How many people suffered sexual side effects on Propecia?

[bupolo]

How many people suffered sexual side-effects? I've been told it's only 2%, but reviewing this board makes it seem like more.

Also, what types of sexual side-effects?

 

[paximperia]

Whatever negative sexual side effects you have are offset by keeping your hair, IMO.

 

[RaginDemon]

I had watery semen and weak ejaculation for a while but it gradully subsidied on its own.

 

[bupolo]

I would generally agree.

My somewhat humorous friend told me to just go on propecia, and if there are sexual side-effects, to just stay on it until I get married, then go off =)

He seemed to know a lot about it, which was odd.

 

[Administrator]

How many people suffered sexual side-effects? I've been told it's only 2%, but reviewing this board makes it seem like more.

Also, what types of sexual side-effects?

*Sets broken record on turntable*

People who have side effects are more vocal, therefore, a loud 2% will look more prominent than a quiet and content 98%.

Admin

 

[bupolo]

I understand, just trying to do my due-diligence.

 

[Administrator]

Propecia is fun because you can take it and see if anything bad happens. If it does, just a tiny bit, you can know that side FX decrease with continued use. If nothing happens, which most likely will be the case, then you can keep using it. If something does happen, you just simply stop. Really no point in stressing over it beforehand.

Admin

 

[bupolo]

If something does happen, you just simply stop. Really no point in stressing over it beforehand.
Admin

Not stressing, just trying to figure out what I should anticipate. If I won't be able to get wood four 2 years, I want to know! :shock:

 

[Guest]

I had and still have sexual sides, softer erection, watery semen and degraded sensation of orgasm. And admin, I sincerely believe that the 2% is total bollocks, I'd suspect it's at least 10% who have side-effects at some point when using finasteride or dutasteride.

 

[bupolo]

I agree that the 2% is probably an under-estimate. I've done some product liability work related to drug companies, currently involved in a wrongful death suit, and you'd be suprised how fucked up drug companies are when it comes to discussing side-effects.

GrowHairGrow! How long have you been taking propecia? What dosage? Have the side-effects subsided at all? Have they gotten worse?

 

[Guest]

I agree that the 2% is probably an under-estimate. I've done some product liability work related to drug companies, currently involved in a wrongful death suit, and you'd be suprised how f***** up drug companies are when it comes to discussing side-effects.

GrowHairGrow! How long have you been taking propecia? What dosage? Have the side-effects subsided at all? Have they gotten worse?

I've been taking finasteride for almost 1.5 years, the chest pain subsided after I lowered the dosage to 0.5 mg / day, but the sexual sides are still there.

 

[Pondle]

A recent study argues that finasteride has a minimal impact on sex drive - http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/ ... ekey=82156

Arguments about proportion of users who do or don't suffer sides are pointless, because none of us have any objective data (apart from the rather unscientific, self-selecting forum poll :thumbdown2: ) It may be worth noting that Bill Rassman records some patients as experiencing an increase in sex drive when taking Propecia!

 

[hairsucks]

I can't believe it's 2%.

I only found out about finasteride after finding this and another forum, I told my mate about it and we both started finasteride, anyway, we both stopped because of sides about 7 months in. I know that's only 2 people but for both of us to be in the 2%? hhmm.

I just don't believe it.

 

[Pondle]

Well I also know only two people taking it, including me, and neither of us suffered any sides - that's 0%!

Examples like these are obviously silly. You need a decent sized, randomly selected sample to make judgements about the prevalence of sides... otherwise you won't adequately represent the population under study.

You can believe or disbelieve the study results if you want, but the fact is that it's usually pretty hard to prove that a drug company deliberately rigged a trial (which would be somewhat illegal). The real action in how drug company data may be biased seems to come largely from the burying of bad results, known as "publication bias" - i.e. only favourable trials have their results published.

This scenario is perfectly possible in the case of finasteride, but I'm not worried, because the trials that were published were multi-thousand man studies.

 

[bupolo]

What level of finasteride should I take? .5 mg per day? 1 mg per day? Recommendations? Is it based on body weight?

 

[joseph49853]

This scenario is perfectly possible in the case of finasteride, but I'm not worried, because the trials that were published were multi-thousand man studies.

I don't buy it. Otherwise, you wouldn't spend an inordinate amount of time in this forum. If you're not trying to prove something to yourself, you're trying to prove something to us. Quite frankly, I find it tedious and tiresome. Not that you're the forum's sole strong-arming spin-doctor.

I agree that the 2% is probably an under-estimate. I've done some product liability work related to drug companies, currently involved in a wrongful death suit, and you'd be suprised how f***** up drug companies are when it comes to discussing side-effects.

You don't need to be in the insider to be cognizant of pharma's dirty little secrets. The entire PBS Frontline documentary "Dangerous Prescription" is available on-line for viewing, and it perfectly illustrates the benign contempt for those targeted consumers/guinea pigs.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline ... ption/view

 

[Pondle]

This scenario is perfectly possible in the case of finasteride, but I'm not worried, because the trials that were published were multi-thousand man studies.

I don't buy it. Otherwise, you wouldn't spend an inordinate amount of time in this forum.

The reason I post in the sides forum is because I sometimes find the discussions interesting, and because I like to offer a counter-view to some of the neuroticism, paranoia, quackery, misinterpretation and pseudo-science often displayed here.

If you're not trying to prove something to yourself, you're trying to prove something to us. Quite frankly, I find it tedious and tiresome. Not that you're the forum's sole strong-arming spin-doctor.

"Strong-arming spin doctor?" :dunno: I'm a random guy who posts on an internet forum. If you don't agree with me, post your own views. Democracy in action. If you want to express your views without challenge, don't post on forums - start a blog. If you want to preach to the converted, visit propeciahelp.com

 

[bupolo]

Ok ok, you guys disagree. For my original question, does the MG of finasteride that you take dependant on your body weight, or the level of DHT in your body? A combination thereof?

 

[Pondle]

Ok ok, you guys disagree. For my original question, does the MG of finasteride that you take dependant on your body weight, or the level of DHT in your body? A combination thereof?

1mg/day is the recommended dose for hair loss, regardless of your weight. Lower doses can work almost as well, and many guys who suffer sides find that they abate with lower doses.

 

[Trog]

bupolo, I'm in a similar situation to you. Just about to start, but a little nervous. But I figure there's only one way to find out. As has been said, often side effects go away on their own, and if not, dosage can be adjusted. Worst case scenario, I just stop taking it.

I'm also curious about the dosage/weight issue, because I'm pretty light (140 lb). However, I imagine that it isn't weight as such that matters, but relative DHT levels. If you're a light guy losing hair fast, your optimal dosage might be higher than that of a heavier guy losing his hair more slowly.

Like you I'm also deciding whether to start at .5 mg or 1. I haven't decided.