Side Effects After Short-term finasteride Use

[clampdown33]

Hi all,

I've been reading through pages and pages of postings on here, and while there are those who have had similar experiences to me, there's not any one person whose experience is quite the same as mine. Hence, I'm posting. Apologies, however, if a lot of this ground has already been covered and I simply missed it.

Long story short, in 2005 I was prescribed Propecia; took 1 mg, experienced heavy sexual sides, and seeing as how my sexual health was far more important to me than my hair, I stopped immediately after the first day. About a year later, I tried it again after hearing sides sometimes dissipate after extended use, but after 2 mg over the course of two days, was scared off again by heavy sexual sides. Both times, all symptoms disappeared a day or two after ceasing use.

Fast forward to October of 2010, my hair loss had worsened, and I thought I'd give finasteride another shot, this time with a reduced dosage. Took .25 mg for three days, experienced heavy sides, and not wanting to risk my health, stopped once again. System bounced back fine.

Just a few weeks ago, between Christmas of 2010 and New Year's, I had experienced more hair loss and had begun to shave my head, but I thought I'd give finasteride one last try before stopping forever. Took 1/8 of a tablet for four days, stopped again on account of heavy sexual sides, and now, a week later, the sides, unlike the other times, have not gone away.

Symptoms include many of those discussed by others on this board: Close to full lose of libido, achy testicles, reduced penis size when in a flaccid state, discomfort/pain in the area of my pelvic region (my prostate, I believe?). I still, however, am able to achieve what seems to be a full erection if aroused, but spontaneous erections are nonexistent and nocturnal/morning erections seem at this point to be spotty.

I've been reading a lot from Enden and others about zinc and other treatments post-finasteride, and while I'm tempted to try them (particularly zinc), I'm a bit hesitant to mess with my hormones again. Add to that I was on finasteride for such a short time, and that fact it's only been a week since I stopped, and I'm wondering if there's a chance I could just recover naturally, even though many have said on this board sides have persisted for them even after only short-term usage. Still, though, I hope.

So, I suppose what I'm asking is if there are others who were also on finasteride for a short time and what their recovery or lack thereof might have been like. Did you recover naturally, with the help of supplements, partially, or not at all? Enden, if you happen to see this, you seem to stress in your profile that zinc should be started on immediately post-finasteride. Am I right in inferring you believe that's the case? Am I lessening my chance of zinc having an effect by waiting, or is it still something I can start down the line if symptoms persist?

Sorry, everyone, as this post has gone on much longer than I expected. I'm seeing a GP next week for a blood test, but given my experience with doctors on the topic of finasteride (as well as those of others on this board), I'm not feeling great about my chances of getting helpful information. That being the case, I thought I'd try to get advice from those who have experienced similar issues firsthand.

Thanks, everyone.

 

[Ende]

Yes, you should begin treatment as soon as possible. However, in your case, since you've only been using a single dose, you could wait 2 weeks from the day you quit, and see if your body recover, but NO MORE. Unfortunately a couple of doses seems to be enough to shift some ratios unfavorably. Make sure LH, FSH, testosterone, estrogen, prolactin and SHBG gets tested. Throw in full thyriod panel too. If your symptoms get worse, you'll have proof.

 

[clampdown33]

Thanks, Enden. If I may, a few questions:

What do you mean by a single dose? Not sure if I was clear, but I had taken 1/8 of a tablet for four days. Also, there was the 1/4 of a tablet I took for three days the two months prior, though not knowing the half-life of finasteride, I don't know if it's possible for the latter dosage to be still in my system. Anyway, just want to be sure I understand what you're saying.

Also, why, in your opinion, is two weeks the proper amount of time to wait? Is there some evidence of hormones leveling at that point?

Last thing: I saw this mentioned in another post, but I don't think an answer had ever been found. Did Merck ever establish how long patients experiencing sides took to recover in their clinical trials? I think the results would be interesting to know.

Thanks again.

 

[Ende]

It's enough to cause trouble. I was obviously reading a bit too fast. I've made contact with Merck in UK, but they seem reluctant to give me the information I requested. What I've read, indicates that the hormone levels returned to baseline values within 2 weeks after quitting treatment. You risk developing secondary hypogonadism if you don't do anything about it.

 

[clampdown33]

By "baseline levels," you mean whichever new levels have been established after finasteride (likely, lower testosterone, higher estrogen) settle and are harder to adjust? Why would they be harder to adjust after two weeks, according to what you've read?

Also, "secondary hypogonadism"? How would the onset of that occur once returning to baseline levels? Just want to be sure I understand.

Thanks again.

 

[Ende]

Baseline values are the hormone levels which you had before using finasteride. The longer you wait with using any treatment to shift the ratios, the worse your ratios are going to be. With estrogen out of control, it'll suppress your DHT- and testosterone level progressively, and your body won't be able to recover without drug support. This is secondary hypogonadism.

 

[clampdown33]

So, I'm about two weeks off finasteride now, and over the last 5-7 days I've been sweating profusely -- my hands, my feet, and, most strangely, the area between my testicles and anus. I've been on 50 mg of zinc for the last few days, though the sweating predates that.

I have an appointment with a urologist next week, at which time I'll likely have my blood tested, but, in the meantime, has anyone experienced similar problems while on or after quitting finasteride? Any idea/s as to what this could be a sign of?

 

[Timi]

clampdown33

take You minoxidil?
i am sweating under minoxidil as Dog

Timi