Time to Panic?

[davekhan]

Ok, not to write an essay, Ill make it straight, to the point.

Got on Gen finasteride for 3 months,
--> on atkins, didnt notice weight gaine
--> soft erection, no morn wood, no desire for sex.
--> Got off atkins and gained A LOT of weight more then I normally would, Got man boobs when I Never got man boobs no matter how much weight i gained. I was only off atkins for a month
---> no morning wood.

Now
--> off finasteride 6 weeks
--> increased sex drive and erection innitially
--> back to soft erections, hard to maintain low sperm count. lower/harder in the morning for some reason?

What to do?
---> in a long distance relationship, havent seen her for 7 months about to see her for first time

--> what can i do, am I out of options is this normal? is 6 weeks to soon to go back to normal? zink?

--> v****? Cialia? my age is 27?

 

[Mew]

Read all 7 pages
http://www.menshealth.com/health/hair-raising-effect

Is there a sex life after propecia?
http://www.menshealth.com/health/sex-li ... r-propecia

 

[Wuffer]

Dude, don't panic. For one thing, Atkins is hell on your body. My buddy just got finished it and he said it was the worst 3 months of his life, because he felt like crap all the time.

You are clearly in a panic, and I recommend you don't read Mew's links because it seems like he is intent on getting you more into a panic. You are probably also nervous as hell about meeting your girlfriend, so try to relax.

I'll tell you what to do. If you haven't already, start on an exercise routine. Start 30 minutes of moderate cardio, 3-5 times a week. Second, get on a healthy diet. Use common sense; don't smoke, stay away from alcohol if you drink it, and stay away from excessively fatty foods.

You can lose a ton of weight in a short period of time if you are determined enough. Exercise is also key to maintaining your sex drive and libido, so i'm sure you will feel better in that department also.

Best of luck!

 

[Ende]

According to Merck, the side effects from Propecia should subside within 2 weeks after quitting the treatment.

I strongly recommend that you get on zinc. It works as an aromatase inhibitor, and will change the androgen/estrogen ratio in favor of androgens. Dr. Shippen's protocol is 100 mg zinc and 3 grams of vitamin c a day. I would take all of it before bed. Quit treatment immediately when you get a morning erection.

 

[davekhan]

i had morning erection initially, but then it disapeared. I do drink and smoke alot, but i did before Propecia..

I will get on a work out routine/zinc and try to relax....

should i still take zinc ?

 

[Ende]

I will get on a work out routine/zinc and try to relax....

Yeah, and like Wuffer said - don't panic, but it's very important that you take action now.

 

[Wuffer]

Sorry to hijack the thread: Enden, do you think 50mg of zinc should be a daily treatment continually, or just a short period of time? I picked up a bottle of 50mg capsules.

The reason I ask is I’ve been drinking a lot lately; bad I know, going against my own advice, but tis the season. I am also out of commission from the gym on account of throwing my back out. That on top of taking finasteride, I’m a bit worried about my estrogen levels for the next while. Is 50mg suitable ongoing as a preventative measure, or should it be just temporary?

Thanks

 

[Ende]

Just temporary, but don't use zinc if you have morning erections. Use zinc before bed (testosterone is mainly produced during the night), and take all at once. Like I said, quit treatment immediately when you get a morning erection. 50 mg zinc a day is suppressive to your estrogen level, and if you continue the treatment at that point, you'll get some nasty side effects.

 

[davekhan]

what if i have the occasional wood ?

 

[Ende]

Are you talking about spontaneous erections or morning erections? If you have morning erections on some days, be careful with zinc, and use it on the days that you wake up without a solid morning erection. Use it despite of spontaneous erections. The treatment should be adjusted according to morning erections only.

 

[Rawtashk]

Enden...reading your last comment makes it sound like you think you should wake up with morning wood every day. Is that what you're saying?

 

[davekhan]

I think I get Morning wood onces a week if that. When i first got off, I would have it everyday.

 

[Ende]

Enden...reading your last comment makes it sound like you think you should wake up with morning wood every day. Is that what you're saying?

Exactly. I know some men don't - but most men do - at least between puberty and early twenties. Middle aged men that begin TRT with Arimidex, often discover that morning erections return. That's because Arimidex adjusts the testosterone/estrogen ratio more favorably. This ratio is critical for normal functions, including morning erections.

 

[Rawtashk]

Interesting. I don't have morning wood every morning, but I didn't have it every morning before I started either. I still get it fairly frequently, so I'm not too concerned.

 

[davekhan]

whats try and arimidex? I'm 28 something I need to be on?

 

[Ende]

TRT stands for Testosterone Replacement Therapy. Arimidex is a potent aromatase inhibitor. Nothing you should consider, at least not at this point.

 

[WillNotLetItHappen]

I thought people recommend taking 50mg zinc daily just in case?

Should I not do that? Morning wood? Occasionally. :dunno:

 

[jrg]

Just temporary, but don't use zinc if you have morning erections. Use zinc before bed (testosterone is mainly produced during the night), and take all at once. Like I said, quit treatment immediately when you get a morning erection. 50 mg zinc a day is suppressive to your estrogen level, and if you continue the treatment at that point, you'll get some nasty side effects.

I have been taking finasteride for about 8 years. A few months ago, the symptoms of erectile dysfunction surfaced. That's when I realized I haven't had morning wood for many years, possibly 4-5 years or even longer. I took 30 mg Zinc for a couple of days and the morning wood returned. Because ED persists (on and off), I have been continuously taking 30 mg zinc (among other supplements like l-arginine, fish oil, pcynogenol, grape seed extract) for the last 3 months.

Enden mentioned nasty sides when taking zinc continuously. What are some of the side effects one should look out for?

-j