cheaper and will allow the body to get used to it.

[StayThick]

Dude you are making stupid statements. Go and do your homework and look up the actions of DHT besides from making your hair fall out. Your telling me a hormone more potent than testosterone has no effect on your sexual function, your offending a lot of people and being a douchebag about it.

I agree 100% Aeroes. Guy is an obvious troll.