Reviews and Comments on Propecia Side Effects and Usage page 8
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: Has anyone had an experience like this?
Date: 10/21/2004
I have been on propecia for about 4 months. I have experinced sleepliness, erectile dysfunction, no sex drive, memory loss and overall slow down of ability to think, personality disorders and depression. I am always thinking about my hair loss nights and days and became withdrawn from people. My wife have noticed this side effects and my doctor asked me to go off the drug. Did someone have the same experience with porpecia?
Mo
Update December 2010: Merck has officially added depression to the list of possible side effects of Propecia.
Subj: Confused and frustrated
Date: 10/21/2004
I took this pill for about 4 months, and as I was warned by my doctor, in the first month it increased the hair loss, but after that it really stopped it, and using it along with Rogaine really helped and I got alot of hair regrowth on my crown. BUT, then right at the 4th month of taking it, I started a relationship, happened to love her and we moved together. I was a very sexual and high potence boy since I was 14, but now, I had the girlfriend of my dreams sleeping with me in same bed every night, AND I did not have any desire to play with her (having sex). I felt like I had chopped off and donated my penis. It is beyond explanation the level of frustration, embarrassment and pain that I went through because of the erection dysfunction, ejaculation disorder, loss of libido &… Then I stopped taking the pill, I HAD TO USE VIAGRA, otherwise I could not get hard. It solved the problem of erection, but not the libido, even that was hard, knowing that a healthy and in shape, 26 yrs old boy has to take viagra, man that’s awful. Then I started taking a steady dose of Korean Red Ginseng to recover the libido issues. It takes time (2months) but if you keep up with it, it does miracles. But now my hair has started loosing. I am confused and frustrated. I pray to god that these doctors could find something that works for hair loss, without taking your manhood.
Shawn
Please note that there are health concerns with using Ginseng.
Subj: Shedding?
Date: 10/21/2004
I have been using Propecia now for a month and a half. I have noticed that I am thinner in front and seem to be receding faster. The rest of my head seems to be the same or even a little denser. Was worried that Propecia has caused my hair to become thinner in front and along the hairline. Please help. Is this a shedding phase or am I responding to Propecia in a bad way?
Tom
AskDocWeb: It does seem that many men go through a shedding phase within a month or two of starting Propecia. If it lasts more than 6 weeks, we would discontinue the Propecia. Alternatively, you could stop the Propecia now and keep track of your hair loss to see if it increases or decreases. If your hair loss increases, you could start taking the Propecia again.
Subj: Propecia and liver
Date: 10/24/2004
PROPECIA KILLS MY LIVER when I take it. Such a pity as it is the ONLY thing that works. 1.8% rate of side effects (libido, etc) is BS. A LOT OF PEOPLE HAS IT, including me. That rate´s gotta be ate least 40%. Liver, though, is my main concern. Anybody with the same symptoms?
Humberto
Subj: Receding hairline
Date: 10/24/2004
I am 22 years old, and in the last year I have notice my hairline receding. I have a full thick head of hair, but the recession in the front is becoming obvious. I am using rogaine but I am essentially putting it on my forehead-the sides… If I take propecia will the hair loss stop the recession? And will it regrow the hair so that my hairline begins to even out?
Alexander
AskDocWeb: From what we have heard, Propecia has less effect on the hairline than it does on the rest of the scalp. It may be worth trying but don’t expect too much.
Subj: Proscar
Date: 10/2/2004
Hello, I have been reading your postings on the site and I came across one on April of 2004 that is almost the same as my situation. I started taking propecia 4 years ago. At first I had sexual side effects and decided to stop taking the medication. My doctor told me to try and take it again. I did and had no sexual side effects until now. I recently switched to generic proscar cut into 4 and after 3 weeks of use I am having the same side effects. Is this because of the generic or because of the increase in mg. Please help me any information would be very helpful.
Semper
AskDocWeb: You know that the higher the dosage, the more chance of side effects. By switching from 1mg Propecia to 5mg proscar, divided into quarters (1.25mg each), you have effectively increased your dosage by 25%.
Subj: Red and swollen nose
Date: 10/27/2004
I took propecia for three months, but found one of the side effects was that my nose became red and swollen. I have stopped taking it for two months, but my nose is still the same. Is this a common problem, and will it change? thanks
Chris
AskDocWeb: We have heard of people that have that symptom from drinking gin but not propecia. You might try an ear/nose/throat specialist to find out what is going on.
Subj: Other side effects of Propecia
Date: 11/1/2004
I’ve been taking propecia for about 2 months now and I’ve noticed side effects not specifically listed. Has anyone complained about a discomfort while ejaculating in the form a sharp pain and now I feel some discomfort while urinating?
Eddy
Subj: Propecia really works
Date: 11/1/2004
I come from a family with a long history of boldness. My grandfather, my father and all my six uncles were bold (some are now dead). The truth is that not all the children in the family are bald including cousins. There is about a 50-50 even split. I have five other brothers. Three became bald very early (in their 20’s) and three of us kept their hair for 10 years longer. My youngest brother has had three hair transplants and started using Propecia just prior to his first hair transplant. He stopped taking the medication after 3 months after experiencing some sexual problems. From my personal experience and by looking at my family history, I come from a very sexually active family (One that produced over 150 children).
I started taking propecia 1 year ago (at age 46) which was 1 month after my first hair transplant (front/top of head). Just now I’m beginning to notice hairs (about 1/2 inch long) in addition to the transplanted hairs. For example, in the very front, where single hairs were transplanted, it appears that a second or third hair is growing out of the single transplanted hair pores. Also, I’m beginning to notice new hairs outside of the hairline created by the transplanted hair (I guess I didn’t pay much attention until now). In all, it seems that a lot more hair than what I had noticed has actually grown. I have had three scalp reductions prior to my hair transplantation. The last scalp reduction was done approximately 12 years ago. I have not experienced any unusual sexual effects from the Propecia. In fact, I am one of those multi-orgasmic males (not always, but very often), and this has not changed. I plan to continue using Propecia, and I’m also thinking on adding Procerin to the mix. Once I’m fully sure that propecia has really worked for me, I will try to convince my five other brothers to start using it.
Javier
Subj: Side effects of Propecia
Date: 11/1/2004
1. I have found that my sex drive was greatly reduced after a few months of Propecia. It is also more difficult to get an erection and to reach orgasm. In a way it is good for me to be able to think of other things now. When I stop using it for a week, my sex drive comes back.
2. It seems to me that my memory is not as clear as it used to be. Maybe it’s not the Propecia, but I’ve read that the hormone, adrenaline, is responsible for how well the memory is imprinted in the brain. And maybe the Finasteride also blocks other hormones a little bit – like adrenaline. (Another explanation for my memory loss, can be that I haven’t had much sun light on my body for the last 6 months). Has anyone experienced similar effects?
Hennie
Subj: desperate 18 yr old
Date: 11/14/2004
I’m an 18 yr old experiencing significant hairloss, so I started rogaine and propecia about 4 months ago. Rogaine caused rapid heart rate and sleeplessness within the first several weeks of taking it so I discontinued usage. I’ve continued propecia, but I have noticed a considerable decrease in the volume and thickness of ejaculate (like it is all basically clear now, which is scary since I am used to a quite significant amount with a very milky consistency). I have not had any trouble with erections or sexual drive, just ejaculate, which does make the orgasm less enjoyable. However, I have yet to see positive results in terms of hair growth; rather I seem to have had an increase in hairloss, which I understand is known as the “shedding phase.”
I am at a crossroads since I know I definitely do not want to take propecia for the long-term for I want to have kids some day and when I start having sex I don’t want the amount of my ejaculate to be embarrassing. However, I am hesitant about stopping before propecia has started to work. If I stop taking it know will the hair lost during the shedding phase be permanent? I realize there is little point in continuing a drug until it yields positive results only to have those results lost when I stop, so I was also wondering whether you knew of people who discontinued propecia after seeing positive results who were able to maintain the hair they regrew through other drugs that weren’t as sexually debilitating? I’ve also tried procerin, which didn’t seem to do anything either. I’ve resorted to just keeping my head shaved all the time so I can hide how thin my hair has become, but I look much worse with my head shaved than I did when I had a head of hair. Is there anything else out there that you could suggest for a desperate 18 yr old who does not want to have hair transplants?!
Chris
AskDocWeb: As far as we know, everyone who has stopped using Propecia lost the benefits within 12 months. Unfortunately, you have already tried the best that science has to offer for hair loss. As for the amount of ejaculate, have you tried a volume enhancer?
Subj: Risk of birth defects with Propecia use
Date: 11/18/2004
I read that unborn male babys could develop problems if pregnant women use the product. But what about if I am taking Propecia and then getting my wife pregnant? Could that be of any risk for the baby?
RM
AskDocWeb: According to the manufacturer, Tests were performed for semen levels in 35 men taking PROPECIA® daily for 6 months. PROPECIA® levels were undetectable in 60% of the samples. The highest level measured was 1.52 ng/mL and the mean was 0.26 ng/mL. Using the highest semen level measured, a woman’s exposure through vaginal absorption would be 750 times lower than the exposure from the no-effect dose in Rhesus monkeys tests. We take this to mean that, while the risk is NOT zero, it is highly unlikely.
Subj: 20 year old with hair loss
Date: 11/23/2004
I am 20 years old. Am I too young to take propecia. What are the side effects I should watch out for?
Raj
AskDocWeb: If your doctor says okay then you are not too young. The sexual side effects are biggest concern for most men. Suggest you read all 8 pages we have on Propecia so you have no surprises.
Subj: How long does it take to see results?
Date: 11/26/2004
I’ve been using propecia for just over 4 months and still experience a significant amount of shedding. If propecia is working, at what point should I start seeing results?
Jeremy
AskDocWeb: The manufacturer says that if you haven’t seen results within one year, you probably won’t see any. We think you should give it at least 6 months.
Subj: Confused about Propecia
Date: 11/29/2004
Is it true that Propecia can lower sperm levels of 5 alpha reductase, which in turn can effect conceiving a male child.
Paul
AskDocWeb: No, 5 alpha reductase doesn’t have a sperm level. 5 alpha reductase is an enzyme that converts testosterone into Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The DHT is believed to cause hair loss by shrinking the hair follicle until it no longer grows hair.
Propecia is not to be taken by women because of the chance of birth defects in male children. Propecia (taken by a man) can have an effect on conceiving both male and female children. Of the men who took Propecia in the clinical trials, 1.8% experienced decreased libido, 0.8% experienced decreased volume of ejaculate and less than one percent experienced impotence. Read more feedback.
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