Used Propecia over 10 years need help. Question about Zinc. and offer some advice.

[996vtwin]

Hi I am 39 years old and took Propecia consistently for over 10 years. Stopped when someone told me that I should look into side effects. SO to make a long story short I suffered with terrible effects after stopping. Also realized that the effects of the drug also changed many aspects of my life. Sexual, mental and many other ways all in very negative ways.

I decided to stop right after reading about the effects in May 2012. I recently saw my doctor in december 2013 after starting to date a new gf. I decided to take zinc and fish oil. Took 50mg zinc every day and felt very good after about a few weeks. Better than I have felt in a long time on this terrible drug. My question is. If I stop taking zinc will my side effect return? I have noticed that while taking this zinc or just recently that my hair has started to thin out very much. Do I have to take zinc all my life? Is it safe to take zinc every day and what is a good maintenance dose.

Also after reading a lot of people articles and comparing to my own experience I will tell some of you young people this. Yes I was completely freaked out about losing my hair when I was 21. But in retrospect I will say that this drug will gradually change you and you will not even know it. It take away your vigor, your zest, your drive for life. You lose your wit, mental quickness, humor. You will lose a lot and you will lose your personality. Yes believe that! There is so much to lose and I am not sure if you actually get it back.

So my advice is think long and hard about taking this drug. Life has many other benefits when you just accept your hairless and maybe its worth thinking about the real advantages vs the many many disadvantages you will have on finasteride. Sure you may have more hair and get more attention. But in the long run finasteride will destroy every part of your life. Your relationships, your job, your zest your happiness.

If I had to do it all again. Im not sure I would take this drug... really.... things are very complicated in my life now. I accept my future whatever it may be. But do think about what you are getting in to. Peace and thank you .

 

[dreamermerlin]

It take away your vigor, your zest, your drive for life. You lose your wit, mental quickness, humor. You will lose a lot and you will lose your personality.

But in the long run finasteride will destroy every part of your life. Your relationships, your job, your zest your happiness.

I'm also a long term finasteride user, and this does not apply to me at all...
So don't generalise!
In fact, i think i have more mental quickness, humor and drive for life now compared to before. No negative change at all!
It doesn't destroy anything, let's be serious.

 

[SayifDoit]

Not to insult you or anything, how can someone just pick up any random drug without looking at the side-effects?

 

[GoldenMane]

Hi I am 39 years old and took Propecia consistently for over 10 years. Stopped when someone told me that I should look into side effects. SO to make a long story short I suffered with terrible effects after stopping. Also realized that the effects of the drug also changed many aspects of my life. Sexual, mental and many other ways all in very negative ways.

What? Well that's a new one... I've never heard anyone say they only got sides after stopping before. Or anyone who had sides for 10 years then decided to stop because they read about sides they never noticed. I you never experienced sides, then why would you quit?

Know what I think? Pharmaceutical companies can't make money off finasteride anymore, propecia is off patent and cheap. They have alternative products to sell. It's in pharmaceutical companies best interests to scare people away from finasteride so they'll try alternative, in patent treatments. In other words, I think half of these are c*** and bull stories created by marketing types for big pharmaceutical companies who don't want us to rely on a cheap and effective drug. They'd rather scare us into taking more expensive and less effective medications that they can make some money off.

/conspiracy theory

Like dreamer said, you do not speak for the majority of finasteride users with your claims about this terrible(y effective) drug!

 

[Thor9]

What? Well that's a new one... I've never heard anyone say they only got sides after stopping before. Or anyone who had sides for 10 years then decided to stop because they read about sides they never noticed. I you never experienced sides, then why would you quit?

I believe it is called post-finasteride syndrome and there are lot's of studies being conducted on it currently. Although it is not only for people who experienced side effects only after quitting, there are many people who report that was the case for them.

 

[996vtwin]

I just want to know about the zinc. Not here to argue with anyone. Do I need to continue taking the zinc to feel good?

 

[talmoode]

if you feel good taking it, then take it.....

 

[NesHair]

Strong troll.

No pics ? no blood tests ? You are claiming some serious stuff mate, you better back up this with some facts. Because the only facts i have, is that if i stop taking this pill i will be bald as phuk

 

[topt]

you want pics blood tests, go on propecia help forum; I cant believe after all the crap that Merck has done there are still people that would take this poison.

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the only conspiracy theory here was done by Merck but at the end they will pay

 

[996vtwin]

Strong troll.

No pics ? no blood tests ? You are claiming some serious stuff mate, you better back up this with some facts. Because the only facts i have, is that if i stop taking this pill i will be bald as phuk

Listen mate the truth hurts. Don't believe me go ahead. Let me tell you how bad it is. Propecia taken for long enough will change you as a person. You will not have balls anymore and women will sense that and not want you. I was always a mans man. Aggressive, always took what i wanted never asked for anything. Propecia turned me into a pussy. I could not even get a woman. Don't even talk about the depression. Its only after I stopped taking the drug I realized because it seems the symptoms got worse after stopping.

The worse was the cloudiness and fog. Had to for basically 18 months after. Some days were ok some were very bad ... but I never gave up hope and kept a positive attitude. I figured my life was basically over and prayed hard and just kept focused on my work and what little life I had left. I had not dated a woman in 4 years.

Then I say by the grace of God and not long after I met a girl which saw way beneath what i was going through was I able to have some kind of recovery. Not sure if it was the zinc,,, or the passage of time or maybe even her tender arms that healed me but I IMMEDIATELY KNEW when I was better.

I started feeling my old self again. Aggressive, confident. My thinking changed, i became clearer and smarter again. Witty, I was talking more cracking jokes again. You think this drug is a joke.... LOL. guess again. I never even cared about the hard ons because IMO the other symptoms are so much worse that you won't have a need for a hard on cause you will not be able to keep a girl.

Let me tell you how bad it is. I knew a friend who also was on Propecia and he could not keep a girl. Met many girls very good looking guy full of hair but could not keep a girl. I said BRO ARE YOU BY CHANCE ON PROPECIA? he says yes and also had a transplant. I said bro, you have to get off. Its a complicated reason but when you do not have that many drive women will not want you.

Now let me tell you... it took years before getting this way. I would say I was kind of ok for the first 4-5 years maybe even more of course i was getting worse. I was slowly changing but I had not reached that critical point. in 2009 i became severely depressed and did not know why...

One day I was praying hard and I asked God what was wrong with me and I got the feeling the drug Propecia was hurting me. I immediately stopped and thats when I really realized how bad I was. The rest is history. Don't believe me then don't I have nothing to gain or prove. I just turned 39. Im getting my life back just wanted to know if the zinc was doing it or the time.

I still don't like the idea of losing what hair I have left but let me tell you something. I will never take that pill again. The benefits are not enough to what you will lose. Trust me. But they say knowledge is key. Now you know and now you can make a better decision. Peace out!

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Strong troll.

No pics ? no blood tests ? You are claiming some serious stuff mate, you better back up this with some facts. Because the only facts i have, is that if i stop taking this pill i will be bald as phuk

Im from a small island in the caribbean. We actually have to send away for certain results. Saw my GP twice and he said listen and I agreed. He said you take something to fix this and that also will have side effects. But either way he sent me just in December 2013 for a full test, had to send away for the results. And that where I reached. I started zinc right after his visit. We spoke in depth about the depression and he recommended first of all an evaluation. Its a process. I don't have access to many specialists but considered flying away but all the while kept reading and educating myself. I never went for the test because when I got to the lab they said I need to fast and come back. All I know is where I stand now. My GP knows not too much about this drug but did know about PROSCAR which is a 5mg dose. He said that PROSCAR is for older people and older people hardly notice this type of symptoms. He also said that ALL DRUGS HAVE SIDE EFFECTS. He's a very experienced doctor and we reasoned very well.

He said sleep and eat well and recommended a vitamin which was not a bad idea at all. That all I got bro. Take it or leave it.

 

[Quantum Cat]

if God told you that Propecia was the root of all your problems then you did the right thing by stopping

 

[Primo]

I just want to know about the zinc. Not here to argue with anyone. Do I need to continue taking the zinc to feel good?

Yes Zinc is the best supplement you can take if you're suffering from finasteride sides because it inhibits estrogen (50mg is probably a bit to much though and could be bad for your bones and joints, try to limit it to 30/40 mg if you can)

By the sounds of it, you were definitely suffering side effects before you quit finasteride and it was't just a random, spontaneous decision you made.

The reason for your sides is a change in the Testosterone:Estrogen Ratio, over time lower testosterone compared to estrogen = brain fog, lack of drive, depression, ED etc and all the other sides associated with finasteride.

Green vegetables like Brocolli, Cabbage, Cauliflower etc.. are also good for eliminating "bad estrogens" and restoring a healthy hormone balance, have a look here for other good aromatose inhibiting foods and info...
http://www.naturalnews.com/040798_aromatization_estrogen_testosterone.html#




I had similar problems after around 12 months on the drug. It was a gradual thing, not instantaneous. I started to notice a real lack of sex drive and "brain fog" or chronic mental fatigue if you prefer to call it that. If I was a single guy who rarely had sex and worked an east 9-5 job, then I might not have noticed, but as it is I live with my girlfriend and work a long hours, very mentally demanding job, these sides were exposed all the time and so it was impossible for me to be in denial about them.

I'm not here to sensationalise anything, there's lots of finasteride users who experience zero sides, that's fantastic and long may it continue, everybody wants to keep their hair if they can.

However, what I object to, is some cocky, clueless kids on here completely trivializing the chance of getting side effects and celebrating the 2% sides stat as if it's some kind of gold standard in medical safety, when if you speak to any experienced, qualified doctor they will tell you that a 2% side effect incidence is in fact alarmingly high for any FDA approved pharmaceutical drug, especiallly given that the man sides are loss of libido and ED.

 

[metalcavy87]

Listen mate the truth hurts. Don't believe me go ahead. Let me tell you how bad it is. Propecia taken for long enough will change you as a person. You will not have balls anymore and women will sense that and not want you. I was always a mans man. Aggressive, always took what i wanted never asked for anything. Propecia turned me into a pussy. I could not even get a woman. Don't even talk about the depression. Its only after I stopped taking the drug I realized because it seems the symptoms got worse after stopping.

The worse was the cloudiness and fog. Had to for basically 18 months after. Some days were ok some were very bad ... but I never gave up hope and kept a positive attitude. I figured my life was basically over and prayed hard and just kept focused on my work and what little life I had left. I had not dated a woman in 4 years.

You're mistaking being a loser for a drug side effect. It's much easier to blame something else rather than taking responsibility for your own failings.

 

[LBerg12]

Most of your problems are mental. Changing your perspective will do wonders.

 

[der29]

Hi I am 39 years old and took Propecia consistently for over 10 years. Stopped when someone told me that I should look into side effects. SO to make a long story short I suffered with terrible effects after stopping. Also realized that the effects of the drug also changed many aspects of my life. Sexual, mental and many other ways all in very negative ways.

I decided to stop right after reading about the effects in May 2012. I recently saw my doctor in december 2013 after starting to date a new gf. I decided to take zinc and fish oil. Took 50mg zinc every day and felt very good after about a few weeks. Better than I have felt in a long time on this terrible drug. My question is. If I stop taking zinc will my side effect return? I have noticed that while taking this zinc or just recently that my hair has started to thin out very much. Do I have to take zinc all my life? Is it safe to take zinc every day and what is a good maintenance dose.

Also after reading a lot of people articles and comparing to my own experience I will tell some of you young people this. Yes I was completely freaked out about losing my hair when I was 21. But in retrospect I will say that this drug will gradually change you and you will not even know it. It take away your vigor, your zest, your drive for life. You lose your wit, mental quickness, humor. You will lose a lot and you will lose your personality. Yes believe that! There is so much to lose and I am not sure if you actually get it back.

So my advice is think long and hard about taking this drug. Life has many other benefits when you just accept your hairless and maybe its worth thinking about the real advantages vs the many many disadvantages you will have on finasteride. Sure you may have more hair and get more attention. But in the long run finasteride will destroy every part of your life. Your relationships, your job, your zest your happiness.

If I had to do it all again. Im not sure I would take this drug... really.... things are very complicated in my life now. I accept my future whatever it may be. But do think about what you are getting in to. Peace and thank you .

another propeciahelp shill

 

[Diffuser44]

no you are wrong and i'm not astonished about what he said

Who is wrong about what? I'm glad I quit at 7.5 years after reading this guys post. I think the first 5 years of finasteride were good. Maybe even first 6 for me. After a while I did lose that drive so I know what he is trying to say.

 

[Malin]

I'm also a long term finasteride user, and this does not apply to me at all...
So don't generalise!
In fact, i think i have more mental quickness, humor and drive for life now compared to before. No negative change at all!
It doesn't destroy anything, let's be serious.

I've been taking it for 3+ years, haven't experienced any of those symptoms, my sexual life is excellent, and personality hasn't been affected.

 

[Diffuser44]

I've been taking it for 3+ years, haven't experienced any of those symptoms, my sexual life is excellent, and personality hasn't been affected. 

3 - 4 years in were the glory days of being on the drug. I don't know. I'm just not convinced retaking it is a good idea. There is too much negativity and uncertainties surrounding this drug. Antiandrogend = Anti man. Does that mean you get to keep your hair? Yes! But what else are we doing to our bodies, brains, and reproductive organs in the long run? This **** scares me.. :/

Keep in mind I took it 7.5 years. Then when I quit i remember thinking how magical it was I all of a sudden started getting morning stiffys. Very hard ones, harder than any erection I had while taking finasteride. That is in the end one of the most likely reasons I stayed and have stayed quit. That's just one little thing my body was actually showing me. Who knows what was happening in the background that my body wasn't making me aware of. Who knows how much this drug has altered my life because of taking it so long at a young age. I might be a completely different person, both physically and mentally had I never altered my dht at the age of 18 for so long. I will never know, and this bothers me some. I can't reverse time and retry things the other way and just lose my hair and it get over with and have led my life the way it was meant to be lived by my genes.

 

[Notcoolanymore]

This dude was side free for 10 years, and just because his friend said "look at the sides", he stops taking the drug? He was side free and it was working, why would he stop? He got sides after his friend told him about the sides. This is total BS.

 

[Diffuser44]

This dude was side free for 10 years, and just because his friend said "look at the sides", he stops taking the drug? He was side free and it was working, why would he stop? He got sides after his friend told him about the sides. This is total BS.

Its the fact that when we both started the drug we knew very little about dht at the time. Back in 2003 there wasn't any concern about taking propecia and that there was no risk whatsoever with taking it because if you quit you supposedly went back to normal. When the warning labels changed and the Pfs stories came out it scAred me. What was I doing to my body long term? So I quit just to see if I would notice difference. And I sort of did. I'm seriously contemplating retaking the drug. But I can't without 100 percent certainty that it won't cause me harm. I'm afraid my body might not tolerate antiandrogens the way it
did the first time around. I'm also concerned about sexual sides. I'm very happy with my current performance and don't want to ruin that.

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I have seriously been contemplating what I should do for over 2.5 years now. It's been on my mind nonstop. Talking with my doctor, talking with people on these forums, nothing can convince me to make a finite decision on this. So far the no finasteride going bald side has been winning. Occasionally I will take finastedide
for 1 to 4 days in a row and then quit due to fear of sides. Whether it be it took longer to get an erection, prematurely ejaculating, worried about gyno or testical pain, or brain fog.