Started Finasteride 2 weeks ago - Already getting sides.

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  • DifferentLine
    Member
    • Feb 2013
    • 66

    Started Finasteride 2 weeks ago - Already getting sides.

    So I took the plunge and jumped on fin a couple of weeks ago, I started by tapering up:

    Week 1: 1 dose of 0.5mg
    Week 2: 2 does of 0.5mg

    I'm on my 3rd of week of being on it at the moment, the last dose I took was on Wednesday, and by Friday of this week I started to get testicle ache and found that my penis had lost a lot of sensitivity.

    I'm just wondering if I should try and stick through these sides and hope that they subside, or should I get off the drug immediately?
  • UK_
    Senior Member
    • Feb 2011
    • 2691

    #2
    If I lost sensitivity in my penis I would be very concerned to say the least, pay a visit to your doc.

    Many of the members on here are 'pro-finasteride' users, please see some of the reports on www.propeciahelp.com.

    Unsurprisingly enough, loss of penile sensation is probably the most common sign of post finasteride syndrome.

    Comment

    • chrisis
      Senior Member
      • Feb 2012
      • 1257

      #3
      I'd stop. It's just not worth it if you're experiencing problems of this nature. Some people will say persevere and you may get through it, but if you don't you could be causing permanent damage.

      I'm certain someone will chime in with the other side of the argument, so consider both and then decide.

      If you do stop, make sure you wean off it gradually. I'd go back to 1 dose of 0.5mg for a week then nothing.

      Comment

      • BigThinker
        Senior Member
        • Oct 2012
        • 1507

        #4
        I suppose I'm one of those "'pro-finasteride' users". I had the nut ache at first as well. That subsided after the first week. No libido/sensation side effects, although I doubt I would have been able to focus on sexual activities while the nut ache was occurring.

        But, if you have lost sensation in your penis, then I would definitely consider leaving finasteride alone. I made a promise to myself to quit fin if it ever affected my libido or caused me impotence, or if it caused any other negative side effect that jeopardized my ability to function professionally or socially. Your penis is more important than your hair -- anyone who argues otherwise has probably never used their penis.

        Quick question though: You took just 1 dose, waited a full week to take the second and then took two doses that week? The reason I ask is it seems like that would make it difficult for your body to adjust, since the doses are infrequent and I'm almost certain the finasteride had been cleared from your body well before the next dose. That seems like a pretty chaotic environment hormonally. I could be wrong though.

        The nut ache I have aforementioned was definitely alarming for me as well. Instead of stopping completely, I just took a nibble of a pill to keep my body introduced to the drug, while offering it at an extremely minute dose. I'm not implying that you should do this, but wanted to offer my story.

        Ultimately, it's your life and your penis, so I won't assert myself into that decision making.

        I hope that whatever decision you make results in, primarily re-sensitization of your penis and, secondarily, stopped or at least minimized hair loss.

        Best.

        Comment

        • DifferentLine
          Member
          • Feb 2013
          • 66

          #5
          Originally posted by BigThinker
          Quick question though: You took just 1 dose, waited a full week to take the second and then took two doses that week?
          Yeah, first week I took a pill on Monday, then the next week Monday and Thursday.

          I've seen a few people advocate tapering up this way, apparently it helps the body get used to the DHT reduction (doesn't seem to have worked in my case)

          Comment

          • BigThinker
            Senior Member
            • Oct 2012
            • 1507

            #6
            Gotcha. I really don't know what the right answer to that is (if a "right answer" even exists).

            I, personally, was just so excited to start fin that I said I would start EOD for a month, but ended up going every day after the first couple days.

            Thanks for sharing your experience.

            Comment

            • DifferentLine
              Member
              • Feb 2013
              • 66

              #7
              After thinking about it, I am just gonna quit. I just really hope I haven't done any permanent damage from the 4 does of 0.5mg.

              I read through the propeciahelp website that UK_ posted and I have to say I'm very worried at the moment. If anyone has anything reassuring to say, it would be well received.

              Comment

              • BigThinker
                Senior Member
                • Oct 2012
                • 1507

                #8
                Fair enough. I applaud you on having the strength to be willing to give up on what is basically the only viable preventative treatment for hair loss.

                That was really unfair of him to post propeciahelp.com as a reference though. That site is an aggregate of individuals who are anti-finasteride, and many of them are involved in lawsuits against propecia (they have vested interest in having it viewed negatively). If you analyze tones of the posters and moderators there, they are all manic, babbling fools. And, many of the posters offer wild, laughable claims such as that fin caused them to lose their job, lose their relationships, and landed them in their parents basements -- these stories are the ones that made the site lose all credibility to me.

                Unfortunately, no website exists to aggregate all the guys who had good results from finasteride, because they are too busy enjoying their hair and advancing in more important aspects of life -- there is no benefit to creating such a site unless it is for pure altruism. Basically what I'm saying is: you just read the holy grail of fear-mongering. That site scared the shit outta me at first too, but I decided to go to less biased sources of information such as this and other general hair loss forums.

                Basically, someone sent you looking for the worst of the worst, and it was beyond easy to find. Regardless, I wish you the best. If you're feeling generous, I would be willing to pay for shipping if you don't want your finasteride anymore.

                Comment

                • UK_
                  Senior Member
                  • Feb 2011
                  • 2691

                  #9
                  Originally posted by BigThinker
                  Fair enough. I applaud you on having the strength to be willing to give up on what is basically the only viable preventative treatment for hair loss.

                  That was really unfair of him to post propeciahelp.com as a reference though. That site is an aggregate of individuals who are anti-finasteride, and many of them are involved in lawsuits against propecia (they have vested interest in having it viewed negatively). If you analyze tones of the posters and moderators there, they are all manic, babbling fools. And, many of the posters offer wild, laughable claims such as that fin caused them to lose their job, lose their relationships, and landed them in their parents basements -- these stories are the ones that made the site lose all credibility to me.

                  Unfortunately, no website exists to aggregate all the guys who had good results from finasteride, because they are too busy enjoying their hair and advancing in more important aspects of life -- there is no benefit to creating such a site unless it is for pure altruism. Basically what I'm saying is: you just read the holy grail of fear-mongering. That site scared the shit outta me at first too, but I decided to go to less biased sources of information such as this and other general hair loss forums.

                  Basically, someone sent you looking for the worst of the worst, and it was beyond easy to find. Regardless, I wish you the best. If you're feeling generous, I would be willing to pay for shipping if you don't want your finasteride anymore.
                  And... would it be as plausible to post a link to a website that is an aggregate of pro-finasteride support? I feel the very fact that this individual is losing one of the most important functions of being a male human (sexual sensation) entitles him to view the opinions of thousands of others who have (coincidently or not) received the same symptom as him due to the result of ingesting this substance.

                  Seriously, shave your head, hit the gym and live your life. That’s the best advice I can give, don’t rely on doctors like Ken Washenik and research institutions to cure hair loss some day – I think when all is said and done, if every human is walking around with a thick NW1 the hottest women will probably still dig that one confident as hell muscular & loaded-to-shit guy with a shaved head.

                  Comment

                  • BigThinker
                    Senior Member
                    • Oct 2012
                    • 1507

                    #10
                    I just think propeciahelp.com is full of unsubstantiated fear-mongering.

                    I absolutely agree that a bald guy can bag pretty women, be successful, and have a high quality of life. 100%. I've always said I thought hair loss was not the end of the world -- it's just a huge bummer, and it is a semi-manipulable aspect of our appearance that some guys will never take a shot at fixing because of outspoken fear-mongers.

                    Similar to guys that have had sides, I'm seeing things through a biased lens since I don't have apparent sides. I will admit it's getting tiresome to defend and explain my experience. It might be best that I let the anti-fin guys take over, and keep my good experience and hair to myself.

                    Comment

                    • SoothSayer
                      Member
                      • Feb 2012
                      • 58

                      #11
                      Originally posted by BigThinker
                      And, many of the posters offer wild, laughable claims such as that fin caused them to lose their job, lose their relationships, and landed them in their parents basements -- these stories are the ones that made the site lose all credibility to me.
                      If a man completely loses his ability to perform sexually, it is very likely it will be significant strain on his relationships. If a man develops cognitive problems, it is very likely he will face a loss of productivity at work which could threaten his job security, especially if he is in a cognitively demanding role.

                      Both of these side effects have been reported to the FDA, now show up on the product's warning label, and have been reported by thousands of men to doctors and publicly on the internet. These men simply want their quality of life back and to hold the pharmaceutical manufacturer accountable for being extremely reactive and even combative when faced with facts that their product was harming men in ways that far exceeded any benefit their drug could provide.

                      The credibility that is called into question is either your sincerity or your humanity as you literally referred to the suffering and victimization of these men as laughable.

                      Comment

                      • SoothSayer
                        Member
                        • Feb 2012
                        • 58

                        #12
                        Originally posted by DifferentLine
                        The last dose I took was on Wednesday, and by Friday of this week I started to get testicle ache and found that my penis had lost a lot of sensitivity.

                        I'm just wondering if I should try and stick through these sides and hope that they subside, or should I get off the drug immediately?
                        I suggest you stop the drug ASAP. I have read reports of men who have recovered from Propecia side effects and reports of men who have not. But I do not recall a single story of a man who recovered from loss of sensitivity and ability to feel aroused. It you still can achieve an erection at this point, considered yourself very lucky.

                        If after stopping the drug you find that you return to a complete baseline, feel free to reconsider whatever you want to risk. But if you stop for several months, find the sensation has not returned, do not allow yourself to think it is in your head or related to other causes and return to taking the drug. This is a common pattern for men who develop initially a mild form of post-finasteride syndrome and they end up doing significantly more damage to themselves by ignoring or denying the early warning signs.

                        Good luck

                        Comment

                        • drybone
                          Senior Member
                          • Dec 2012
                          • 867

                          #13
                          the guy puts up his thread at 8;53 am

                          Then by some AMAZING luck, the anti finasteride guru shows up a whopping 5 min later to warn him of the horrors and generously plug the stupid website again .

                          If I didnt know better, you would think they are both the same guy.

                          So then the original guy goes to the website and then comes back thanking God for the website of fear mongering and hopes he isnt permanently scarred by his 4 long days on the stuff.

                          What an amazing direct testimony to further enhance the EVILS of the dreaded finasteride.

                          UK couldnt have asked for a better 'witness' .

                          This thread was highly amusing.

                          Comment

                          • SoothSayer
                            Member
                            • Feb 2012
                            • 58

                            #14
                            Originally posted by drybone
                            the guy puts up his thread at 8;53 am

                            Then by some AMAZING luck, the anti finasteride guru shows up a whopping 5 min later to warn him of the horrors and generously plug the stupid website again .
                            A lot of guys have had their lives stolen by this drug. I think it's pretty reasonable they would want to look out for the interests of others who may fall victim to the same trap. When they have almost no other outlets to deal with their problem, I think this is a very mature and helpful response.

                            Comment

                            • UK_
                              Senior Member
                              • Feb 2011
                              • 2691

                              #15
                              Originally posted by drybone
                              the guy puts up his thread at 8;53 am

                              Then by some AMAZING luck, the anti finasteride guru shows up a whopping 5 min later to warn him of the horrors and generously plug the stupid website again .

                              If I didnt know better, you would think they are both the same guy.

                              So then the original guy goes to the website and then comes back thanking God for the website of fear mongering and hopes he isnt permanently scarred by his 4 long days on the stuff.

                              What an amazing direct testimony to further enhance the EVILS of the dreaded finasteride.

                              UK couldnt have asked for a better 'witness' .

                              This thread was highly amusing.
                              And I guess Chrisis has the same account as the OP (and me) given that he posted no more than 7 minutes after the thread began. Yeah, great insight bud.

                              Comment

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