My Side Effects On Propecia And What To Do? - Help Please.

[Adam87]

Hello,

I have taken propecia on/off for 8 years now and recently came off permanently after having daily ball ache and it even waking me up with quite serious stabbing pains in the groin and testicles - eventually i had enough.

I have lost lost erection and penis size since i started taking the drug, not embarrassed to tell you, but i haven't had a wet dream or had morning wood that i can remember.

My confidence has been hit and i am wondering to member out there - what do i do about it? Do i seek out a specialist and get some tests done to see if there is anything that is wrong or not normal?
Any recommendations would be much appreciated - sorry i am rather down and struggling a little bit here.

Adam

 

[Ollie]

How long have you been off and have any of the side effects gotten worse / changed since coming off ?

First thing you should be doing is getting blood work done.

 

[Adam87]

The poor erection side effects i have had for some years been on/off. the ball ache has come on recently in the last 3 weeks, i had not had that since i started again from September last year, but i cannot handle it anymore, waking up with these shooting pains, its not worth it.
What blood work would you have done - DHT/normal testosterone?

Thanks for the reply ollie

 

[Ollie]

The poor erection side effects i have had for some years been on/off. the ball ache has come on recently in the last 3 weeks, i had not had that since i started again from September last year, but i cannot handle it anymore, waking up with these shooting pains, its not worth it.
What blood work would you have done - DHT/normal testosterone?

Thanks for the reply ollie

What about libido and mental sides ? Have things gotten better since you’ve come off ?

You need a full blood panel but with emphasis on all your hormones - test , estrogen, DHT .

 

[Adam87]

What about libido and mental sides ? Have things gotten better since you’ve come off ?

You need a full blood panel but with emphasis on all your hormones - test , estrogen, DHT .

I have just dropped propecia in the last 24 hours, so i will have to give it a week or so to see how i feel, i will get some blood work done in a few weeks, although it will be very expensive. The aching has already gone down and relaxed which is interesting,
Sorry for being a beginner, but a full blood pannel is? - you dont have to go into detail.

The help is much appreciated. Thank you. Its frustrating as i am a NW2 and i have been losing my hair since i was 19 and i am 31 now, am due to have my first hair transplant with dr freitas in spain at the end of the year and they require propecia, so i just have to find a way to maintain, i dont expect any regrowth.

 

[Ollie]

I have just dropped propecia in the last 24 hours, so i will have to give it a week or so to see how i feel, i will get some blood work done in a few weeks, although it will be very expensive. The aching has already gone down and relaxed which is interesting,
Sorry for being a beginner, but a full blood pannel is? - you dont have to go into detail.

The help is much appreciated. Thank you. Its frustrating as i am a NW2 and i have been losing my hair since i was 19 and i am 31 now, am due to have my first hair transplant with dr freitas in spain at the end of the year and they require propecia, so i just have to find a way to maintain, i dont expect any regrowth.

Have you thought about just lowering the dose ?

 

[Adam87]

Have you thought about just lowering the dose ?

That is not a bad idea, do you think that lowering to 0.5mg and cutting in half with be enough? You seem more knowledgeable than me on here, i only want to maintain.

 

[Ollie]

That is not a bad idea, do you think that lowering to 0.5mg and cutting in half with be enough? You seem more knowledgeable than me on here, i only want to maintain.

A lot of people dispute the idea of lowering the dose as the response curve of the drug is very flat. However, I had pretty bad sides at 1mg then tapered down to 0.25mg. Whilst I didn’t become completely normal again I was 90% . I would say drop to half and see how you manage. If after a month you don’t notice a better change then go for 0.25mg and see . That seemed to be the sweet point for me where I didn’t get any bad sides.. although I did lose a bit of ground that I had originally gained on the full dose.

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on.

 

[Adam87]

A lot of people dispute the idea of lowering the dose as the response curve of the drug is very flat. However, I had pretty bad sides at 1mg then tapered down to 0.25mg. Whilst I didn’t become completely normal again I was 90% . I would say drop to half and see how you manage. If after a month you don’t notice a better change then go for 0.25mg and see . That seemed to be the sweet point for me where I didn’t get any bad sides.. although I did lose a bit of ground that I had originally gained on the full dose.

I’ll be interested to hear how you get on.

I will try this when i get back from my surgery next month, have to give up minoxidil as well in the lead up. I have been on RU58841 and finasteride for 7/8 months and havent noticed any progress, its been tough to see. I will not take dutasteride, if i get sides from 1mg finasteride then dutasteride will probably be worse. I dont have many other options after this other than maintaining with hair transplant's. How long would you say that you have to give finasteride/minoxidil twice a day and nizoral a chance to succeed, i have heard people need a full year before they see results?

RU58841 i was quite hopeful on, i mixed with minoxidil a 5% solution from powder an used once a day but it has not helped. Thanks for your help Ollie.

 

[Ollie]

I will try this when i get back from my surgery next month, have to give up minoxidil as well in the lead up. I have been on RU58841 and finasteride for 7/8 months and havent noticed any progress, its been tough to see. I will not take dutasteride, if i get sides from 1mg finasteride then dutasteride will probably be worse. I dont have many other options after this other than maintaining with hair transplant's. How long would you say that you have to give finasteride/minoxidil twice a day and nizoral a chance to succeed, i have heard people need a full year before they see results?

RU58841 i was quite hopeful on, i mixed with minoxidil a 5% solution from powder an used once a day but it has not helped. Thanks for your help Ollie.

Some say it takes up to or even over a year to see the effects of finasteride but you have to remember not everyone regrows any hear - most probably dont. Instead they just maintain. If you plan to drop your dose however because of your sides then you might find you even lose some ground and start shedding again. Sorry to be the messenger for RU but like most of us it hasn't really done anything. RU on this forum coincidentally only seems to work for the guys in their 40's / 50's who have very slow hairloss and for them it just about maintains.

Fingers crossed for future treatments i guess.

 

[Thomas Aquarius]

Hi Adam.

Firstly, I want to wish you the best of luck in everything you are trying. I sure hope you get the results you are seeking.

Seems to me you may have to ask yourself how important your hair is at this point. Meaning, do you value it more than your sex drive (which in turn affects one's psychological health). Finasteride sides are nothing to take lightly. Yes, you can try a decreased dosage, and that might alleviate the sides. I would be very careful if I were you. I've been down your road, and know the anxiety losing your hair can cause while also juggling the unwanted side effects. You're obviously "all in" on your battle with hair loss, so perhaps you've already answered the question I posed.

I certainly do wish you the best. If you have any questions, please let me know.

 

[Adam87]

Some say it takes up to or even over a year to see the effects of finasteride but you have to remember not everyone regrows any hear - most probably dont. Instead they just maintain. If you plan to drop your dose however because of your sides then you might find you even lose some ground and start shedding again. Sorry to be the messenger for RU but like most of us it hasn't really done anything. RU on this forum coincidentally only seems to work for the guys in their 40's / 50's who have very slow hairloss and for them it just about maintains.

Fingers crossed for future treatments i guess.

Hi Ollie, sorry about the late reply, thanks for the knowledge, i will drop finasteride in a few weeks after surgery and continue with minoxidil and derma rolling with nizoral and see if i can maintain over a year, i will take pictures this time and try and keep a record. I have seen some good responders with RU, but it doesnt appear i am one of them, have you heard of alot of failings? When i did my research, i thought this was even best thing on the market, after hearing and seeing peoples before and after pictures.

I am scheduled to have my hairtransplant with dr freitas in spain at the end of the year, so i will need to jump on something now, is there anything else you recommend i could try or at least add to my regime - im not prepared to take dutasteride.
Ow, and by the way, all sides are gone, ball ache is virtually nothing now, ed appears to be a little better but not 100%.

Thanks, all the best.

 

[Adam87]

Hi Adam.

Firstly, I want to wish you the best of luck in everything you are trying. I sure hope you get the results you are seeking.

Seems to me you may have to ask yourself how important your hair is at this point. Meaning, do you value it more than your sex drive (which in turn affects one's psychological health). Finasteride sides are nothing to take lightly. Yes, you can try a decreased dosage, and that might alleviate the sides. I would be very careful if I were you. I've been down your road, and know the anxiety losing your hair can cause while also juggling the unwanted side effects. You're obviously "all in" on your battle with hair loss, so perhaps you've already answered the question I posed.

I certainly do wish you the best. If you have any questions, please let me know.

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for replying, you raise a good point, i think some people dont realise the sides or dont want to consider them until they actually happen, then its a battle, i am in a tough spot, i think i will reduce to 0.5 mg daily and take it from there. Luckily my ball ache has completely gone, no more pains thankfully, ed has been reduced but nothing near like i was normally. So its a tough one, i will get some blood tests done before i jump back on everything after my surgery in a weeks time.
I have my hair transplant at the end of the year so i should start some thing leading up to it. I dont really want to keep battling my hairloss with hair transplants, its not sustainable long term.
Have you heard of any other treatments or successes people have had or anything you are considering/looking into?

All the best

Adam

 

[Thomas Aquarius]

Hi Thomas,

Thanks for replying, you raise a good point, i think some people dont realise the sides or dont want to consider them until they actually happen, then its a battle, i am in a tough spot, i think i will reduce to 0.5 mg daily and take it from there. Luckily my ball ache has completely gone, no more pains thankfully, ed has been reduced but nothing near like i was normally. So its a tough one, i will get some blood tests done before i jump back on everything after my surgery in a weeks time.
I have my hair transplant at the end of the year so i should start some thing leading up to it. I dont really want to keep battling my hairloss with hair transplants, its not sustainable long term.
Have you heard of any other treatments or successes people have had or anything you are considering/looking into?

All the best

Adam

No problem, man. We all have to help each other out whenever possible.

You are very serious about your battle and willing to take steps I'm not sure I would have, but I can totally understand it. I've been waging the battle for many years now, so I've mellowed a bit over time regarding what I'm willing to do to improve my hair. My regimen also has worked pretty well for me, so I haven't been forced into making changes, thankfully. I think your reducing the finasteride dosage is a very good idea. Hopefully those sides will stay away for good and you can stick with it.

I used finasteride for two years and finally dropped after having basically no sex drive whatsoever and other ED issues. Things have improved SLOWLY since discontinuing, but I still have issues I did not have before taking finasteride. I currently use a minoxidil solution with added DHT inhibitors, along with revivogen (topical DHT treatment), Dr. Proctor's formula (growth stimulant), copper peptides, and an attention to diet. I also use apple cider vinegar 2-3 days a week, and coconut oil the same number of days. And of course Nizoral. It's really the kitchen sink approach haha, but it's worked for me and my scalp has never been better.

 

[Derelict]

No problem, man. We all have to help each other out whenever possible.

You are very serious about your battle and willing to take steps I'm not sure I would have, but I can totally understand it. I've been waging the battle for many years now, so I've mellowed a bit over time regarding what I'm willing to do to improve my hair. My regimen also has worked pretty well for me, so I haven't been forced into making changes, thankfully. I think your reducing the finasteride dosage is a very good idea. Hopefully those sides will stay away for good and you can stick with it.

I used finasteride for two years and finally dropped after having basically no sex drive whatsoever and other ED issues. Things have improved SLOWLY since discontinuing, but I still have issues I did not have before taking finasteride. I currently use a minoxidil solution with added DHT inhibitors, along with revivogen (topical DHT treatment), Dr. Proctor's formula (growth stimulant), copper peptides, and an attention to diet. I also use apple cider vinegar 2-3 days a week, and coconut oil the same number of days. And of course Nizoral. It's really the kitchen sink approach haha, but it's worked for me and my scalp has never been better.

Can you guys seriously not get an erection with finasteride? is your libido so low that you need manual stimulation to get an erection or is it just completely dead? Im on dutasteride and i need manual stimulation to get an erection, but once i do im fine.

 

[Thomas Aquarius]

Can you guys seriously not get an erection with finasteride? is your libido so low that you need manual stimulation to get an erection or is it just completely dead? Im on dutasteride and i need manual stimulation to get an erection, but once i do im fine.

Sides vary and sometimes come and go, but for me, there were times my penis basically felt numb or disconnected from my body. It's difficult to explain to those who haven't experienced it. Sometimes erections were impossible, at least to have a sexual encounter, or erections were simply not very strong and would die after a couple of minutes. Other times an erection was possible, but the feeling was still numbed so it was impossible to keep it. It's a dreadful thing to go through.

 

[Adam87]

No problem, man. We all have to help each other out whenever possible.

You are very serious about your battle and willing to take steps I'm not sure I would have, but I can totally understand it. I've been waging the battle for many years now, so I've mellowed a bit over time regarding what I'm willing to do to improve my hair. My regimen also has worked pretty well for me, so I haven't been forced into making changes, thankfully. I think your reducing the finasteride dosage is a very good idea. Hopefully those sides will stay away for good and you can stick with it.

I used finasteride for two years and finally dropped after having basically no sex drive whatsoever and other ED issues. Things have improved SLOWLY since discontinuing, but I still have issues I did not have before taking finasteride. I currently use a minoxidil solution with added DHT inhibitors, along with revivogen (topical DHT treatment), Dr. Proctor's formula (growth stimulant), copper peptides, and an attention to diet. I also use apple cider vinegar 2-3 days a week, and coconut oil the same number of days. And of course Nizoral. It's really the kitchen sink approach haha, but it's worked for me and my scalp has never been better.

I dont think it really matter which minoxidil solution you add does it? - I have been told that azelic acid helps which only a couple formulas do have. Copper peptides you take through eating or solution on top of head?

 

[Adam87]

Can you guys seriously not get an erection with finasteride? is your libido so low that you need manual stimulation to get an erection or is it just completely dead? Im on dutasteride and i need manual stimulation to get an erection, but once i do im fine.

I can get an erection for sure, but its not very strong, its not great when using protection during sex, dont ask why, i will see a professional about it soon. I think with me it just reduced the strength of the erection sometimes.

 

[Thomas Aquarius]

I dont think it really matter which minoxidil solution you add does it? - I have been told that azelic acid helps which only a couple formulas do have. Copper peptides you take through eating or solution on top of head?

It may or may not matter which minoxidil solution you use. I honestly couldn't say. I use the propylene glycol free solutions because it's best for my scalp. I loved Xandrox but that went away (it contained AA). There are solutions that contain caffeine and/or DHT inhibitors, and they've also worked for me. But is it worth the additional cost? I couldn't tell you for sure. I'm currently using Lipogaine

Copper peptides can be easily applied via a solution or cream. They were originally discovered to aid in wound healing, and are used mostly for skin regeneration and sometimes after a hair transplant to aid in recovery. It's basically a treatment for scalp health and supposedly keeps the hair in the growth phase longer. I think it's benefited me but it isn't a miracle cure.

 

[Adam87]

It may or may not matter which minoxidil solution you use. I honestly couldn't say. I use the propylene glycol free solutions because it's best for my scalp. I loved Xandrox but that went away (it contained AA). There are solutions that contain caffeine and/or DHT inhibitors, and they've also worked for me. But is it worth the additional cost? I couldn't tell you for sure. I'm currently using Lipogaine

Copper peptides can be easily applied via a solution or cream. They were originally discovered to aid in wound healing, and are used mostly for skin regeneration and sometimes after a hair transplant to aid in recovery. It's basically a treatment for scalp health and supposedly keeps the hair in the growth phase longer. I think it's benefited me but it isn't a miracle cure.

Thank you for the advice, i will use this in the future.