Anxiety + Paranoia + Obsession, Should I take finasteride?

[jorgedudicoff]

Hey guys I've posted on here twice before for opinions on my hairloss. Quick story: about a year ago I noticed a receding left temple region that has increased slowly over the year. Some replies have said they don't even think I'm balding but i have gotten confirmation from a Derm. My largest problem is with my mental state and taking finasteride. I am well read on the sides and how your mentality can seriously cause these problems for you while on the treatment. I know for a sure that I have medium levels of anxiety, paranoia and like most people here, obsession with their hair.

The way I see it I could spend the rest of my life regretting not taking finasteride sooner like most posters, or I could take finasteride and even if their aren't any hard sides, the way my mind works would always be "worst-case scenario". And because of this mind set I could be forever plagued by finasteride even after quitting it. I fear of honestly being another one of those horror stories. Which I have always wished I never read.

Any advice? I'm sure I am not the only one here that has similar struggles about taking finasteride. My biggest problem is being decisive about taking finasteride. I have read the pinned posts about the big 3 and the chance of sides being low, and even then how likely they are to vanish after stopping, but even then the horror stories come back to worry me.

PS: How real are these horror stories of never getting it up again, etc. Or rather how rare are they?

 

[Bad]

Take finasteride -> get sides(unlikely) -> quit -> back to normal.

Why not try?

 

[TD500]

Take finasteride -> get sides(unlikely) -> quit -> back to normal.

Why not try?

Its as simple as that.

 

[Curious619]

What if you never lost hair, and you started to use finasteride before you did? Would you commit to never losing hair as long as you took it everyday?

 

[bilboswaggins]

Its as simple as that.

i thought it was as simple as that too. boy was the joke on me

 

[Chris-lee09]

Its not as simple as that theres bein guys who have come off the drug and still had sideeffects so its not that simple for everyone.

 

[Dench57]

Take finasteride -> get sides(unlikely) -> quit -> back to normal.

Why not try?

As someone who is still experiencing sides 5 months after quitting finasteride. It's really not that simple. You are running the risk of persistent/permanent sides if you take this drug, however unlikely.

 

[Vlatch]

I was scared before taking finasteride (now on dutasteride).
I thought about it for a month before I took the plunge, but in the end I did because my hair is a part of my image and I would feel like losing a part of myself if I lost it, and I would forever regret it if I didn't try it all and became bald. Now at least I know I'm doing everything I can and I have no regrets.

 

[jorgedudicoff]

Thanks for the replies. But you can see why I needed to post this. There is a divide between opinions. More likely than not the people who say its "simple" were the lucky ones and the ones who say its not are facing my biggest fears. For those of you who continue to suffer from sides: how was your mentality going into treatment and during/leaving treatment in relation to side-effects? Did you find that you were already a little paranoid? Have you always been a worst-case scenario guy?

PS: Example of how bad my paranoia is: when i was younger I stole something from my first job, to this day I have a fear I am going to get caught and locked up even though that was 4 years ago, and it is nearly impossible. No matter how unlikely and irrational I still am paranoid about it.

 

[Statler]

you should find the source for your mental condition first and then think about taking
medication.

Its like stopping a fire with gas!!!

 

[Dench57]

Thanks for the replies. But you can see why I needed to post this. There is a divide between opinions. More likely than not the people who say its "simple" were the lucky ones and the ones who say its not are facing my biggest fears. For those of you who continue to suffer from sides: how was your mentality going into treatment and during/leaving treatment in relation to side-effects? Did you find that you were already a little paranoid? Have you always been a worst-case scenario guy?

PS: Example of how bad my paranoia is: when i was younger I stole something from my first job, to this day I have a fear I am going to get caught and locked up even though that was 4 years ago, and it is nearly impossible. No matter how unlikely and irrational I still am paranoid about it.

Sounds like you are someone who should definitely NOT try finasteride.

 

[bluemoon1212]

More likely than not the people who say its "simple" were the lucky ones and the ones who say its not are facing my biggest fears.

I wouldn't refer the ones who say it's "simple" as lucky, as they are the VAST majority. Rather, the one's who experience sides are the unlucky ones, and the ones who experience persistent sides are the VERY unlucky ones. Also, don't base your opinion of the statistical probability of experiencing side, let alone persistent sides, on a forum that is saturated with people who have, for whatever reason, experienced them. This is NOT an accurate representation of the population and WILL further f*ck your head up, if you're prone to psychological unrest. You were better off not making this thread, but, since you have, you need to look at the situation from a realistic standpoint and see things for what they really are, instead of basing your decision off the convoluted thought process that you're likely experiencing now. Perspective has a lot of bearing when it comes to anything in life, and such is multiplied exponentially when it comes to perceiving side effects from this drug. As a wise man once said, "if you a scared motherf*cker, go to church."

 

[jorgedudicoff]

Once again thanks for the replies blunt as some of them are. Trust me nothing I'm hearing here is something I haven't realized reading somewhere else or by myself. I've studied Mathematics, Anatomy, Biology, I have a good idea of what probabilities really mean, and how clinical trials are the only clear indicator of real evidence. I understand what the drug does. I even consider myself a very rational person despite me always constantly over-thinking and being paranoid. Because of this I am too well aware of how powerful the mind is.

I think I want to ask: How strong do you think mentality is in the use of finasteride? Have you noticed that the people with success were for the most part happy-go-lucky, worry-less, people and the people with sides were the kind to obsess? What about those with persistent sides, how much of it is in their mind?

 

[Dench57]

I think I want to ask: How strong do you think mentality is in the use of finasteride? Have you noticed that the people with success were for the most part happy-go-lucky, worry-less, people and the people with sides were the kind to obsess? What about those with persistent sides, how much of it is in their mind?

I don't think it plays a big part at all. Of course stress is going to exacerbate ANY problem, not just hairloss. Finasteride is a STRONG systemic drug which is going to interfere with the natural equilibrium of your body.
Regardless of mindset you'll either be in the majority of people who don't get sides, or you'll be in the unlucky minority who do get sides.
Mentality isn't going to affect the chemical changes finasteride is going to have on your endocrine system.

 

[bluemoon1212]

How strong do you think mentality is in the use of finasteride?

Hard, if not impossible, to quantify, as the experiences determining whether or not side effects are physiological or psychological are completely subjective and often interpreted incorrectly. The effectiveness (success) of the drug will have nothing to do with your perspective. The drug operates on a molecular level and no amount of positive vibes can affect its efficacy. SOME of the side effects one may attribute to the medication, whether they be true or just a manifestation of your own fears, CAN be skewed by psychological factors. That's to say, you aren't going to scare yourself into being afflicted by gynecomastia, but you certainly can psyche yourself out enough to either start noticing things that were already present, yet were overlooked due to no emphasis being placed on them(testicular ache, no morning wood, loss of libido), leading to perceived side effects, or, for instance, experiencing side effects that are only present due to the stigma of the drug (erectile dysfunction). It's just a matter of weighing the basic risks against the potential benefits.

 

[TD500]

It's still a small minority for those who experience persistent sides after cessation. However, I do believe the majority who take finasteride get varying side effects regardless of data, but almost all report sides subsiding after some time. Three most common I've seen reported are watery semen, loss of morning wood, lower libido. Only thing I can say for certain finasteride gave me is watery semen and that went away after a couple months. I do have low libido, but I contribute that to depression and not finasteride as I've had it prior to starting finasteride.

I'm not a advocate for propecia nor am I against it, but you have to realize our options are extremely limited and finasteride/dutasteride is the best shot anyone has currently. Besides hair transplant of course.

Do what you like because in the end its your decision.

 

[g.i joey]

Can some of the posters elaborate on the sides thay remained persistent?

 

[Chris-lee09]

This was enough to make my decision to never use the drug http://youtu.be/2mZED-mW8yQ
But im not slating anyone who uses it and has had success with it i think its great that its worked for some people and they havent had sides,i just no that i would always be paranoid of sides and i think it dosent help when you are paranoid and overthinking,the mind is a very powerful thing! But i still think propecia is a big risk in my opinion but it depends how much you want your hair at the end of the day.

 

[Dench57]

Can some of the posters elaborate on the sides thay remained persistent?

I got a pretty extreme case of reflex-hyperandrogenicity within 1 month of trying 0.5mg Propecia ED. Accelerated hair loss, oily face/scalp, increased libido. Worst of all was an incredible "male pattern baldness itch" which varies between tingly, burning itch to excruciating pain all along my receding hairline. I'm still dealing with this pain and accelerated loss 5 months after stopping finasteride. Finasteride upregulates androgen receptors in the scalp, making them more susceptible to the effects of DHT = scalp itch and accelerated loss. It can't really be treated, and I have no reason to believe it will ever resolve itself naturally at this stage. I've gone from a NW0.5 with complete thickness to NW2 with diffuse thinning in the space of 6 months. The funny thing is when I took finasteride, like a lot of people on these forums, I was prepared for the sexual sides, I could handle them, I just didn't want it to make my hair worse. Anyway the severity of my case is extremely rare, but it does happen to varying degrees.

For most people, finasteride works well enough at slowing male pattern baldness and they don't get sides. But if you're one of the unlucky few who do get persistent sides...you'll wish you'd never touched the stuff. You won't know until you try.