Just an update. I've increased the amount I've taken over time, from 0.5mg EOD, to 1mg EOD, to currently 1mg daily. Each time I increased the dosage I noticed a temporary lull in my libido, but in faith I persisted and the side effects have gone away each time once my body has adjusted. In fact, the only time my libido had dipped low enough for me to actually worry has been when I had forgotten to take my pill two days in a row, on a weekend when I was not at home. It was after that period that my body began having actual notable problems. Once I was back on finasteride, after a few days of consistent use, my libido climbed back to normal. I have found that simply not masturbating keeps my libido very high. I may actually crave sex more than I did before taking finasteride, and my erections are hard and stable. I feel that it is the hormone imbalance that causes side effects, at least for me, and not the lack of DHT in the blood. Once my body adjusts to those hormone levels I feel no different if not better than I had before. I maintain that I feel younger and more agile than before taking the drug and will continue using it into the future. I will say that I don't feel 17 again, more 19.
Incidentally, as my hormones stabilize I have noticed that all of the adverse side effects like acne and libido loss have gone away, though my skin is still more oily than usual, I predict that this will go away in time. Almost 4 months into the drug, and I am happy with the results. My hair has stopped falling out, and may be (although it may in my head) regrowing hairs at the temple. Hairline is stabilizing and may be rethickening slightly, though it is too early to tell. I am looking forward to enjoying the remaining 4 years of my 20s without baldness. ^_^ And if all goes well after a year of use, I will consider a hair transplant to fill in the inch or so of my hairline that male pattern baldness has taken from me and continue with finasteride.
One thing I'd like to say is that strangely, along with making me feel 19 physically, I feel 19 emotionally and intellectually as well. I'm even growing muscle at an exceptionally faster pace. Even my sexual kinks I had at 19 have returned, things I haven't found attractive in a long time. It's very strange, though I am not unhappy. I am wondering why or how this could happen... It's as if the drug has actually taken 7 years off of my life.
I do remember the day when I was 19 that I felt this sudden drop in energy, and I could feel tingling all along the top of my scalp, as if DHT had suddenly started being produced in my blood. I felt depressed, drained, weak, and inhibited, and after about a week I had slowly began regaining my bodily functions, though it never was the same. I had now felt like an adult and not a teenager. It wasn't a bad feeling, but I never did feel the same again. I would begin losing over 100 hairs in the shower all over the top of my scalp, up from 1 or 2 for the next month. A month later I noticed hair aggressively shriveling at my hairline. It was around this time that I researched male pattern baldness and learned of finasteride, but I was scared away by all of the reports of sexual dysfunction. I believe that what I am experiencing is the reversal of that effect. My body has begun taking away the physical and mental developments DHT had given me, like any body part that is no longer in use it is atrophying... but with welcome arms. No, I am not a scientist, and this is just conjecture, but I feel as if the hormone changes are actually causing real, measurable changes to my brain chemistry and function.
It is such an interesting feeling. I almost feel like finasteride is worth it for this experience alone, let alone preventing hairloss. Though I will not pretend to believe that the drug will have this effect on everyone, or that everyone would enjoy the feeling of youth like I am. I will suggest that increasing your dosage slowly over-time like I did would help anyone who had previously experienced massive near-instantaneous side effects from propecia in a previous failed attempt with the drug, as it may cause 'brain panic' if the drug is induced too quickly, and I also suggest that you start at a very low, but still effective dose of 0.5mg EOD, but that above all your comfort levels are paramount. Worry will only cause psychosomatic effects, and to only take as much and as often as you feel comfortable.
I will continue to monitor the drugs effects on my body and mind and report back in a few months.
