Reviews and Comments on Propecia Side Effects and Usage, page 73

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: Decrease in sexual desire
Date: 3/31/2010
I’m using finepecia since 10days. I’m experiencing side effects such as decrease in sexual desire. I stopped immediately. Can you tell me how to overcome problem? Will it affect my life?

Raghu
AskDocWeb: About all you can do is wait and see how long it takes for the problem to go away. It would be helpful if you would return to tell others how long that takes.

Subj: Users who quit
Date: 4/3/2010
Is there any way you could email some of the users who quit and were still experiencing side effects to see how things have progressed since they posted? There is such a lack of information on this topic that it would be extremely helpful.

Marc
AskDocWeb: Sorry Marc, when we say that email addresses are held confidential, that means they are not given out to anyone.

Subj: Effects on libido
Date: 4/9/2010
Took it for 9 days. Had the effects on libido on the second day. Nothing turned me on. After 14 days off the pill everything was back to normal. Don’t know if this pill really is worth it. Maybe you should just accept who you are and how your genes make you look.

Tom

Subj: New research on Propecia
Date: 4/15/2010
DOCTOR CONDUCTING STUDY ON PERSISTENT PROPECIA SIDE EFFECTS, REQUESTING PARTICIPANTS WORLDWIDE

Dr. Michael Irwig and colleagues at the George Washington University in Washington DC, USA are conducting a study to describe possible PERSISTENT sexual side effects related to the use of finasteride (Propecia). Dr. Irwig is requesting participants worldwide. If you are suffering from persistent sexual side effects, we invite you to be a part of this important project so that we can report the persistent sexual side effects of finasteride to both the medical community (doctors who prescribe the medicine) and to the general population.

ELIGIBLE SUBJECTS ARE: 1) Men who between the ages of 18 and 40 took finasteride (Propecia or Proscar) for male pattern hair loss treatment or prevention

2) Men who experienced new sexual dysfunction (low libido, erectile dysfunction, decreased orgasm) that has persisted despite stopping finasteride (Propecia)

SUBJECTS ARE NOT ELIGIBLE IF THEY HAD: 1) Any significant baseline sexual dysfunction before using finasteride.

2) Psychiatric diagnoses including depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, etc.

3) Medication use other than finasteride BEFORE or DURING treatment with finasteride.

DETAILS & CONSENT FORM: (No longer available)

Mew

Subj: Sexual side effects
Date: 4/18/2010
I’m a 24 year old male who has heavy genetic MPH. I began taking Propecia when I was 21 as part of my hair-loss regimen. Results wise, Propecia definitely helped halt my hair-loss and slowed down the balding. My hair seemed noticeably thicker. However, I suffered from heavy side-effects, particularly erectly dysfunction, watery semen, decreased libido and some times no sensation upon ejaculation. I wasn’t completely sure if this was a mental or psychosomatic condition. However one year, while waiting for my prescription to be filled, I indirectly took a few days off of Propecia. Libido wise, it was a night and day difference. I have stopped taking Propecia and have relied on Nizoral/Rogaine, however I’m still balding and am debating whether to try a lower dose in regards to the side effects. I’d advise those considering Propecia to talk to their physicians first. Try out the product for at least 6 months to gauge its effectiveness. Side effect wise, be weary if you start suffering mind fog or lack of any morning erections.

Bulleit

Subj: Poor sex drive and the terrible Anxiety
Date: 4/18/2010
I was on Propecia for 8 years until I was 38 yrs old. I was having side effects regarding being able to have an erection, having clear ejaculations and not much of a sex drive. During my 7th year taking Propecia, I had a massive anxiety attack and went to the hospital thinking there was something wrong with my heart. I had every test available…nothing wrong. I continued to have anxiety attacks for the next 1.5 years. Was even scared to go to sleep some nights as I thought I was dying or something. At that time, I had eased off of the propecia to every other day and the attacks went down (but I cut back on everything and didn’t know what was slowing the anxiety attacks or if it was just my body healing) I finally decided to quit Propecia altogether after I read a blog similar to this one where I finally made the connection.

You have to understand that I had a lot of theories of what caused the anxiety so it was impossible to narrow down until then. I have never in my life felt the bizarre way I felt when I had the anxiety. I was the captain of my high school hockey team, played college tennis and have always been a top athlete. I am also a very confident person and very successful in my professional life. Thus, Propecia can cause these symptoms in anyone! If you have these symptoms, stop taking Propecia ASAP. It takes some time to undo itself so give it some time. Your mind also has a memory so it has to get out of the habit.

Since quitting, my sex drive has come back, I rarely have anxiety and I have also strangely began to build muscle quite a bit easier. Again bizarre…but it certainly makes sense that it was the Propecia in “hindsight”. I imagine the loss in testosterone and some of its related chemistries in the body caused my anxiety. Never again, I’d rather be bald and beautiful than feel that crazy anxiety. Did Propecia work for me?….Yes absolutely. Was it worth not having a poor sex drive and the terrible Anxiety?….NO!

Dj

Subj: Pregnant
Date: 4/20/2010
I am 5 weeks pregnant and my husband wants to start taking Propecia? Is this safe for us?

Paige

AskDocWeb: Please read the caution here.

Subj: Libido took a nose dive
Date: 5/1/2010
I am 42 years old and have been taking Propecia for about 15 years. When I first started, my hair loss virtually stopped and my hairline and hair density have remained roughly the same for 15 years. My libido decreased slightly and remained the same. Then about 6 months ago, it took a NOSE DIVE. Now I rarely can get a full erection, even when I feel like I am in the mood. It is obviously frustrating for both my wife and I. So I went off Propecia about a month ago and so far have not noticed much of a change. Although my scalp is itching again which means hair loss is resuming. The question I have is whether or not Finesteride can lower testosterone levels. Should I have it checked? Thanks.

Jim

AskDocWeb: Yes, Propecia can lower testosterone levels. If you think you have low T, there are two blood tests to check: Total T and Free T. If either of these are low then your doctor may want the following additional tests to find the cause;

  • Luteinizing hormone (LH)
  • Prolactin
  • Hematocrit or hemoglobin
  • Prostate-specific antigen (PSA)
  • Bone density

Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) affects several million men in the United States but the problem may also be E2 (estradiol) level. High E2 levels are also a potential libido killer.

Subj: Propecia for women?
Date: 5/3/2010
My dermatologest just perscribed Propecia for my hair loss, I haven’t found anywhere that it is for women, even the printout from my pharmacy says FOR MEN ONLY, whats going on?

Jeannie

AskDocWeb: Propecia comes with a warning for women of child bearing age about the possibility of a specific birth defect. Women should not handle crushed or broken Propecia tablets. It can be absorbed through the skin. Whole tablets are coated to prevent that. A couple of women past that age have reported success in combating hair loss with Propecia but the clinical trials did not show a significant benefit for women.

Subj: Finpecia with zincplus
Date: 5/3/2010
I am one of the user of this drug(finpecia), I used this from 1 years ago with dose of 1mg in day combinate with zincplus capsule. Clearly I see change and regrowth in my hair and suggest to another friends that combinate finpecia with zincplus. What is your oponion?

Afjon

AskDocWeb: Zinc is an essential trace mineral that helps boost immunity, repair wounds, maintain fertility, synthesize protein, aids in cell reproduction, and preserves vision. There are more than 300 enzymes in the body that needs zinc in order to function properly. And since one of the symptoms of zinc deficiency is hair loss it makes sense to make sure you are getting enough. Zincplus is one zinc supplement but you could also increase your consumption of zinc rich foods such as oysters, brewers yeast, bran cereals, pine nuts, pecans, wheat germ, wheat bran, and shellfish.

Subj: Sexual side affects
Date: 5/4/2010
I’ve been an avid user of propecia and 5% minoxidil for 8 yrs. I am now 29 and am looking for alternative solutions as I can attest to many of the sexual side affects. In my case, the side effects did not occur until a few yrs back. Does that seem odd that it took so long for this to occur leading me to wonder if it is age or something else. I do not take any other medications thou? I’m very healthy and active to boot. Procerin vs provillus? I also use nioxin hair products which are natural but recently was sold a new line by the name of “tosh” anyone had results with that line?

Also, so afraid to discontinue propecia and from the sounds of it the damage could already be done so what would the advantage be? Side effects for me include: no morning errection (ever!), decrease in libido and some instances of no achievement of erection while being much less hard when things are good. Also, not sure if connected but I’ve been battling irriation around my nose and underneath my eyes. I have no history of acne or skin probs but have been dealing with this for over a yr and have consulted my dr. I have found aloe to help this for anyone who may have had similiar issues. Please tell me we’re close to a medical breakthru!

Jason

AskDocWeb: Having a decrease in libido, no erections or having other sexual problems at the age of 29 is unusual and has nothing to do with your age. Although allergic reactions to drugs typically show up shortly after a drug is begun, side effects can develop anytime, even after using a drug for years. There have been some breakthroughs announced in dealing with hair loss. First, geneticists are getting closer to understanding the cause of male pattern balding. A recent study published in the journal Nature describes how a gene that causes a rare hair loss disorder might also influence male pattern balding. The mutation of gene APCDD1 has been identified that seems to be involved in hypotrichosis simplex. This is a rare hair loss disorder that runs in families and causes the hair follicles to miniaturize. The hair follicles get smaller resulting in downy, fine hair.

Another breakthrough was announced in January of this year in the field of cloning and surgical hair restoration. A regenerative powder called MatriStem®, originally formulated to help heal diabetic ulcers, venous ulcers and pressure ulcers, may lead to permanent hair restoration. According to Dr. Ted Chaglassian, a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and former Chief of Plastic Surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital and Attending Physician at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in NYC, “We are growing new hair in prior donor scar sites as well as duplicating (growing multiple hairs from a single transplanted beard or donor hair) in the bald recipient area”.

The newest product seems to be a combination of older ones. On June 1st Dr. Oscar Klein M.D. announced the results of a triple blind research study involving 5% Minoxidil lotion, 0.025% tretinoin (Retin A) and 0.1% Finesteride. According to Dr. Klein, “as much as 75% of the subjects showed improvement.” The emphasis on the words “as much as” is ours and should be taken with a grain of salt.

Then there’s a new treatment called mesotherapy, a series of injections of tiny doses of medication and vitamins proven to stimulate hair growth. We are keeping an eye on this one and may have more for you later. Read more feedback.
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