I started using saw palmetto about 4 years ago for about a year. Stopped as I was unsure it was working. I was a NW1 at the time and my hairline wasn't getting any worse. I was on minoxidil 5% and the SP. I have been on minoxidil every since consistently.... but I started back up on SP about a year ago when I noticed by hairline was taking a bit of a hit and the MIN alone wasn't doing that good of a job. So between the time I was on SP the first time and when I went back on it, was about 2 years.
Fast forward until last few weeks. I started to feel panicky and anxious. I did not know what to attribute it to as there was nothing in my person or work life that had changed. If anything work has been a lot less stressful. It started to concern me when it went on for about 3-4 days straight. I noticed a pattern, however. I noticed it was worse in the late morning to afternoon, and at night it would seem to taper off. Even at night, I would still feel a bit on edge. I would take the SP at night a couple hours before I went to bed. That is when I started to research the side effects of SP and anxiety. I quickly stumbled upon Propeciahelp where a lot of people complained about experiencing side effects from SP that were also side effects from finasteride.
I know there is A LOT of debate whether SP works the same way as finasteride does. I think the biggest issue is how much of SP to take to have it produce the same results as finasteride. I truly believe it has the same effects as finasteride because of the side effects I experienced on SP. I felt the anxiety come and go during the initial go at SP, but thought it could be the MIN or stress from work as well but like I mentioned above I stopped SP as I went away and was lazy to take the pills. While I was away I was under a lot of external stressors and didn't even feel anxious at all.
The side effects I experienced are as follows;
- anxiety/panicky (it didn't happen right away, but started a day here and there, then almost daily after about 10 months of continuous use)
- ball ache (experienced it the first 2-3 weeks of starting up on
- hard stool (to the point where it caused regular a*** fissures)
- increase libido (never had morning boners regularly until I was on SP)
I didn't experience watery jizz or decreased libido.
After being convinced the SP was causing the above side effects, I stopped taking it immediately. The following morning I felt a HUGE decrease in anxiety. I have been off SP for three days now and I can say I am almost back to normal with respect to my anxiety levels. I no longer feel like my heart is pounding, on edge, stressed, and easily irritated for no apparent reason. My stools are back to normal consistency and have not caused any further bleeding in my rectum. Ultimately, I feel GOOD. Take it for what it is worth. Could it be placebo? It could be, but when I took SP, I never thought of the sides as the ones I experienced weren't listed as the "common" side effects reported.
A lot of people talked about how they never attributed their anxiety to SP or the finasteride they are taking, and why would you? Why would something for hair loss or your prostate cause anxiety etc..... I am not here to educate people about the different studies an try to convince people whether SP works and or causes side effects I experienced. All I am here to do is tell you what I experienced while taking SP, and for those out there who have been feeling anxiety/panic attacks, to consider the root cause being SP or finasteride.
Fast forward until last few weeks. I started to feel panicky and anxious. I did not know what to attribute it to as there was nothing in my person or work life that had changed. If anything work has been a lot less stressful. It started to concern me when it went on for about 3-4 days straight. I noticed a pattern, however. I noticed it was worse in the late morning to afternoon, and at night it would seem to taper off. Even at night, I would still feel a bit on edge. I would take the SP at night a couple hours before I went to bed. That is when I started to research the side effects of SP and anxiety. I quickly stumbled upon Propeciahelp where a lot of people complained about experiencing side effects from SP that were also side effects from finasteride.
I know there is A LOT of debate whether SP works the same way as finasteride does. I think the biggest issue is how much of SP to take to have it produce the same results as finasteride. I truly believe it has the same effects as finasteride because of the side effects I experienced on SP. I felt the anxiety come and go during the initial go at SP, but thought it could be the MIN or stress from work as well but like I mentioned above I stopped SP as I went away and was lazy to take the pills. While I was away I was under a lot of external stressors and didn't even feel anxious at all.
The side effects I experienced are as follows;
- anxiety/panicky (it didn't happen right away, but started a day here and there, then almost daily after about 10 months of continuous use)
- ball ache (experienced it the first 2-3 weeks of starting up on
- hard stool (to the point where it caused regular a*** fissures)
- increase libido (never had morning boners regularly until I was on SP)
I didn't experience watery jizz or decreased libido.
After being convinced the SP was causing the above side effects, I stopped taking it immediately. The following morning I felt a HUGE decrease in anxiety. I have been off SP for three days now and I can say I am almost back to normal with respect to my anxiety levels. I no longer feel like my heart is pounding, on edge, stressed, and easily irritated for no apparent reason. My stools are back to normal consistency and have not caused any further bleeding in my rectum. Ultimately, I feel GOOD. Take it for what it is worth. Could it be placebo? It could be, but when I took SP, I never thought of the sides as the ones I experienced weren't listed as the "common" side effects reported.
A lot of people talked about how they never attributed their anxiety to SP or the finasteride they are taking, and why would you? Why would something for hair loss or your prostate cause anxiety etc..... I am not here to educate people about the different studies an try to convince people whether SP works and or causes side effects I experienced. All I am here to do is tell you what I experienced while taking SP, and for those out there who have been feeling anxiety/panic attacks, to consider the root cause being SP or finasteride.
