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  1. #1
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    Default Propecia/Finasteride sides update - doctor visit

    So I went to the doctors today about my long term sides (low libido, less sensitivity etc.), and as anticipated he dismissed them as probably psychological and to do with anxiety. I tried to explain how events unfolded that leads me to believe they are actually 100% the consequence of taking this drug, but he was of little help. I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist, but he didn't want to do that either. He actually asked if I was a medical student, such was my knowledge of the drug and hormones in general. In comparison, he hadn't even heard of Propecia..........

    At the very least I asked for a blood test to check my hormone levels. Helpfully, that couldn't be booked today, so I will have to go back next week for another appointment with a nurse. I will then book another appointment with a different doctor and hope for someone less useless.

    Such a great feeling to be left out in the cold like this.

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisis View Post
    So I went to the doctors today about my long term sides (low libido, less sensitivity etc.), and as anticipated he dismissed them as probably psychological and to do with anxiety. I tried to explain how events unfolded that leads me to believe they are actually 100% the consequence of taking this drug, but he was of little help. I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist, but he didn't want to do that either. He actually asked if I was a medical student, such was my knowledge of the drug and hormones in general. In comparison, he hadn't even heard of Propecia..........

    At the very least I asked for a blood test to check my hormone levels. Helpfully, that couldn't be booked today, so I will have to go back next week for another appointment with a nurse. I will then book another appointment with a different doctor and hope for someone less useless.

    Such a great feeling to be left out in the cold like this.

    Yeah seriously.

    I took propecia for about 3 months and had sides, went to the doctor and asked for exactly the same thing as you and was just told, like you, that it was phycological.

    Yeah, my watery spunk was my imagination, right?

    It took me about 6 months to feel 'normal' again and get back my libido.

    2% side effects my ass, friend of mine took it and got sides too, very anecdotal I know, but I just don't believe the 2% figure.
    God only knows what it's doing to these guys that've been on it 15 years.

  3. #3
    Senior Member Cr779's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisis View Post
    So I went to the doctors today about my long term sides (low libido, less sensitivity etc.), and as anticipated he dismissed them as probably psychological and to do with anxiety. I tried to explain how events unfolded that leads me to believe they are actually 100% the consequence of taking this drug, but he was of little help. I asked to be referred to an endocrinologist, but he didn't want to do that either. He actually asked if I was a medical student, such was my knowledge of the drug and hormones in general. In comparison, he hadn't even heard of Propecia..........

    At the very least I asked for a blood test to check my hormone levels. Helpfully, that couldn't be booked today, so I will have to go back next week for another appointment with a nurse. I will then book another appointment with a different doctor and hope for someone less useless.

    Such a great feeling to be left out in the cold like this.

    Shame to hear that man. Keep trying new doctors and demand an endocronologist or urologist if you have to. I've had different luck over here, before I got on a Dermotologist actually recommended I not take it, my own GP recognized that some people get persisting side effects. And the clinic doctor I talked to the other day about my pelvic pain agreed that it was probably caused by the hormonal shift in my coming off the drug and that it will probably go away in a while.(Today has been pretty much pain free so crossing fingers).

    I've heard Endogrenoligists are more likely to believe you since they understand how delicate the endocrine system is.

    Keep us posted, we're all rooting for you. Remember some guys who had horrible horrible crashes managed to recover after a few years of healthy eating and the right amount of exercise.

  4. #4
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    Sucks you got denied to see an endocrinologist. Not sure how easy or difficult it would to be to see one in the UK or AU (not sure where you're at) but that would be my next move. They'll be much more sympathetic to your situation. In the U.S. you can see a specialist fairly quickly but it will cost you, even with insurance. If you don't have insurance here you're completely screwed.

    Did you get blood work done prior to taking propecia?

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by itsmyhairs View Post
    It took me about 6 months to feel 'normal' again and get back my libido.
    Did you go back to normal without taking any steps? Or can you recommend anything that worked?

    Quote Originally Posted by Cr779 View Post

    Keep us posted, we're all rooting for you. Remember some guys who had horrible horrible crashes managed to recover after a few years of healthy eating and the right amount of exercise.
    Thanks Cr779, it's the rare understanding and sympathetic post like yours that makes me feel better. I've booked a blood test, then I'll speak to a different doctor and see if I can get a referral to an endocrinologist. I will just be a bit more demanding next time, and realise that the doctor won't be able to help.

    I hope your situation improves and I will definitely keep the forum updated. I'll also be posting about my hair transplant next month.

    Quote Originally Posted by akai View Post

    Did you get blood work done prior to taking propecia?
    Nah, like most men I wasn't concerned about the risks - which is why I don't believe in the psychological aspect to those who dismiss my sides. I will push for an appointment with an endocrinologist, because I'm not going to get any answers from a standard GP.

    Thanks for everyone's comments.

  6. #6
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    All there going to do is check your testosterone levels, keep pushing for Endocrinology referral, if your doctor refuses then ask him why? Explain to him that although it could be psychological it could also be physical too and you want it ruling out! If he refuses then tell him you feel compelled to write a complaint and will be seeking medical advice elsewhere, I'm sure he will soon change his tune.

  7. #7
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    How can you be denied a referral? Makes absolutely no sense. What a shit doctor? You can get him/her in trouble for that.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by chrisis View Post
    Did you go back to normal without taking any steps? Or can you recommend anything that worked?


    I didn't do much really, just got exercise and ate healthy foods.

  9. #9
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    Chris, I'm so sorry to hear that story. It's amazing and appalling how many doctors, despite their training and expertise, can be so cavalier when their patients are in need. I don't deny that there are some finasteride patients who develop psychosomatic side effects, but there are clearly and unequivocally many whose bodies react adversely to the drug and suffer very real physiological consequences.

    I'd give it another shot with another doctor. Call around and see if you can find someone with specialized endocrinology knowledge, or just use a Google search to look for recommendations for a doctor in your area that's known for being thorough. At the very least, you should be able to find someone who will give a referral to an endocrinologist. Don't roll over and his this doctor's crappy approach to the practice of medicine deprive you of the attention you need.

  10. #10
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    I am another person who got the persistent sexual side effects. When I started Propecia I had a very strong sex drive and libido. I was quite active. I began losing my frontal hairline rapidly and freaked out. I started taking Propecia and then upgraded to dutasteride. I had to stop dutasteride because it cause immediate loss of interest in sex and women (I actually felt repulsed by women suddenly!). I went back to Propecia. Despite bothersome side effects, loss of libido, genital anesthesia, and weak erections I continued because I wanted to stop the hairloss and like everyone else was hoping that an alternative would emerge. I stopped for a few weeks and began to have a libido, though only a fraction of what it was 6 months earlier. The genital numbness got better. I felt I was going to get it back and was relieved. Went back on Propecia and again lost interest in women, libido, morning erections, and developed mild brain fog. I was a student and was under pressure, so I didn't mind it at the time. Stayed on for a couple of years before I realized that despite having a beautiful girlfriend I had little interest in her physically. Plus I had numbness and so it wasn't pleasurable. I stopped the Propecia February 2012 after my erections remained weak. Two weeks after stopping I felt a libido starting up. I was thrilled, though erections were still not there. After a month I felt progressive increase in libido, but still about 25%-30% prior to Propecia. I still could not get good erections and still couldn't feel the penis much. Over the next month my gains went away and have not returned. It is getting close to a year so I started panicking over the last month. I lost half of my hair density (now feels like baby hair) and lost about an inch of the frontal hairline. So far my gamble did not pay off. Some have taken several years and had spontaneous recovery. As for being psychological, I would have to say that very few young men have psychological loss of erections for months and years on end. They can have performance anxiety and lose an erection but they don't have erectile dysfunction masturbating by themselves

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