Possible Finasteride Side Effects

[badgenetics1]

Hello all,

I've been using minoxidil 5% foam & keto 1% shampoo for 1.5 months so far, and a couple of weeks ago I started 1 mg/day finasteride (generic Proscar cut into fifths). For the first two weeks on finasteride, I had positive side effects - increased libido, more intense orgasms, more energy, etc. I was feeling pretty great given that I had only read horror stories about the drug. Two days ago, however, I started feeling an ache in my left groin area that has not gone away since. It almost feels like I pulled a muscle there but not quite - it's an internal soreness. I know there's a possibility it is totally unrelated, but I am worried about permanently damaging my body while on finasteride. The positive side effects still persist, but they have toned down a little since the first week on finasteride. I am considering three options, and so I would really love to hear people's opinions on what to do:

1. Continue taking 1mg/day. See if the ache/pain subsides, and if so then keep doing what I'm doing. It's very possible the pain is unrelated to finasteride, and if that's the case it should go away regardless of whether I continue taking it.
2. Reduce dosage to .5mg/day. That should reduce the risk of that side effect continuing or worsening while still providing me an effective dose to combat hair loss.
3. Quit finasteride and take a topical DHT inhibitor/antiandrogen in its place (Topical spironolactone, Revivogen, or RU58841). If I went with this option, which would you recommend taking? I'd be willing to take up to two of them to replace finasteride. I know this solution might not be as effective, but I'm okay with losing some effectiveness if it protects me from serious sexual side effects.

In case it's relevant - I'm 26 years old and am only experiencing hair loss on my crown. The thinning/bald spot is noticeable but not terrible yet unless you stand above me and shine a light on my head.

Thank you in advance for the advice! It is much appreciated.

 

[Chelaxing]

the ball ache is definitely due to finasteride. i think everyone on this forum will agree with that. i myself went on and off finasteride 3 times the past couple of years and everytime i get on finasteride i get the ball ache. the first two times i had to quit because of it. the third time i said **** it i will continue to take finasteride and see if it goes away. it did subside after a while but then i developed body-wide muscle twitches and stomach pains that was far more troubling than the ball ache.

- - - Updated - - -

did you experience any positive results with nizoral and minoxidil only?

 

[badgenetics1]

Thanks for the reply. That's worrisome to hear about your experience. I'm guessing you'd recommend option 3 - quitting finasteride and replacing it with a topical solution?

My hair certainly does feel thicker with the minoxidil/keto shampoo combo, but it has only been 1.5 months so I doubt anything significant will happen for at least a couple more months.

I initially started with minoxidil because I'd like to see some regrowth in my crown area, and then I added finasteride recently to combat the cause of further hair loss.

 

[Rawtashk]

If the "body-wide muscle twitches" were ACTUALLY because of finasteride, then it's an extremely rare and as yet unreported in any clinical trial side effect.

The ball ache will go away. Might take a few days, but it will. I had it about a week when I first started, and then again when I upped it from .5mg to 1.25mg. Not really anything to worry about, but it also concerned me when I first started it.

 

[proudinmyself]

i suggest youl stop finasteride compleatly. i head of ppl who got permanent sides. dosent worth it

 

[badgenetics1]

Thanks for all the responses! Update on the situation:

After a little thought and testing (doing some abdominal exercises, going running, etc), I felt pretty confident that I had just pulled a muscle in the groin area and was attributing it to the finasteride due to all the horror stories I've read. I waited a few days while continuing 1 mg/day, and the pain eventually subsided. I honestly think I just overreacted. On the plus side, the positive side effects of finasteride still continue - increased libido, stronger erections, etc.

 

[Rawtashk]

This, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT! If you are worrying constantly about side effects, YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU WILL FREAK OUT! You attributed a pulled stomach muscle to a side effect from finasteride, when it clearly wasn't. **** like this is why finasteride has a bad reputation online, because people freak the eff out at the slightest hitch in anything.

 

[badgenetics1]

This, THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT I ALWAYS TALK ABOUT! If you are worrying constantly about side effects, YOU WILL FIND SOMETHING WRONG AND YOU WILL FREAK OUT! You attributed a pulled stomach muscle to a side effect from finasteride, when it clearly wasn't. **** like this is why finasteride has a bad reputation online, because people freak the eff out at the slightest hitch in anything.

Which is why I followed up on what happened and have not been shy about the positive side effects I've experienced. I'm sorry about the overreaction (although I don't believe I freaked out) - I just didn't want to take any chances.

 

[Rawtashk]

It was more of a general venting of frustration towards other people that freak out and stop treatment. Not specifically directed at you

 

[badgenetics1]

Fair enough! Honestly, it's all the freak outs on this forum that got me worried to begin with.

Funny story - a week before I started finasteride, I got a pretty bad ball ache for a day (no idea why). Had I started finasteride a week or two earlier, guess what I would have blamed for it?

 

[Rawtashk]

Answer: Yes. Yes you most certainly would have.

People don't realize how much their bodies change through the course of a week...up until they have a reason to actually pay attention to them. But, then they just freak the eff out over nothing.