Maybe I should stop using finasteride

[callpizza]

I have been using finasteride for a year and four months, and it is very effective. However, looking back on the medication time for more than a year, there are actually many side effects.
In recent months I have reduced my dosage to 0.5 or 0.125 or even less at a time.
The other day I looked up some information about the serious side effects of finasteride, and I was honestly frightened. I felt like I was in a state of anxiety and even a little impotence.
I wonder if I should stop, adjust my mindset, and think about whether I should stop finasteride or not. See if there are other ways to stop hair loss.

 

[Derek Clapton]

It works but there are side effects for most people. You have to decide if they are worth it or if you can combat them. If I HAD to use it I would look at aromatase inhibitors to deal with elevated estrogen, although probably that actually helps with hair growth somewhat.

 

[losingbattle88]

I have been using finasteride for a year and four months, and it is very effective. However, looking back on the medication time for more than a year, there are actually many side effects.
In recent months I have reduced my dosage to 0.5 or 0.125 or even less at a time.
The other day I looked up some information about the serious side effects of finasteride, and I was honestly frightened. I felt like I was in a state of anxiety and even a little impotence.
I wonder if I should stop, adjust my mindset, and think about whether I should stop finasteride or not. See if there are other ways to stop hair loss.

I get less morning wood and weak ejaculations. It stays permanent too despite quitting. Update its not permanent this time for me. God is good.

 

[callpizza]

It's been almost a year since the last post
I haven't been on this forum for the past few months because I feel that my status has been okay and the side effects seem to have little impact.
But starting from October 8th, sexual side effects reappeared, morning erections began to disappear again, and erectile function became somewhat poor.
But this year, my dosage of finasteride has been very low. For a few months, I took a quarter of a tablet every day, and in recent months, I have been taking half a tablet every two days.
Of course, it could also be related to my lifestyle this year. I spent about half of the year sleeping between 3-5 am and waking up between 11-1 am. Lack of exercise, and in recent months, many things have made me feel mentally anxious.
I don't know, maybe oral medication is not suitable for me. I need to adjust my lifestyle first and see if there is any improvement. Maybe I should switch to topical finasteride or only use minoxidil.

 

[losingbattle88]

It's been almost a year since the last post
I haven't been on this forum for the past few months because I feel that my status has been okay and the side effects seem to have little impact.
But starting from October 8th, sexual side effects reappeared, morning erections began to disappear again, and erectile function became somewhat poor.
But this year, my dosage of finasteride has been very low. For a few months, I took a quarter of a tablet every day, and in recent months, I have been taking half a tablet every two days.
Of course, it could also be related to my lifestyle this year. I spent about half of the year sleeping between 3-5 am and waking up between 11-1 am. Lack of exercise, and in recent months, many things have made me feel mentally anxious.
I don't know, maybe oral medication is not suitable for me. I need to adjust my lifestyle first and see if there is any improvement. Maybe I should switch to topical finasteride or only use minoxidil.

I tried topical at only 0.25mg. it still goes systemic. My semen quality and weak seeping/struggling ejaculations got way worse. So I had to stop. I was on oral previously but topical definately wasnt milder when it came to side effects. Im not upset because dutasteride nor finasteride worked for my hair. Im just using natural treatments today and my hair is stabilized. And the sexual sides are gone.

 

[michaelharrell]

It's been almost a year since the last post
I haven't been on this forum for the past few months because I feel that my status has been okay and the side effects seem to have little impact.
But starting from October 8th, sexual side effects reappeared, morning erections began to disappear again, and erectile function became somewhat poor.
But this year, my dosage of finasteride has been very low. For a few months, I took a quarter of a tablet every day, and in recent months, I have been taking half a tablet every two days.
Of course, it could also be related to my lifestyle this year. I spent about half of the year sleeping between 3-5 am and waking up between 11-1 am. Lack of exercise, and in recent months, many things have made me feel mentally anxious.
I don't know, maybe oral medication is not suitable for me. I need to adjust my lifestyle first and see if there is any improvement. Maybe I should switch to topical finasteride or only use minoxidil.

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that finasteride is the only reason, especially with the sleep schedule and stress you described. Both of those can really affect libido and erections on their own. If I were you, I'd try fixing sleep and getting back into some regular exercise for a few weeks before changing everything. If the symptoms still stick around, then it's probably worth talking to your doctor about topical finasteride or other options instead of just guessing. Hopefully it's something reversible.

 

[Yar]

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that finasteride is the only reason, especially with the sleep schedule and stress you described. Both of those can really affect libido and erections on their own. If I were you, I'd try fixing sleep and getting back into some regular exercise for a few weeks before changing everything. If the symptoms still stick around, then it's probably worth talking to your doctor about topical finasteride or other options instead of just guessing. Hopefully it's something reversible.

You need to decide whether you want hair or masculinity and no hair, because when God created man, he forgot to give him hair that grows on testosterone.

 

[callpizza]

I wouldn't jump to the conclusion that finasteride is the only reason, especially with the sleep schedule and stress you described. Both of those can really affect libido and erections on their own. If I were you, I'd try fixing sleep and getting back into some regular exercise for a few weeks before changing everything. If the symptoms still stick around, then it's probably worth talking to your doctor about topical finasteride or other options instead of just guessing. Hopefully it's something reversible.

After a period of time, I should start adjusting my lifestyle.
Now the dosage is lower, about one pill a week, 1mg, taken in three doses.
Planning to change it to three times a week next week, about 0.25mg each time.

 

[michaelharrell]

Sounds like a sensible plan. I'd just take it slow and see how your body responds before lowering it any further. Hope it goes well.

 

[callpizza]

Sounds like a sensible plan. I'd just take it slow and see how your body responds before lowering it any further. Hope it goes well.

I started taking medication around June 2023, but the dosage decreased towards the end of 2024. In 2025, it took me about four to five months to finish a box of 30 pills (1mg each). The same pattern holds true now.