Terrified of Propecia

[appleguy]

I would like to use it but looking it up on Wikipedia it mentions how you can get irrerversible impotence even after taking the medication has stopped.

 

I bought the Maximum hair Minimum loss vid in which Spex says with all assurity there is nothing to worry about but now I have read the FDA are relabelling it to warn about this potential long term disaster.

 

I know that it has been said that this a tiny percentage but is the risk worth it? I mean I could handle getting used to it and suffering short term for a few months or even having to stop but the fear of losing my sex drive altogether down to this pill fills me with dread.

 

I am Stage II on that scale and would like to keep what I have.

 

What should I do?

Edited May 8, 2011 by appleguy

[Sigildark]

I'm wrestling with the same decision, it's not easy. While i'm not authoritative on the subject and my doctor says it's considered a safe drug I struggle with the decision because of the voice of the vocal minority who blame propecia for persistent negative life changes. And my wife who saw the sides and said i love you fine for who you are, you don't need to risk this. But she's not the one with the thinning hair

 

Chances are you will be fine but there is a not so negligible chance that one could experience serious sides effects. And apparently some people don't recover from the sides quickly enough which is the main cause for worry.

 

For some, maybe those side effects weren't side effects and it was going to happen during that time period regardless and that's why some people don't recover once they cease using. Because perhaps for some it's tied to another condition and therefore ceasing Propecia has no effect on it because it wasn't the cause. Afterall, lots of people out there suffer from brain fog / ED and don't take Propecia.

 

So once you attempt to factor in risk you need to look at reward. Taking propecia doesn't guarantee hair growth. As you know, 42% gain hair, 48% maintain existing levels of hair and 10% continue to lose hair versus 100% of people losing hair without. Depending on what you are looking for, that's a 42% or 90% chance of a positive outcome.

 

In the end, taking a drug is always about the reward being worth the risk. But it's really hard to put a finger on the risks atm and the reward is also diffcult to establish so it does make for a pretty nebulous equation. There are class action lawsuits underway (who knows how those will end up and wether they have merit, obviously some people think so for it to have gone that far) and Europe has added new warnings related to the usage of propecia.

 

So yeah i'm still as undecided as ever. I mean if i knew it would give me a full head of hair i'd say screw it, i'm rolling the dice. But that's highly unlikely. If only i knew 100% for sure that side effects would cease fairly rapidly once the drug usage was discontinued...but i have a hard time convincing myself of that despite what Merk says. There are some people out there that blame it for serious negative life changing effects. Still, the odds are that this won't be us yet we don't know for sure.

 

So yeah, what to do hedge all the odds in our favor :rolleyes:

Edited May 8, 2011 by Sigildark

[Telepinu]

I used propecia for over a year. I have stopped now not because of any side effects but because I need to replenish and don't have the cash for it. My experience has been fine. I did feel like I lost some libido for a bit early while taking it but I am not sure of that since, as with you guys, I was very nervous and constantly "trying it" to make sure it was working (so I might have "worn it out" a bit). I even noticed a hightened sense of libido for a bit. But again, it may have all been mental. Other than that, it was fine. Perhaps you might want to start off with taking it three times a week instead of the full seven, just to ease into it.

 

As for Sigil, dude you have a wife who loves you! There is no need for it if you feel that apprehensive. You can not get off of it, so once your in your in for good (if you want to keep what you have that is). So really consider it. Not for any bad reasons, but I think that a small vanity issue that most guys face as they get older should not be that much of an influence when you have found a person with whom you share such a strong connection with. Im very young so for me it has a strong effect on my hope of getting a girl. Truth be told though, I see plenty of guys with bad hair or receded hair with pretty hot girls (and vanity goes both ways).

 

Be either way, you have someone who loves you. I think that that is enough!

[RCWest]

Propecia has been tested by some HT doctors to work fine taking it every other day or even on a M-W-F schedule. I've taken it every single day since November 2009 and I have no problems whatsoever with sex drive

[RockZ]

I was worried about that too but I'm in my late 20's and have been taking it for about four years with no problems at all. I know for a fact it's had a positive effect on my hair with some of the regrowth and stability going on (I noticed this especially looking at some photos before I took Propecia).

[gasto]

I am skeptical as well. I have taken the drug since 2008, haven't had serious side-effects since then. I've also applied Minoxil %5 topically. I discontinued for a month and a half, the daily 1 mg finasteride pill for some time after having no money to pay for it in 2009 and another 2 months 2010. As of now I am taking 1/4 of a 1mg finasteride pill per day, and perhaps reduce it to every 2-3 days. Thanks to this recommendation:

 

Plasma DHT levels 7 days after various Finasteride dosages • PROPECIAHELP: Unresolved Finasteride Propecia Proscar side effects info & discussion forum

 

I'll be consulting my dermatologist to check on the newly available studies.

Edited May 14, 2011 by gasto

[alix]

I've been using propecia (1 mg finasteride) for about 10 years now,and I don't think if it has effected me sexually at all..I was 22 when I started and now i'm almost 32.

[rws]

I can add another positive experience here - have been on finasteride (generic and branded Propecia) for about 8 years now, and have never noticed any side effects on libido at all, and none of the breast enlargement / tenderness that is mentioned in possible side effects.

[SkinUpPinUp]

If you really want to retain your hair, there is no real way around it.

 

The only thing I can suggest is that you experiment with small doses of it and work up from there - you don't have to start with the full 1mg per day straight away, you can work up slowly. With this in mind, if you start having side effects that you're not happy with, you can cut back the dosage a bit or quite entirely if that's really what you think is the right decision.

 

I really don't think it's a case of first pill and BANG! NO ERECTION EVER AGAIN!

 

Just be sensible with it, be cautious, be safe and see how things go. For what it's worth, I've been using it for a year and my little guy is still alive and well.

[HARIRI]

When I started taking Propecia, I never experienced any sides, but month 8 was like goodbye Libido, But I started using this gel and it brought me back to track. Whoever using propecia, use this gel with it. Its Amazing www.instantperformer.com

[redtilldead]

Hariri- does this instantperfomer genuinely work or is it a scam??

 

Im getting mild sides from 0.5 Fin eod (id say my erections are about 85% to what they normally are). Dont really want to use viagra, and it says that this stuff is all natural which to me doesn't sound genuine?

 

thanks

[HARIRI]

Man I tried it, It works for real. Seriously. I have been using it when I used to take Propeica before.

 

Thats the topical version (my favourite), for pills which is more powerful you have Maxidus (www.maxidus-pill.com) but you have to wait 30 min for the results. These two are my trusted ones.