Should I quit? Concerned about possible side effects

[injected]

I've been taking finasteride for almost 6 weeks. I'm 17 and began losing my hair when I was around 14. It's just slowly been thinning out the front-top area. No results yet other than shedding, I notice I do have less hair.

However my biggest concern is all the talk all over the web about how the drug is a big risk to ones sexual and hormonal health. Right now I have not noticed any change in sexual function at all. But the risk of irreversible secondary hypogonadism, hormonal imbalance, "fogginess" of the mind, is really starting to scare me. I am asking for some help in what I should do. I am thinking about quitting and just giving in to hair loss until some ingenious, cost-efficient technology arises.

 

[G k]

I've been taking finasteride for almost 6 weeks. I'm 17 and began losing my hair when I was around 14. It's just slowly been thinning out the front-top area. No results yet other than shedding, I notice I do have less hair.

However my biggest concern is all the talk all over the web about how the drug is a big risk to ones sexual and hormonal health. Right now I have not noticed any change in sexual function at all. But the risk of irreversible secondary hypogonadism, hormonal imbalance, "fogginess" of the mind, is really starting to scare me. I am asking for some help in what I should do. I am thinking about quitting and just giving in to hair loss until some ingenious, cost-efficient technology arises.

Quit then and find other options. So long as you are on finasteride the roulette table is spinning...Might get sides, might not. Scary thing is that often times you dont notice them sneaking up on you...Especially that the brain fog keeps you disoriented, and you dont act like yourself.

 

[MensRea123456]

It's a personal choice.

All i would say is consider all the information out there. Make no mistake - some guys have got really, really, nasty side effects from that drug. But on the other hand, there is a section of various success stories on this forum.

It's not easy balding at such a young age but most probably the best finasteride can do for you is slow the process down a little.

If you're intent on taking it - GET BLOODS TAKEN now.

Testosterone
Estrogen
FSH
LH
Prolactin

and a few others. (ask me for a list if you are getting bloods taken).


Monitor things closely. If you do get sexual sides you'll have a decision to make.

 

[imlosinit]

Those side effects are very real for those experiencing them.

Hope you never experience them.

If you do opt out, be sure to taper off the drug slowly (i.e. not cold turkey).

 

[Ende]

If you do opt out, be sure to taper off the drug slowly (i.e. not cold turkey).

I disagree. For every day you're using, it gets worse, and they didn't taper off during the Propecia trials. Tapering off a drug is only necessary when you've suppressed the body's production of a hormone, and need to get the production going again - before you quit the drug - to avoid deficiency, as far as I know. It's probably useful if you're dealing with addiction too. Tapering off finasteride with side effects can be dangerous. Don't advice doing so.

 

[G k]

If you do opt out, be sure to taper off the drug slowly (i.e. not cold turkey).

I disagree. For every day you're using, it gets worse, and they didn't taper off during the Propecia trials. Tapering off a drug is only necessary when you've suppressed the body's production of a hormone, and need to get the production going again - before you quit the drug - to avoid deficiency, as far as I know. It's probably useful if you're dealing with addiction too. Tapering off finasteride with side effects can be dangerous. Don't advice doing so.

I agree. The flat dose response also makes it difficult and futile to attempt weening off.

The drug itself will ween you off, because its effects last over a week, gradually restoring your DHT on its own.

 

[injected]

Well, I stopped taking them a few days ago. Losing bits and pieces of my natural functions is not worth it to me. I'll just have to accept it and move on. Maybe there will be a better treatment plan in the future, especially since I'm still pretty young.

 

[brightside]

There's other treatments around, and more on the way.

Don't blame you for quitting finasteride.

 

[imlosinit]

I disagree. For every day you're using, it gets worse, and they didn't taper off during the Propecia trials.

I went off cold turkey and I believe this to be a contributing factor to my current problems post propecia. Either way, best of luck to those getting off the drug.

 

[Broken]

You're 17 for god sake! You should not be on a drug that inhibits an important hormone. You should get off finasteride asap.

 

[Ende]

I disagree. For every day you're using, it gets worse, and they didn't taper off during the Propecia trials.

I went off cold turkey and I believe this to be a contributing factor to my current problems post propecia. Either way, best of luck to those getting off the drug.

I assure you that it's not. Side effects by Propecia are caused by DHT deficiency and excessive estrogen. DHT is the estrogen antagonist, and for every day you're suppressing DHT with finasteride, the hormone ratios gets worse - and so does the side effects, and your chance of recovering.

 

[optimus prime]

You're 17 for god sake! You should not be on a drug that inhibits an important hormone. You should get off finasteride asap.

I agree with this 100%. Get off this drug and do not touch it until at least 21.

 

[Nitrogenius]

It's a personal choice.



Testosterone
Estrogen
FSH
LH
Prolactin

and a few others. (ask me for a list if you are getting bloods taken).

.

Hey, I've been taking finasteride for 1.5 years. I have massive sexual side effects which I tried to reduce with several other pills, but this don't work (anymore). I want to quit asap and try finasteride topical in a small dosage and when some people are right, finasteride topical has the same effect, i will quit completely.
What exactly should be tested before i quit?

 

[sadscalp]

I'm quitting today. Been on it for 5 1/2 months, and never really experienced any side effects until these last few days. Libido has dropped considerably, and I'm not liking it. Quitting and not touching it again.

 

[Mens Rea]

I'm quitting today. Been on it for 5 1/2 months, and never really experienced any side effects until these last few days. Libido has dropped considerably, and I'm not liking it. Quitting and not touching it again.

Please keep us updated on how things go.

I did the same and things just got worse, much worse.

 

[sadscalp]

I'm quitting today. Been on it for 5 1/2 months, and never really experienced any side effects until these last few days. Libido has dropped considerably, and I'm not liking it. Quitting and not touching it again.

Please keep us updated on how things go.

I did the same and things just got worse, much worse.

Feeling better now, libido has recovered.

Can't attribute this 100% to finasteride of course, but I'm not taking any chances.

 

[Mens Rea]

I'm quitting today. Been on it for 5 1/2 months, and never really experienced any side effects until these last few days. Libido has dropped considerably, and I'm not liking it. Quitting and not touching it again.

Please keep us updated on how things go.

I did the same and things just got worse, much worse.

Feeling better now, libido has recovered.

Can't attribute this 100% to finasteride of course, but I'm not taking any chances.

Great. Don't take any chances, look after yourself for the next few weeks....