Propecia, The Good and the Ugly

[joer1212]

Well, I am uniquely qualified to answer your question as this August will be two years off propecia after being on it for almost 4 years (1mg/day).

You will notice subtle shedding within 4 weeks. Nothing drastic but hairs will start falling off that you hadn't noticed before. Then towards the 3 month mark you start to notice small changes in hair quality. Only you will notice because you'll be looking at your hair uber close. After 6 months you'll be reminded about why you went on propecia in the first place as you'll find hairs on your bathroom floor, sink and around your home. After a year the biggest issue will be hair quality. You will still have the hair but lots will be entering the miniaturizing phase. Keeping hair long will be hard as will styling and you'll have to be creative with styling products. You'll long for the days of having thick healthy looking young hair.

Plus Side - after 3/4 weeks coming off you will feel like a raging bull and will have missed that having that feeling. I woke up one morning with a massive erection and felt very 'primal'...the feeling is unmistakable. Taking the medication definitely suppressed that. The feeling I had that morning is the only reason why I never went back on. I never want to lose that ever again (but I do want my hair back).

GRATITUDE

Now to everyone on propecia!...the one major mistake I made is that when I was on the medication I took it for granted. If you've been on it for a while go in the mirror, pass your hand through your hair and just be so grateful for how good your hair still feels and looks. The day may come when you will need to come off the medication so don't be like me who was never adequately grateful for what it did for me while on it.

And yes, coming off is really hard. I miss looking much younger than my age (i looked noticeable older with wispy, thin hair). Sometimes I even hate being in pictures. But I do feel more masculine and more handsome in a masculine way (if that makes sense). It's a real shame that of all the side effects medication could have this one effects something so deeply important.

Best of luck...whatever you chose will work out great.

I started noticing hair loss within 2 weeks of stopping Finasteride. I could only dream of going months without it.

[mpb47]

I started noticing hair loss within 2 weeks of stopping Finasteride. I could only dream of going months without it.

I have been off of it about 10 months now. Myself and others noticed it by 9 months or maybe a little sooner. I am considering going back on a very-very low dose. I was on a very low dose before and it certainly was working as the proof was when I stopped.