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AVODART SIDE EFFECTS?????


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I am currently 3.5 months post-op from my 3rd and final transplant. My first one was in Nov. 2004 with a doctor here in El Paso TX. I immediately started taking propecia every day in addition to the 5% minoxidil which I had already been using for 4-5years. I began to notice sexual side effects when I added propecia to my daily routine. I noticed decreased libido and lower semen levels. I continued to take the propecia because I was told it was vital in preventing any further hair loss. I contacted the doctor in El Paso about 5 months post-op and notified him of my side effects. I wasn't feeling normal, and I seemed to have lower energy levels. I noticed that as the semen levels decreased, so did my workouts in the gym. I swear I lost significant muscle mass and some strength. The doctor told me that my body would eventually adjust to the propecia and side effects were found in less than 1% of men. I lowered the dosage of propecia at that time to one pill every other day. I continued propecia every other day along with the 5% minoxidil daily until my second transplant in Dec. 2005 with Dr. Limmer in San. Antonio. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DOCTOR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN TEXAS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT DOCTOR. Dr. Limmer did 1500 FUT and replaced the propecia with 0.5MG. Avodart- to be taken on wed. and sun. only. I still continued with 5% minoxidil daily. I believe the avodart is even stronger than propecia. My side effects from the propecia never really seemed to get better, and believe it or not the avodart twice a week made the sexual side effects WORSE!! I basically had NO desire to have sex. I contacted Limmer a few months post-op of my 2005 transplant and he lowered the Avodart to one 0.5mg. pill every 10 days along with 5% minoxidil daily. I had my 3rd and final transplant dec. 2006 with Limmer, and am currently 3.5 months post-op. I am still taking 0.5mg Avodart once every ten days and 5%minoxidil twice daily. My current side effects are low semen levels, loss of some body hair on my arms and legs, inabilility to achieve a full erection, low desire for sex. The muscle loss seemed to stop. IS ANYONE OUT EXPERIENCING THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS AS I AM, OR AM I GOING CRAZY????? I know if I stop the avodart all together I will experience hair shedding. I thought about it but then I remember how much I spent on all 3 transplants.....any advice or comments are welcome. Thank you for your time.

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  • Regular Member

I am currently 3.5 months post-op from my 3rd and final transplant. My first one was in Nov. 2004 with a doctor here in El Paso TX. I immediately started taking propecia every day in addition to the 5% minoxidil which I had already been using for 4-5years. I began to notice sexual side effects when I added propecia to my daily routine. I noticed decreased libido and lower semen levels. I continued to take the propecia because I was told it was vital in preventing any further hair loss. I contacted the doctor in El Paso about 5 months post-op and notified him of my side effects. I wasn't feeling normal, and I seemed to have lower energy levels. I noticed that as the semen levels decreased, so did my workouts in the gym. I swear I lost significant muscle mass and some strength. The doctor told me that my body would eventually adjust to the propecia and side effects were found in less than 1% of men. I lowered the dosage of propecia at that time to one pill every other day. I continued propecia every other day along with the 5% minoxidil daily until my second transplant in Dec. 2005 with Dr. Limmer in San. Antonio. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DOCTOR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN TEXAS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT DOCTOR. Dr. Limmer did 1500 FUT and replaced the propecia with 0.5MG. Avodart- to be taken on wed. and sun. only. I still continued with 5% minoxidil daily. I believe the avodart is even stronger than propecia. My side effects from the propecia never really seemed to get better, and believe it or not the avodart twice a week made the sexual side effects WORSE!! I basically had NO desire to have sex. I contacted Limmer a few months post-op of my 2005 transplant and he lowered the Avodart to one 0.5mg. pill every 10 days along with 5% minoxidil daily. I had my 3rd and final transplant dec. 2006 with Limmer, and am currently 3.5 months post-op. I am still taking 0.5mg Avodart once every ten days and 5%minoxidil twice daily. My current side effects are low semen levels, loss of some body hair on my arms and legs, inabilility to achieve a full erection, low desire for sex. The muscle loss seemed to stop. IS ANYONE OUT EXPERIENCING THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS AS I AM, OR AM I GOING CRAZY????? I know if I stop the avodart all together I will experience hair shedding. I thought about it but then I remember how much I spent on all 3 transplants.....any advice or comments are welcome. Thank you for your time.

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  • Regular Member

CJS,

 

I'm on Proscar 1.25mg daily without any side effects; never tried Avodart. I found information about Avodart at www.avodart.com - look under "Information for physicians," then "potential side effects." Some side effects diminish over time with certain meds, however, I couldn't find anything specific for Avodart. Maybe someone who's taken Avodart can respond with their experience.

 

Good luck,

 

Miles

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  • Senior Member

CJS-

 

I feel for you.............I don't know many who are taking Avodart so I'm not sure how much response you'll get on this. Most here seem to be sticking with Finasteride. I believe "maybe" I experienced some of the sides when I initially started but if I did they went away. Hopefully someone can respond to help you but you're really in a predicament as your only choice is to stop and possibly lose some hair or continue with the sides. Have you asked Dr. Limmer's opinion?

Hairbank

 

1st HT 1-18-05 - 1200 FUT's

2nd HT 2-15-06 - 3886 FUT's Dr. Wong

3rd HT 4-24-08 - 2415 FUT's Dr. Wong

 

GRAND TOTAL: 7501 GRAFTS

 

current regimen: 1.25mg finasteride every other day

 

My Hair Loss Weblog

 

Disclaimer: I'm not a Doctor (and have never played one on TV ;) ) and have no medical training. Any information I share here is in an effort to help those who don't like hair loss.

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  • Regular Member

I know in the clinical studies in Avodart they had to stop them due to the high incidence of side effects. Avodart has a half-life of 30 days, and so any side effect will last that long.

 

Finasteride has a very low half-life, which is one day.

 

I would switch back to Finasteride or just stop taking the meds. It seems like this is affecting your life in such a negative way, I just wonder if it is worth it.

 

I would get off Avodart for at least 30 days, and then if you wish to give Propecia another shot, you could do so. At least the side effects are gone within 24 hours.

I am the patient coordinator for Dr. Scott Alexander in Phoenix, Arizona. Dr. Alexander's Coalition Membership Profile

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  • Senior Member

Boy, it sounds like you're in the 1%. Bad luck. Then again, you've had 3 HTs, so perhaps letting go of the hairs that want to go is not such a bad thing? This is, of course, your call, but if I may ask: what were your graft counts and what areas were covered?

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  • Senior Member

Sorry to hear what you're going through. I don't know if this issue has ever been discussed before. But can you counteract the adverse sexual side effects of of avodart with erectile dysfunction medication such as viagra?

 

Also are you taking any form of supplements? I've also heard that certain supplements can interact with medication in a negative way. Perhaps you can talk to you doctor about this.

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • Regular Member

sorry man to hear about your situation. side effects are def. not the norm and you just have to weigh whether the quality of life that is being compromised is worth the effects of the medication you are taking. I'm really sorry man. I haven't had any side fx whatsoever on propecia or avodart, so I'm considering myself lucky...

0.5 mg Avodart daily since 6/19/06

 

1950 grafts with Dr. Hasson in the front line 6/19/06.

 

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  • Regular Member

hi CJS,

I have been using avodart for almost a year and have and still exper side effects, so your not crazy(or maybe we both are). Side effects exper are lower sex drive and low semen levels. Was thinking of switching to propecia, but seem to be thinning in the crown area. As avodart is stronger than propecia might be best for me to stick with it.

6 HTs !!

around 7690g!!

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  • 3 months later...
Originally posted by CJS:

I am currently 3.5 months post-op from my 3rd and final transplant. My first one was in Nov. 2004 with a doctor here in El Paso TX. I immediately started taking propecia every day in addition to the 5% minoxidil which I had already been using for 4-5years. I began to notice sexual side effects when I added propecia to my daily routine. I noticed decreased libido and lower semen levels. I continued to take the propecia because I was told it was vital in preventing any further hair loss. I contacted the doctor in El Paso about 5 months post-op and notified him of my side effects. I wasn't feeling normal, and I seemed to have lower energy levels. I noticed that as the semen levels decreased, so did my workouts in the gym. I swear I lost significant muscle mass and some strength. The doctor told me that my body would eventually adjust to the propecia and side effects were found in less than 1% of men. I lowered the dosage of propecia at that time to one pill every other day. I continued propecia every other day along with the 5% minoxidil daily until my second transplant in Dec. 2005 with Dr. Limmer in San. Antonio. THIS IS AN EXCELLENT DOCTOR FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE IN TEXAS AND ARE LOOKING FOR A HAIR TRANSPLANT DOCTOR. Dr. Limmer did 1500 FUT and replaced the propecia with 0.5MG. Avodart- to be taken on wed. and sun. only. I still continued with 5% minoxidil daily. I believe the avodart is even stronger than propecia. My side effects from the propecia never really seemed to get better, and believe it or not the avodart twice a week made the sexual side effects WORSE!! I basically had NO desire to have sex. I contacted Limmer a few months post-op of my 2005 transplant and he lowered the Avodart to one 0.5mg. pill every 10 days along with 5% minoxidil daily. I had my 3rd and final transplant dec. 2006 with Limmer, and am currently 3.5 months post-op. I am still taking 0.5mg Avodart once every ten days and 5%minoxidil twice daily. My current side effects are low semen levels, loss of some body hair on my arms and legs, inabilility to achieve a full erection, low desire for sex. The muscle loss seemed to stop. IS ANYONE OUT EXPERIENCING THE SAME SIDE EFFECTS AS I AM, OR AM I GOING CRAZY????? I know if I stop the avodart all together I will experience hair shedding. I thought about it but then I remember how much I spent on all 3 transplants.....any advice or comments are welcome. Thank you for your time.

 

Hello, I just recently joined the blog, I am from El Paso Tx, What Dr. did you see in El Paso, I am interested, is he good. There is only one Dr that advertises hair transplant in El Paso tx. Dr. Marino Rios.

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  • Senior Member

CJS:

About two years ago I started on Propecia and immediately experienced the same sexual side effects. I stopped taking the meds and the side effects stopped.

 

I started on Propecia again (July 06) and this time experienced only a decrease in semen. I never really lost any desire for sex; however, being married as long as I have, my bi-annual romps don't exactly qualify as empirical data. icon_wink.gif

 

After passing the one year mark (july 07), it seems like the side effects have gone away and things have returned to normal. Hope the same will happen for you.

 

Good Luck

Glock08

My Hair Loss Weblog

 

Dr. True 9/22/06

4326 grafts

2129 1's

2168 2's

6545 Total Hairs

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  • Senior Member

From what little I've been able to read about Avodart, the major-league sexual side effect issues sound pretty common. Dutasteride is known to do a much more effective job of lowering DHT levels. Funny how it also seems to do a much more effective job at lowering sex drives. (Hmm . . . )

 

 

More hair = less sex drive.

If you're prone to the sexual side effects, then this is what you're dealing with. I don't think you can cheat on this basic equation with any amount of playing with doses, times of the day, skipping days, etc.

 

 

 

Honestly, I think I would rather take a larger dosage of Finasteride than mess with Dut. Fin targets DHT#2 without affecting DHT#1 much at all (unlike Dut), and Fin also gets out of the body a lot faster.

 

So if you're trying to achieve a given amount of DHT inhibition, then reaching that point with a larger hit of Finasteride seems to me like a safer way to do it than taking even a small amount of Dutasteride.

 

 

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