Finasteride Side Effects

[One]

I have been taking finasteride for hair loss related to TRT. Finasteride has produced side effects, so I am trading one side effect for another. I'd like to try stopping Finastide and see how things change. How long after stopping the drug is it common to see a reduction in side effects?

I have seen studies showing a large reduction in DHT with just 0.2mg Finasteride. If I used a pill cutter and took 0.25mg rather than 1mg would I likely see a reduction in Finasteride side effects?

[pmgamer18]

If I were you I would not take it at all did you know there are a lot of men so many that they have there own group at Yahoo. These men have low Testosterone, ED, loss of libido, panic attacks, feeling of Depression and bad fatigue. And a lot of them are very young.
Phil

[maxzax]

As Phil recommended, avoid that stuff. It's absolute poison. Some people have been taking it for years without side effects and all of a sudden they get hit with the side effects and you never know when you'll be getting the side effects.

[One]

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

If I were you I would not take it at all did you know there are a lot of men so many that they have there own group at Yahoo. These men have low Testosterone, ED, loss of libido, panic attacks, feeling of Depression and bad fatigue. And a lot of them are very young.
Phil

Yes, I did know the Yahoo group. I tried to post a couple messages there, but they did not approve my post... probably because I posted questions about the safety of finasteride that might alter the group opinion.

If you look at well controlled studies with finasteride, they show a very low rate of side effects... on the order of 2% for 1mg (propecia) and 8% for 5mg (proscar). It would likely be less than 1% with 0.25mg. The clear majority of these went away with long term usage of the drug. And as far as I know all studies showed that side effects ended when the drug was stopped. I don't doubt that there is a chance of long term side effects after the drug ends, but the chances of that are probably very low, well under 1 in 1000 at the dosages I use.

I do not think there has been a solid medical explanation for these long term side effects. Some may just be psychological... a major conrtrubiting factor in ED. If you have anxiety over failing and think you won't be able to perform, you are more likely to fail to perform. Some might have used a higher dosage than me or overdosed. Some side effects may depend on prexisting medical conditions. For example I am on HRT for low testosterone. The low testosterone could explain the side effects you listed. Some side effects might have another medical cause. Some of the symptoms that persons reported on the group do not sound like Finasteride side effects. All of the side effects you listed occur in the general population, Finasteride or no Finasteride. I think it is more important to compare rates between Finasteride and a placebo in double-blind controlled studies than to just look at a few isolated and unlikely case reports and ignore overall rate.

We take risks every day. When I step into the car, I am risking a car accident fatality. I take the risk because the benefit is worth the risk. Every year there are hundreds of deaths resulting from taking Tylenol. Yet I still take it when needed. For me the benefit is worth the risk. The fact that there is a low risk of long-term problems with finasteride, does not mean I shouldn't take it. The benefit may be worth the risk. It depends on how you value the benefits and risks.

[pmgamer18]

Then keep taking it I will never take it.
Phil

[maxzax]

I agree with Phil, if you want keep taking it, take it. Not much more advice we can give.

[One]

Originally Posted by maxzax

I agree with Phil, if you want keep taking it, take it. Not much more advice we can give.

I was not asking for advice on whether or not to take it. My first post contained two questions:

1. How long after stopping the drug is it common to see a reduction in side effects?

2. If I used a pill cutter and took 0.25mg rather than 1mg would I likely see a reduction in Finasteride side effects?

[SWALE]

one--I am well aquainted with that group, and they would not edit your posts for asking honest questions. Something technical must have happened to prevent the successful transmission of your queries.

As for your two questions posed here, there are no answers, except to say everyone is different.

[One]

Originally Posted by SWALE

one--I am well aquainted with that group, and they would not edit your posts for asking honest questions. Something technical must have happened to prevent the successful transmission of your queries..

Something technical did not happen. They sent me an email saying my post was not approved. There is a reason why all posts have to be read by a moderator before appearing on their forum. I have never had a post rejected elsewhere and do not plan to return.

[One]

Originally Posted by SWALE

As for your two questions posed here, there are no answers, except to say everyone is different.

I am not expecting exact answers that apply to eveyone, just what is common. For example, knowing the half-life of finasteride, I expect that one could predict when DHT levels would return. Would this be the point at which side effects usually cease?

[pmgamer18]

I have lost count on how many men taking that crap have asked this and are still waiting for the body to come back. And there is only one that I konw of that came back. Go to this group and join and post this maybe he will get back to you. And you will get a lot of posts from men screwed up from using this they suffer from ED, low T, lost libido, unable to reach an orgsam, fatigue and the list goes on.http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypogonadism2/
We are only trying to help you out here.
Phil

[One]

Originally Posted by pmgamer18

I have lost count on how many men taking that crap have asked this and are still waiting for the body to come back. And there is only one that I konw of that came back. Go to this group and join and post this maybe he will get back to you. And you will get a lot of posts from men screwed up from using this they suffer from ED, low T, lost libido, unable to reach an orgsam, fatigue and the list goes on.http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/hypogonadism2/
We are only trying to help you out here.
Phil

I have joined and am no longer participating due to their extreme moderation, not allowing alternative points of view to be posted.

If such a large portion of finasteride users suffer long term effects from the drug, why don't effects after stopping ever show up in contolled studies (double blind with placebo)?

Are all the people you know who had side effects from that group? I know several people who returned to normal after using the drug and zero who have had long term side effects (I was only on the group for a few hours, so I didn't get to "know" anyone).

[luke77]

To answer your questions, the side effects should go away shortly after discontinuing the drug, and yes, there would likely be a reduced risk of side effects if you take the lower dose. I can't comment on the veracity of the reports on groups such as the yahoo one but keep in mind that with any medication there are going to be reports of massive side effects - and you make a good point that in double-blind clinical trials there were no reports of long-term serious side effects. Like others have said, maje your own decision based on the available evidence.

[PointBlank]

If your prevention of hair loss is less important for you than dealing with the side effects then stop taking it, but be prepared for hair loss to increase.

[SWALE]

I have heard many men tell that they never recover once they D/C the finasteride. I am working with a few of them, and am not seeing much of a pattern yet to figure out the best treatment.