New to hair loss and terrified of Finasteride. My story.

[Notcoolanymore]

Still havent taken the dive yet. Standing on the edge staring into the water lol. I picked up some Nizoral today because my scalp has been really itchy and flaky lately (normal for me when the seasons change). If I start Ill definitely start on the .25 mg a day dose and then stay the **** away from forums and Dr. Google for a while and just treat it like Im taking a vitamin.

To be honest the thing that scares me most of all the sides is the goddamn Gyno. I mean dealing with trouble getting it up and watery loads is one thing, and managable, but as an actor I can't have bitch tits nor can I afford to remove bitch tits.

The fact that out hair follicles are even sensitive to a hormone our own body creates is all the proof I need that there is no God.

What I will recommend is to take it during the time of day when you have little time to think about sides. I take it just before work, so I rarely have time to think about what can happen. When I first started taking fin, I usually had sides on my days off when I had plenty of time to think about it. Now I don't really think about it and all is good. Lastly, yeah gyno would suck, big time.

[arc31]

I am a month away from 29. I think my hairloss is pretty aggressive. I am norwood 4 without the loss in the crown but slowly thinning in that area. I have already had 2 hair transplants (my second one last month) so I was pretty much already all-in and decided to try out the fin.

I think you should give it a shot man. You already purchased it and if it just sits there you will be contemplating it for weeks maybe months and it will drive you crazy. I understand its terrifying and I was with you. But just think of all those guys who it has helped(majority of users) and stop thinking of the side effects.

It may sound silly but when I have been taking it this past week I have been thinking of it as some sort of miracle pill that will not only help my hair but bring back my youth and have actually been feeling better. I suggest you start working out (if you do not already) or maybe try meditation or read some self development books so you can take some of those positive feeling and associate it with taking the pill.

[Gordknight]

Thank's Arc. I really hope that the fin works for you and gives you that ever elusive youth we all seek. I am definitely leaning towards at least giving it a shot.

One question I do have for Dan26 or anyone else that may know is this:

Would it be wise to get a hormone and baseline test before I go on fin? Is there a way to see from my baseline levels if I would be a good responder or at the very least am more likely to get certain sides such as Gyno?

thanks everyone for your replies.

[Dan26]

Thank's Arc. I really hope that the fin works for you and gives you that ever elusive youth we all seek. I am definitely leaning towards at least giving it a shot.

One question I do have for Dan26 or anyone else that may know is this:

Would it be wise to get a hormone and baseline test before I go on fin? Is there a way to see from my baseline levels if I would be a good responder or at the very least am more likely to get certain sides such as Gyno?

thanks everyone for your replies.

It is always a good idea to get baselines brother.

Unfortunately your results wont really give any indication as to how you will respond or of your risk to adverse sides. BUT, if a problem were to ever arise, having those baseline levels is important to refer back to.

I had baselines, and then retested while I was on, and the dose I took barely did anything to my DHT! So now I gotta up the dose lol.

[Gordknight]

Well I took the plunge today. .25 ed. If it maintains then I see no reason to go up. Ill keep you all posted. Arc we are in this together brother.

[arc31]

Good luck Gord! As for me, today will be the 8th day and still no sides. Hopefully a year from now we will both be one of the success stories.

[Gordknight]

I think the key is to just not think about it. Treat it like a vitamin and live your life. I think sides are more likely to show if you expect them. The mind is a powerful thing.

[Notcoolanymore]

Well I took the plunge today. .25 ed. If it maintains then I see no reason to go up. Ill keep you all posted. Arc we are in this together brother.

Oh yeah, welcome to the club.

[Gordknight]

Thanks notcool. Not that I dont love all of you, but I am going to try and stay away from forums and dr google for a while. Ill keep you updated though if any sides kick in.

Im only on day 2 of .25mg and the only thing that feels any different is I think my skin is slightly more oily and my sex drive is through the roof.

Im sure if will balance out over time as I hear high sex drive is common for the first short while.

[ccmethinning]

Thanks notcool. Not that I dont love all of you, but I am going to try and stay away from forums and dr google for a while. Ill keep you updated though if any sides kick in.

Im only on day 2 of .25mg and the only thing that feels any different is I think my skin is slightly more oily and my sex drive is through the roof.

Im sure if will balance out over time as I hear high sex drive is common for the first short while.

Ya when I first started my sex drive went through the roof as well. Didn't take long for everything to go back to normal though.

[chrisis]

do not believe the horror stories about finasteride, they are all fake, trust me!! there is no permanent side effect and all temporary. so please please please do not do the same mistake i did please please because you will regret it later on. go to a good doctor to prescribe propecia for you

Gordknight, remember that is you who would be taking the drug, not this guy, not Merck, [Incendiary commentary removed.]

Propecia can mostly certainly cause permanent side effects, so proceed with caution.

[capitan]

Gordknight, remember that is you who would be taking the drug, not this guy, not Merck, [Incendiary commentary removed.]

Propecia can mostly certainly cause permanent side effects, so proceed with caution.

You mean persistent side effects, that can be treated.

And these persistent side effects have not been observed in any of the many long-term studies done for Finasteride, on over 6000 men. So the chances of getting persistent side effects that take a long time to go away, are extremely slim.

I'm only 17 and I've been on Finasteride for a while and feel great (with a prescription from a dermatologist and an OK from an Endocrinologist).

2% of Finasteride users experience side effects. Honestly, if you do not fall under this 2%, then your solution for balding (at least for 5-10 years) is simple.

By the way wanna know when I had some serious libido and erection problems?

When I was devastated by the amount of hair I was losing.

[Notcoolanymore]

And these persistent side effects have not been observed in any of the many long-term studies done for Finasteride, on over 6000 men. So the chances of getting persistent side effects that take a long time to go away, are extremely slim.

6000 men? Big deal!

Many posters from propeciahelp will swear the odds of getting sides are at best 50-50.

[capitan]

Lol. OP might take you seriously.

[Gordknight]

Notcool, nah I am not taking the propeciahelp stuff to heart. I am not saying that a lot of these guys are making up their side effects, but the reality is Propecia is a very safe drug if you look at the stats. Ever take Aspirin? Cause you are playing with fire with that drug too. EVERY drug ever approved by the FDA has potential side effects.

I am sure there are a lot of guys though that have sides and it REALLY is all in their head. I should know, diagnosed hypochondriac here. If you tell yourself enough times that you have colon cancer, a brain tumor or anything from the symptoms of a cold, in time you will develop symptoms of those serious illnesses.

I feel confident in the fact that the hair surgeon that prescribed me finasteride said he has over 3500 patients on finasteride and out of all of them he had take 3 of them off the drug. 1 because he had a liver issue that is unrelated and cant take any drugs of any kind because of it. The other 2 because of sexual side effects that they couldnt handle. One recovered within a month of being off the drug and the other just chose to lower his dosage to .5mg ed and his sides went away. So really out of 3500 patients ONE guy had side effects he couldnt manage and so got off the drug and he recovered.

He also said that when all the lawsuits against Merck started happening he met with a group of over 150 other doctors that are part of the ABHRS and he said NONE of the doctors had a patient that ever reported permanent/persistent long time side effects from the drug.

I've learned a lot in the past from my bouts of hypochondria and I know not to give into fear mongering anymore. Ill look at the facts and then try. Cause if Finasteride doesnt work for me or I get unmanagable sides... At least I can say I did all I could.