URGANT ADVICE NEEDED. Shall I start taking finasteride again?

[ckp4eva]

URGENT ADVICE NEEDED. Shall I start taking finasteride again?

Before I start, I'm going to condense this down, just so it's a quick read for you guys, then you can give some quick advice!

I'm 20 years old

Started my first course of finasteride at the start of December 2015. Stopped taking near the 31st, just simply because I ran out. Like an idiot I didn't order a new batch, I just thought I'd wait until the partying from the holidays had died down. Lol. Bad choice.

After a week of discontinued use - I experienced the dreaded "post finasteride syndrome".
Side effects included:
-erectile dysfunction
-low libido
-anxiety, depression, stress (same umbrella. Not sure if these came from the worrying about the sides)

These took about a month to go away. I'm pretty sure I am now 100% recovered, with a spring in my step.

So, my question is: now that I'm fully recovered, can I start taking finasteride again?

I understand this is a tough question because it's impossible to say if I was going to get the finasteride sides anyway, or if that it was just PFS. Any input will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks. CK.

 

[Illusions]

Only you can make this decision, it just depends how much your hair means to you and if it is worth the risks.

 

[alexpie2]

You just had some very serious side effects from the drug, and you are considering getting back on it? This just sounds crazy to me. Stay off finasteride unless you think your hair is more important than your health.

 

[ckp4eva]

Very serious side effects? Yes.
Like I said though, I don't know if that was just the PFS kicking in - I never got any sides while on the drug

 

[kmm179]

Doesn't finasteride have a short half life like 8hrs. Is a week the right time frame for something like this to happen?

 

[ckp4eva]

Expand please?

 

[Notcoolanymore]

It will no longer expand if he continues to take finasteride.

 

[Norwood One]

^ Lmao. Notcoolanymore is one of my favorite posters. Short, concise comedy. To the point.

As for OP. Finasteride is a strange thing man. There's people who claim they get sides, ignore them, then their body balances out and the sides disappear (at lower dosages or different intervals). For others, you're just digging yourself into a deeper hole if you get sides and continue on the medication. I personally do not have the balls (pun intended) to continue even when I got minimal sides, so i dropped it completely. The worst part is not knowing if they'll go away or just get worse. For me, being young, my libido is very important. You feel like a lil b**ch if you cant get it up whenever you want it to. Can't take the risk.

They should come up with a test that can predict if users would get sides. Could be something as simple as a gene variation between individuals, some enzyme possibly? that contributes to the nasty side effects.

 

[mrk123]

I need some

 

[Norwood One]

Such a cruel choice between the two. Dick or hair. Damn you, nature.

 

[ckp4eva]

Remember though, I only got the effects when I stopped the drug. I had none during the month I was taking it

 

[Norwood One]

It's possible your endocrine system crashed or is out of whack. Inhibiting DHT ups T production. Too much T gets converted to estrogen.

If it doesn't fix by itself in a week, you should probably go see an endocrinologist. He'll be able to pinpoint what is/isn't normal.

 

[ckp4eva]

I'm fine now bruh. I've fully recovered. I'm asking: do you think it's a good idea to start again?

- - - Updated - - -

But I know, it's the ultimate dilemma. A sick, twisted scene from saw, "dick or hair? You chose."

- - - Updated - - -

Do you still take finasteride, "notcoolanymore"?

 

[Norwood One]

In my opinion, no. Those side effects are 10x worse than going bald from my personal experience. You won't need to worry about hair or women. Once you're with a girl you won't be able to use your dink.

 

[g.i joey]

I'm fine now bruh. I've fully recovered. I'm asking: do you think it's a good idea to start again?

- - - Updated - - -

But I know, it's the ultimate dilemma. A sick, twisted scene from saw, "dick or hair? You chose."

- - - Updated - - -

Do you still take finasteride, "notcoolanymore"?

if you're like me then chances are you'll recover every time you stop. i got sides too and they persisted for 2 weeks after being off the drug, i swear on the 14th day mark my penis was pulling stiffys all day. I let my hormones normalize now im low dosing propecia with no problems to speak of.

 

[Norwood One]

There's a lot that's not understood about the drug. I'm going to hold off on taking it till they figure out what the hell is going on (I Sound like Donald Trump.... uke

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02846.x/abstract

Introduction.  Finasteride has been associated with sexual side effects that may persist despite discontinuation of the medication. In a clinical series, 20% of subjects with male pattern hair loss reported persistent sexual dysfunction for ≥6 years, suggesting the possibility that the dysfunction may be permanent.

Such a big wild card of unknowns with it. You can reduce dosage and sides may never come back. You can reduce dosage, sides may disappear then maybe it hits you like a ton of bricks a year from now. Then there's people who take 1.25 mg or more and experience nothing, even increase in libido.

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Then there's the psychological sides that are even more concerning

RESULTS: Rates of depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≥ 14) were significantly higher in the former finasterideusers (75%; 46/61) as compared to the controls (10%; 3/29) (P <.0001). Moderate or severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≥ 20) were present in 64% (39/61) of the finasteride group and 0% of the controls. Suicidal thoughts were present in 44% (27/61) of the former finasteride users and in 3% (1/29) of the controls (P <.0001).

http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22939118/reload=0;jsessionid=c0VZEk564tjYwGcDwYZs.20

 

[g.i joey]

20% of subjects with persistent sides.. i really doubt that, pfs wouldnt go so under the radar if that were to be proven true.

 

[Norwood One]

I don't think it's 20% PFS, per se. But a definite reduction in libido. Doesn't mean impotence, but a reduced sex drive.

Which is tolerable/ignorable for some I suppose. For me, I just didn't care if I had sex, looked at women, p**rn, anything. Kinda just zoned them out. That innate desire was lacking.

 

[g.i joey]

Enzymes are recreated all the time. It kills it permanently till a new enzyme is regenerated. You're just looking for reasons to Haye finasteride now

 

[Dench57]

There's a lot that's not understood about the drug. I'm going to hold off on taking it till they figure out what the hell is going on (I Sound like Donald Trump.... uke

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02846.x/abstract

Introduction.  Finasteride has been associated with sexual side effects that may persist despite discontinuation of the medication. In a clinical series, 20% of subjects with male pattern hair loss reported persistent sexual dysfunction for ≥6 years, suggesting the possibility that the dysfunction may be permanent.

Such a big wild card of unknowns with it. You can reduce dosage and sides may never come back. You can reduce dosage, sides may disappear then maybe it hits you like a ton of bricks a year from now. Then there's people who take 1.25 mg or more and experience nothing, even increase in libido.

- - - Updated - - -

Then there's the psychological sides that are even more concerning

RESULTS: Rates of depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≥ 14) were significantly higher in the former finasterideusers (75%; 46/61) as compared to the controls (10%; 3/29) (P <.0001). Moderate or severe depressive symptoms (BDI-II score ≥ 20) were present in 64% (39/61) of the finasteride group and 0% of the controls. Suicidal thoughts were present in 44% (27/61) of the former finasteride users and in 3% (1/29) of the controls (P <.0001).

http://europepmc.org/abstract/MED/22939118/reload=0;jsessionid=c0VZEk564tjYwGcDwYZs.20

Ah yes, Dr Irwig's infamously rigorous study, where he asked about 50 guys from PropeciaHelp a few questions. I don't doubt that PFS exists, but that "study" is terrible.