Hi guys, 25 year old NW2 MBP sufferer here, looking for advice on whether I should get back on finasteride.
Was on finasteride for approximately a year and responded well, maintaining at least 95% of my hair with significant thickening in some sections of the scalp. I started suffering from side effects a few months into the treatment and finally quit due to the sides about a month ago. My sides included:
1. Watery Jizz - this was the first side I got and it has not resolved after qutting.
2. Low libido - this has definitely got better after quitting.
3. ED - Lack of morning erections; Difficulty maintaining hardness during PiV intercourse, was fine while getting head tho. One time I couldn't get it up for a one-night stand, but I was also pretty anxious / not so turned on that time, so I'm not necessarily blaming that on finasteride, but it definitely insinuated doubts about the drug in my mind. Have seen some improvement in this area after quitting.
4. Brain Fog - Inability to concentrate, short-term memory went to ****. This is probably the worst side. Have seen some improvement now that I'm off finasteride, but there are still bad days.
5. Gyno - this isn't really noticeable to anyone but myself, but my nipples definitely look puffier, especially when I squeeze my pecs together.
The thing is that all of these so-called sides can also be explained by other factors, such as:
1. I live an extremely sedentary lifestyle, sitting in front of the computer 12h / day on average. I rarely work out. This might hurt libido and EQ.
2. I eat less than ideally with tons of processed food and not enought fruits / veggies / unprocessed meat in my diet. This might also hurt libido and EQ.
3. Over the past couple of years I've been multitasking in front of my computer for at least 75% of my waking hours so my brain has gotten used to constantly switching between activities. I haven't really single tasked much at all or focused on memorization. This might explain the concentration / memory problems.
4. I used to watch internet p**rn daily, which has led to me not being turned on by women irl to the same extent as before, especially if they are inexperienced or we are just doing vanilla sex. I've cut back on p**rn a bit lately, but this might still be affecting libido / EQ.
5. I think my sides actually got worse when I started obsessing over them and reading forums like propeciahelp. Im quite sure that my problems are at least in part psychological.
6. I gained some weight during the period I develped the puffy nipples and I still haven't lost all of it, so it might just be fat in places I've never seen it before.
Now bear in mind that I have ssen improvements on multiple fronts since quitting finasteride, so I still believe that the sides were not 100% psychosomatic, but I also recognize that this might be placebo. I'd really like to save my hair if at all possible, but I'm worried about messing with the hormones too much.
Do you think I should get back on finasteride given my history? Why? If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. See pics of hair below:
Contemplating going on 0.5mg EOD or maybe even less often, as the studies seem to indicate that there's really no need to take anything close to the recommended 1mg / daily dose.
M.
Was on finasteride for approximately a year and responded well, maintaining at least 95% of my hair with significant thickening in some sections of the scalp. I started suffering from side effects a few months into the treatment and finally quit due to the sides about a month ago. My sides included:
1. Watery Jizz - this was the first side I got and it has not resolved after qutting.
2. Low libido - this has definitely got better after quitting.
3. ED - Lack of morning erections; Difficulty maintaining hardness during PiV intercourse, was fine while getting head tho. One time I couldn't get it up for a one-night stand, but I was also pretty anxious / not so turned on that time, so I'm not necessarily blaming that on finasteride, but it definitely insinuated doubts about the drug in my mind. Have seen some improvement in this area after quitting.
4. Brain Fog - Inability to concentrate, short-term memory went to ****. This is probably the worst side. Have seen some improvement now that I'm off finasteride, but there are still bad days.
5. Gyno - this isn't really noticeable to anyone but myself, but my nipples definitely look puffier, especially when I squeeze my pecs together.
The thing is that all of these so-called sides can also be explained by other factors, such as:
1. I live an extremely sedentary lifestyle, sitting in front of the computer 12h / day on average. I rarely work out. This might hurt libido and EQ.
2. I eat less than ideally with tons of processed food and not enought fruits / veggies / unprocessed meat in my diet. This might also hurt libido and EQ.
3. Over the past couple of years I've been multitasking in front of my computer for at least 75% of my waking hours so my brain has gotten used to constantly switching between activities. I haven't really single tasked much at all or focused on memorization. This might explain the concentration / memory problems.
4. I used to watch internet p**rn daily, which has led to me not being turned on by women irl to the same extent as before, especially if they are inexperienced or we are just doing vanilla sex. I've cut back on p**rn a bit lately, but this might still be affecting libido / EQ.
5. I think my sides actually got worse when I started obsessing over them and reading forums like propeciahelp. Im quite sure that my problems are at least in part psychological.
6. I gained some weight during the period I develped the puffy nipples and I still haven't lost all of it, so it might just be fat in places I've never seen it before.
Now bear in mind that I have ssen improvements on multiple fronts since quitting finasteride, so I still believe that the sides were not 100% psychosomatic, but I also recognize that this might be placebo. I'd really like to save my hair if at all possible, but I'm worried about messing with the hormones too much.
Do you think I should get back on finasteride given my history? Why? If you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. See pics of hair below:
Contemplating going on 0.5mg EOD or maybe even less often, as the studies seem to indicate that there's really no need to take anything close to the recommended 1mg / daily dose.
M.
