Hormones Changing

[wiwiw1212]

Hey guys, I've been a lurker for a couple months and finally decided to get on Propecia. I've been taking 0.25 mg of Propecia the past 6 days, and I think my hormones are changing. My face has gotten bloated and a lot "softer," I've become very tired, and thirsty with chronically dry lips. On the positive side, I can tell it's working because I don't have hair that falls out with little balls of oil (DHT?) on the end. Also, my libido seems to have risen a small amount. All of this makes me believe that I have increased testosterone and estrogen.

What I'm wondering, is if my hormones will level out after a while. I can't stand being constantly tired (even after getting 8+ hours of sleep) and having a bloated face.

Thanks for your time!

 

[Skaff]

I know you don't want to hear this but I bet it's all in your head...stop thinking about it.

The bulbs at the root of your hair aren't oil or DHT.

 

[wiwiw1212]

I knew I'd get that response, haha.

When I first tried out Propecia, I did have some psychological things going on. I was only on it for 3 days at 0.5 mg, and I thought I was feeling tingling in my nipples as well as a decreased libido. LOL, I was dumb. But I stopped at that moment of time, and then later got back on it.

However I don't think this is all in my head. I know I'm not imagining being thirsty or having dry lips. Also, I know that my face has gotten softer as my jawline is no longer as 'defined' when I run my fingers over it.

I think naturally I have higher than usual estrogen though, as I did develop gyno as a teenager.

Also, am I wrong in saying that finasteride tampers with your test and estrogen levels?

Edit: The balls on the ends of my hair aren't the roots or anything, they look like... hmm... I'm trying to think of a way to describe their size. I guess they're a little bit larger than if you were looking straight on at 0.7mm pencil lead. Oh, and they're yellowish in color.

 

[lain]

Why would you face get softer and bloated from porpecia? I never heard of this as a side effect.

 

[Nick4441]

I have put up with the tiredness for 2 months in the hope that at least my hairloss would stop but its just got worse. So this last week I dropped to 0.5g and the tiredness seemsto be subsiding a bit. Will see how it goes but at this time finasteride seems to be giving me nothing except sides and no positive effect on my hair...so really unhappy.

 

[wiwiw1212]

Why would you face get softer and bloated from porpecia? I never heard of this as a side effect.

I'm not sure either, but it's probably due to the heightened levels of estrogen. It's definitely water retention though. Right now (in the morning) my face is very soft and chubby feeling, but tonight it will be a little bit less so (after peeing a lot). I'm not really sure how that works.

I have read about two other cases on this site where someone would complain about having a fat face on this stuff.

Also, I've read that testosterone increases by about 10% on average while taking Propecia, and my guess is that this is converting into estrogen in my body.

 

[holyhair]

estrogen makes you dead tired.
but even if you have high level of setrogen it will subside in a while top 2 months all in all.

 

[stax]

Its not all in your head i get the same sides from finasteride/dutasteride. Bloated soft face, always dry lips and thirsty,tired,ect.


These sides only went away when i quit the drugs.

 

[wiwiw1212]

How long were you on the drugs without noticing it getting better?

 

[stax]

For over a year on Propecia, and over 3 months on Dutasteride. minoxidil does this to me too.

 

[Petchsky]

I got the bloated face too. I noticed, my girlfriend noticed and it shows in pictures compared to just before I'd started it. I quit finasteride almost a year ago, the cheaks haven't really gone away. And for about 6 weeks after I quit taking it, I broke out in random, red dry patches on my face, hands and chest.

 

[stax]

sandshark, its just water still trapped in your cheeks, i would do some cardio, hit the sauna if possible, and try some diuretics, this should get rid of the exess water and keep it off since you stopped propecia. yeah, i seen a picture of myself with a bloated face to and it can degrade your looks bigtime, it sucks. Picture Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie with a bloated puffy face. They showed a recent picture of Britney Spears on tv saying they couldnt beleive it was her, her face was seriously bloated and fat, and she looked ugly as hell.

Im going to have to go with some RU and naturals to maintain my hair.

 

[wiwiw1212]

I got the bloated face too. I noticed, my girlfriend noticed and it shows in pictures compared to just before I'd started it. I quit finasteride almost a year ago, the cheaks haven't really gone away. And for about 6 weeks after I quit taking it, I broke out in random, red dry patches on my face, hands and chest.

Your cheeks haven't returned to normal yet?

I hope this doesn't happen to me... my jawline is really soft now. I stopped taking it yesterday, and I had only taken it for 6 days. So a total of 1.5 mg. I hope it goes away :cry: .

Sandshark, how long were you on finasteride before quitting?

 

[Petchsky]

I think I was on it 14 months. I got a little bit of results, but decided it wasn't worth it as it made my face ugly and libido crash. Now I just keep my hair real short and use minoxidil to maintain. I really wish I hadn't used it because I still don't feel totally back to normal. I'm going to try DHEA soon and see if that helps anything.

 

[Petchsky]

sandshark, its just water still trapped in your cheeks, i would do some cardio, hit the sauna if possible, and try some diuretics, this should get rid of the exess water and keep it off since you stopped propecia. yeah, i seen a picture of myself with a bloated face to and it can degrade your looks bigtime, it sucks. Picture Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie with a bloated puffy face. They showed a recent picture of Britney Spears on tv saying they couldnt beleive it was her, her face was seriously bloated and fat, and she looked ugly as hell.

Im going to have to go with some RU and naturals to maintain my hair.

I hadn't heard it could be water retention, I'll take your advice. I really want it back to normal.

 

[wiwiw1212]

I think I was on it 14 months. I got a little bit of results, but decided it wasn't worth it as it made my face ugly and libido crash. Now I just keep my hair real short and use minoxidil to maintain. I really wish I hadn't used it because I still don't feel totally back to normal. I'm going to try DHEA soon and see if that helps anything.

Ahhh, ok. What if minoxidil is keeping your face bloated? I've read that that can be a side effect with minoxidil.

Also, I'm worried that my hormones won't return to normal now that I'm off finasteride. Do you all think they will?

 

[Petchsky]

I'd used minoxidil for years before without problems. I'd have no idea if your side effects would be permanent. If you are having side effects you don't like, I would consider if it would be worth the risk of continuing on it. I've read info on other sites where people made claims they had permanent side effects from finasteride too.

 

[GC]

I think I was on it 14 months. I got a little bit of results, but decided it wasn't worth it as it made my face ugly and libido crash. Now I just keep my hair real short and use minoxidil to maintain. I really wish I hadn't used it because I still don't feel totally back to normal. I'm going to try DHEA soon and see if that helps anything.

Ahhh, ok. What if minoxidil is keeping your face bloated? I've read that that can be a side effect with minoxidil.

Also, I'm worried that my hormones won't return to normal now that I'm off finasteride. Do you all think they will?

Go to your local GP and request a blood test for the following.

Testosterone
Estrogen
Free Testosterone
LH
SHBG
DHT

I'm from Australia, I don't know where you're currently stated, but different countries have different forms of measurements.

Find out what the normal range of the above is and get some tests performed.

It may have nothing to do with the finasteride, it could be purely coincidental.

Worst case scenario, it may be a hormone imbalancement.

All the best regardless.