Early 30's male, male pattern baldness running with the men in my family. I noticed some thinning towards the end of 2007, finally asked a dermatologist what my options were. I was prescribed 1mg of Propecia for daily use, and was told by my doctor that he had yet have a patient report any type of side effect. Merck made it seem like the odds of a serious side effect were slim to none.

Started taking it in January, two weeks after starting, noticed a change in frequency of erections. I stopped getting "morning wood" or the typical erection I woke up with, stopped getting erections when I thought about women or saw one on the street, couldn't even get one if I watched pornography. The only way I could get an erection was from touching myself, and even then it didn't last long. Erections were barely firm.

I had a prostate infection about six months prior to that, which produced similar symptoms, but I had treated with antibiotics and everything was okay. I thought that maybe this was from an enlarged prostate, so I continued to take the Propecia. By the end of week three, my condition got worse, my interest in sex was almost nonexistent, there was almost no semen when I ejaculated (the few times I could). I saw my urologist, who confirmed that my prostate was fine, and that the Propecia was probably the culprit. Then the bad news: it could take three months for the side effects to wear off, he had seen this before.

I had only taken Propecia for three weeks, so I assumed that the side effects would go away sooner. In all, it probably took a month and a half before I was getting erections in the morning again. It took about two months before my sex drive came back, before semen output seemed normal, and I was able to get a nice hard erection again. It wasn't until two months had passed that I really understood just how bad my sex drive was, when I finally started thinking about sex again and getting hard all the time again.

I did a lot of reading online, it seems as though there are hundreds (if not thousands) of men who experienced similar side effects. I'm unhappy that it didn't work for me, but I'm happy that I found out three weeks in when the effects only took two months to wear off. I've read stories of men being on it for a year or several years, and still not getting proper erections or a regular sex drive a year after quitting the medicine.

To anyone thinking about starting Propecia/Finasteride, think long and hard about the sexual side effects. Even if there is a 1 in 10 chance of getting them, ask yourself first if you can deal with lack of sex drive or sexual function for several months to a year in case you are that unlucky guy. Honestly, I would tell any man who is thinking about taking it to simply wait until something safer comes along, it's not worth the risk.

Yea, it happens. And it sucks when it does. I am a fortuante one, and have been taking propecia for 10 months now and no noticable side effects.

I wouldn't tell people who are losing their hair to not try it though. If your worried about sides then Perhaps start at 0.5mg fin for a month or two and see if there is side effects, and if not, then increase to 1 mg. This way, if you start to get sides, getting off the drug would probably not take as long to get back to baseline penile function and the initial side effects may not be as worse.

Also if you do increase to 1mg and then you start seeing sides, you can always go back down to 0.5 mg, which has been proven to be effective as well. This way you can save you hair(or try to, mybe just slow it down significantly which is still worth it to me) and still have erections.

Sorry it didnt work for you. Did you ever think about using natural alternatives like pumpkin seed extract and saw pallmetto along with minoxidil and nizoral?


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F@(K it! No treatments. Nothing. Im done wasting money.
Dr. Thomas (scum) Wentland-1800 hairs, destroyed my life.
Dr. Ron Shapiro- 176 FUE into scar. Happy with results.
Buzzing my head no guard, happy except for the marks left from scumland, i mean Dr. wentland.

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Originally posted by: InnermindSorry it didnt work for you. Did you ever think about using natural alternatives like pumpkin seed extract and saw pallmetto along with minoxidil and nizoral?

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I already take saw palmetto for prostate health (even though I'm kind of young to be thinking about that). I'm going to schedule an appointment with dermatologist to see what he says about using Rogaine foam. However, I'm under the impression that Rogaine only helps you for specific parts of your head (the very back, where the typical "spot" appears).

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Also if you do increase to 1mg and then you start seeing sides, you can always go back down to 0.5 mg, which has been proven to be effective as well. This way you can save you hair(or try to, mybe just slow it down significantly which is still worth it to me) and still have erections.

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Where has Propecia been shown to be effective at 0.5 mg (half dose)? Is this personal experience? Any study(ies) to cite? Thanks. How do you take that low a dose, when pills come 1 mg each?

I felt the same way when I started.

Within a week, I had no ejaculate, like one drop at a time.

I've had visual effects that have not fully improved. I kept going for a few months and things just got worse.

My prescribing Doc was quick to downplay the potential for side effects, but I think it's very understated.

I would think 15-20% of men experience some degree of unwanted side effects from it.
Dr. Lee has mentioned this from his experience as well.

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Originally posted by: propecia_user
<blockquote>Quote
<hr>Also if you do increase to 1mg and then you start seeing sides, you can always go back down to 0.5 mg, which has been proven to be effective as well. This way you can save you hair(or try to, mybe just slow it down significantly which is still worth it to me) and still have erections.<hr></blockquote>

Where has Propecia been shown to be effective at 0.5 mg (half dose)? Is this personal experience? Any study(ies) to cite? Thanks. How do you take that low a dose, when pills come 1 mg each?

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Propecia studies showing effectiveness at half dose are around. Im sure you can find it on the forums somewhere. Also, to cut a 1 mg pill in half you use a really good razor blade. It may not be exact, but its close if you do it good. They also make pill cutters, you can find them in places. not sure where, i never bought one, but you can find them.



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F@(K it! No treatments. Nothing. Im done wasting money.
Dr. Thomas (scum) Wentland-1800 hairs, destroyed my life.
Dr. Ron Shapiro- 176 FUE into scar. Happy with results.
Buzzing my head no guard, happy except for the marks left from scumland, i mean Dr. wentland.

Studies of Propecia FDA trials(you can google search this) showed little statistical difference between taking .2mg and 1mg. I use .5mg daily. Walgreens has nice pill cutters for around $4. Just make sure you keep the other half sealed. I use the propecia bottle from the month before. They have the moisture absorbant capsules in there.
Good Times

Gday guys,

Ive had the same thing just happen to me recently, and its freaking me out! I started takin Proscar around 10months ago, and initially it was ok, but soon after things started to go down hill, and recently i got to the point where i also didnt get the morning erection, nor did i when i thought about women, even watched Porn!

I dont know how long, but im guesssing it will take a hell of a long time to get it back now... anyone know anything else one can use????

Unfortunatly I took propecia for 5 years before hearing that the sexual side effects done immediately go away. I've been off the drug for 4 months now, but my libido has not come back. I got a testosterone levels checked and they are almost non-existent. It seems clear that Propecia caused this to happen. I'm going to try to ride this out without any testosterone replacement therapy. I'm praying my body can heal itself.

I think the risks of taking this drug are too high. A lot of women don't even care if a man is bald. If there is a 2% risk of having sexual side effects, that's a one in 50 chance that you will have them.

Do you really want to risk a one in 50 chance of losing your sex drive? Particularly when you can get women even if bald?

Don't make the mistake I made.

I have low libido as well. Interestingly it fluctuates. A month ago I had very high libido for a week. Never had that during my year of taking the drug. I'm looking for ways to improve that...

I don't care about what women say. I don't feel good about myself without hair. I want both.

I'm exactly in my 4th month on fin, and I never felt low sex drive on it, quite the opposite. I can't remember my sex drive being this high.
But this seems logical to me, since there's more T around, not converted to DHT.

The only time I remember having very low libido (but no ED thankfully), was while on depression.

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Regimen:
[1.25mg fin] 04-18-2012
[minox 3ml 5% x2] 02-14-2012 [neogenic 6ml x1] 09-29-2012
[keto 2% shampoo/cream] [emu-oil]
[Fish Oil 3g] [Biotin 1mg] [Zinc 30mg] [Brewers yeast 6g]

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