Reviews and Comments on Propecia Side Effects and Usage page 12
Propecia Reviews
If you’ve used Propecia, please help others by adding your feedback. What would you tell your best friend about this product? Please remember that we do not give medical advice. That is for your local health care provider, who is familiar with your medical history.
Subj: Using Procerin with Propecia?
Date: 3/1/2005
I am a 23 year old male and I have been using propecia for just over a year now, I feel that the thinning has stopped on the top of my head but feel that I am still losing it on the temples. From your feedback I can see that some are getting regrowth on their temples, would it be ok to continue using propecia and start using procerin at the same time. Could I still have a shedding phase even though I use propecia for over a year?
Andrew
AskDocWeb: At the present state of knowledge we don’t know enough to answer that. Many men go through a period of shedding when just using the Propecia by itself. You could help other men if you let us know how well this works for you.
Subj: Quit Propecia
Date: 3/4/2005
I was on Propecia for only 5-7 months and in that time I became moody (angry, irritable, irrational), had a greatly decreased sex drive and mild testicular pains. I didn’t even “feel” like myself. Since stop taking the treatment about 3 weeks ago my mood swings have almost completely gone or are easily identified and controlled, testicular pain is gone and my usual unquenchable sex drive has returned. I “feel” like myself again too. Age: 22 sex: male
Brad
Subj: Starting Propecia again
Date: 3/4/2005
I used Propecia for 18 months, including a one month stretch where I stopped using for financial reasons, and was generally quite satisfied. I have since switched to Procerin, but I was considering using both. My question is, will Propecia still work for me despite having not used it for the past 3 months? I have heard reports that if you stop using it, it will not work for you start using it again.
Patrick
AskDocWeb: No, we have not heard that. You can restart and results will start up again. It does take time though, be patient.
Subj: Enlarged gland or cyst?
Date: 3/5/2005
Hi there. I have been taking propecia now for about three months and have had good results and no adverse effects in respect of sexual functions. However over the past few weeks I have noticed a small tender bump that moves around under my left breast that feels a bit like an enlarged gland/cyst. Could this be linked to Propecia and if so is it a more sinister side effect? Should I discontinue use?
Nick
AskDocWeb: This is not likely to be connected to the Propecia but I would have the growth checked out by your physician.
Subj: Effects on mood
Date: 3/7/2005
I’ve been taking finasteride for three months. Since the beginning I had the impression that taking it made me someway more nervous… but after a week I started taking it this impression disappeared for a while. In the last of the three months I started feeling very nervous/anxious in a strange way, and I started guessing it may had been a side effect of finasteride. I tried more than once to stop taking these pills for a day and the day after I felt much more relaxed. The effects came back when I started over again.. My doctor says it cannot be a side effect of Finasteride but I’m getting convinced it is. I’m now surfing to see if someone else as experienced the same effect and I found Valerie’s post.
Check out also this article about the effect of dht on mood: (link is no longer online)
Mike
AskDocWeb: It would be nice if the FDA looked at this possibility, after all, that is their job. On the other hand, it is a good idea to remember that if you suspect something is true, that feeling of suspicion is not proof. Feelings change so you need to test in order to find out the truth.
The article you refer to could have other interpretations, such as the possibility that the drug indomethacin* affects anxiety levels in rats. The article “suggests” a connection but does not prove one.
*Indomethacin is a drug used to treat gout and give pain relief for bone and joint problems.
Subj: Long-term Propecia usage
Date: 3/8/2005
I am 25 and started losing my hair about 2 years ago. Rogaine slowed the regression, but I recently added Propecia. How many years can I expect to get results from this medication? Will it continue to maintain/grow my hair for 5 years? 10 years? What has the experience of other men on this drug been, and what does the research show about how long Propecia will work?
Paul
AskDocWeb: There are men in their 60’s using Propecia. That would indicate 35 or 40 years. However, you have to continuously use this medication in order keep the benefits and we suspect that there are more sexual side effects to this drug than was thought.
Subj: Propecia and breast enlargement
Date: 3/10/2005
I’m 23 years old and have been losing significant amounts of hair very quickly. Rogaine doesn’t seem to be working for me, so my doctor prescribed propecia. I haven’t started it yet, because I’m concerned about the side effects. I understand that the sexual side effects (erectile dysfunction) will subside after stopping treatment, but what about if there is breast enlargement? If you experience the side effect of breast enlargement, will it go back to normal if you stop treatment?
Concerned
AskDocWeb: According to the manufacturer, all effects return to normal after stopping.
Subj: Caffeine prevents hair loss?
Date: 3/10/2005
I recently read that caffeine can prevent hair loss, in a German study. Since there aren’t currently products on the market now, they recommended rubbing coffee grounds on one’s scalp. I was wondering if it would be dangerous to buy pure crystalline caffeine, mix it with water, then add to scalp after a shower or something. Are there any dangers? Do I have to measure a certain amount…I’m guessing all of it won’t be absorbed by my blood through the hair roots.
Concerned
AskDocWeb: Yes, we read that study too. If you add that to the studies that show that excess oral intake of caffeine increases levels of DHT in the body, they cancel each other out. There is just not enough research on this to make a call yet. We would be concerned with the effect of putting pure crystalline caffeine on your scalp. You know that using strong chemicals on the scalp can increase hair loss. That would seem to be a danger that is not worth the risk. You don’t want to go bald trying it. Better let someone else do the research on this.
Subj: Rogaine with Propecia?
Date: 3/25/2005
Can you use Rogaine and Propecia simultaneously?
Brett
AskDocWeb: Yes, several men have reported getting good results by doing this.
Subj: Worried about returning to normal
Date: 3/25/2005
I took Propecia for 3 months, but stopped after noticing a significant reduction in the volume of my ejaculation and the size of my testicles. It has been about 3 months since I have stopped, but I still have the same problem. Merck claims that all side effects will gradually subside if a patient stop taking the medication. I worry very much, and would like to know if this could be a permanent situation and irreversible is it? Thank you,
David
AskDocWeb: Please mark your calendar to remind you to return at the end of the year and let others know when or if this returns to normal.
Subj: Stopping and starting Propecia
Date: 3/28/2005
Hello, I used propecia for about 6 months and was very satisfied, so satisfied that I began to believe that my hair loss was just my imagination, and discontinued use. I now find myself 1 month in on using it again, but have noticed that my shedding has gotten much worse in the last week, and that hairs can be easily pulled from my scalp. Is this normal? Are my follicles getting cleaner and bigger, and is that why I’m losing more hair.
Mike
AskDocWeb: It will take months for Propecia to return to the levels that prevented your hair loss. It is common to have increased shedding in cases where Propecia is stopped and started again.
Subj: How long to overcome side effects?
Date: 3/29/2005
Dear AskDocWeb, I have stopped taking Propecia two weeks ago after taking it for about two years because I have been feeling less sexual drive for the past several months, I am 23 and I do feel like the problem could be that I am just getting older and busier. I am waiting to notice a change in mood/drive to be able to isolate the effects of the drug; however, I have not noticed anything yet, I recall trying this in the past for about a month or so without any change as well. My question is: Based on your impressions from other people how long does it take to overcome the possible side-effects of Propecia and can one do something to accelerate the process? I thank you candidly for your response, your site has been tremendously helpful.
Aram
AskDocWeb: We have yet to hear from anyone who has stopped using propecia where their libido returned to normal. There are many men who would like to know how long it takes, aside from the “within 12 months” answer given by the drug company.
Subj: Stopping propecia
Date: 4/1/2005
I am stopping propecia after 7 years. Should I wean myself off or can I just stop cold turkey?
Joe
AskDocWeb: You can stop anytime you want to. You do not have to wean yourself off of this drug.
Subj: Equivalent for women?
Date: 4/2/2005
Is there an equivalent for women, if not, can women take propecia if they are not planning to become pregnant?
Jacob
AskDocWeb: There is no equivalent for women. The closest product is not a pill but rather a topical solution of minoxidil such as Rogaine for women. In the clinical trials there was no improvement in the hair count of women treated with Propecia.
Subj: Hair loss increased with Finpecia
Date: 4/3/2005
I have taken Propecia for 3 months and then switched to Finpecia for the last 3 months since it was cheaper. They are both finasteride and taken at the same doses. I have noticed lately that my hair loss has increased and started to have a lot of acne on my temples. Do you think because the Finpecia is weak and I am going through decrease amounts of finasteride that this is happening? Can I be going through rebound increase of testosterone? I know you would tell me to go back to taking Propecia, but neither seemed to be working much. What do you think?
Deepan
AskDocWeb: We suspect that you may be wasting your money on the Finpecia.
Subj: Changing dosage
Date: 4/3/2005
I changed dosage and I experienced shedding soon after and then subsided. Is that shedding from changing dosage and you think the hair will grow back when dosage is normalized?
Erin
AskDocWeb There is no way to tell. Some men go through periodic shedding even without changing their dosage. Read more feedback.
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