I'm done with finasteride - how long until I'm back to normal?

[Thickandthin]

When I first started finasteride, I had a huge increase in libido/erection frequency. Then eventually it leveled off to slightly below baseline.

However, about 6 months in I noticed my erections were starting to get weaker and weaker, so I stopped taking it for 2 weeks. Again, during this time my libido came roaring back and all was good. So then I started taking .25mg/day, and gradually my libido diminished yet again.

Well, I decided that messing with my hormones is a bad idea, so I'm done (after a total of 8 months). Problem is, my libido has yet to come back (I've been off for about a week).

I can still get an erection, and while I don't get morning erections (which I almost never got even before finasteride), I do occasionally wake up in the middle of the night with a semi-erection. My flaccid size is also much smaller, and I feel like there's almost no blood flow going to my penis.

I've been taking 50 mg of zinc for the last 4 days or so. Should I just wait it out and see what happens?

 

[Thisisme373]

hey monty so you take proviron once a week every week? or your just took it as a one off?

 

[Thickandthin]

Where do you get the environ? I'd be willing to give it a try, as I'm pretty sure my T levels are actually fairly low naturally.

 

[Ende]

A week is nothing. Stick with zinc. Don't even think of using Proviron. It's experimental, and a treatment for worst case scenarios only.

 

[Defiance]

Do you guys reccommend taking zinc while on finasteride? to counter sides. finasteride doesnt effect me too badly, no problem getting it up, still the occasional morning wood, although use to be every morning without fail.

 

[Prop]

Do you guys reccommend taking zinc while on finasteride? to counter sides. finasteride doesnt effect me too badly, no problem getting it up, still the occasional morning wood, although use to be every morning without fail.

some people here, like me, had an unexciting exp with finasteride
So i'm reluctant to speak good abuot it

no sides=very good
but if u plan to take finasteride for lifetime, sooner or later ...

 

[Ende]

Do you guys reccommend taking zinc while on finasteride? to counter sides. finasteride doesnt effect me too badly, no problem getting it up, still the occasional morning wood, although use to be every morning without fail.

Yes, do it. It's going to work. Use 50 mg a day until you have solid morning erections, then drop the zinc dose down to RDA. Adjust the dose according to symptoms. Use as much zinc as needed to maintain the testosterone/estrogen ratio.

 

[Defiance]

I see the RDA is around 12 mg for adult males. Most of the zinc tablets sold are 50mg. This was one of the lowest forms at 30mg and rated well http://www.iherb.com/Now-Foods-L-OptiZi ... s/738?at=0
buy this one?

 

[Ende]

The RDA was 15 mg last time I checked. It should be as clean as possible, and I recommend going with top shelf supplement. The one you linked to, contains copper, rice flour and magnesium too. Use at least 50 mg zinc a day. You're going to use it as an aromatase inhibitor, not as a dietary supplement.

 

[Thickandthin]

I've done 100mg/day of zinc for the past week or so, but I'm going to drop down to 50mg. My flaccid size is still way smaller than usual, but it fluctuates throughout the day and will occasionally be normal size.

I also had a nocturnal erection last night, but still no morning wood (although, as I said, I almost never had morning wood even before finasteride). Normal erections can reach full size, but because of my lowered libido it's difficult to maintain that.

 

[Ende]

You have to give it some weeks. Keep us updated.

 

[Thickandthin]

Nothing really to report this week.

What are the chances I have permanently messed up my penis? My flaccid size still occasionally reaches normalcy, and my erections can be full capacity. But my penis is clearly not 100%. And my libido is lower - although it was never that high to begin with.

I was on finasteride for ~8 months, FWIW.

 

[Prop]

Nothing really to report this week.

What are the chances I have permanently messed up my penis?

I was on finasteride for ~8 months, FWIW.

don't panic, wait a little bit more

ur penis looks simply smaller or is shrunk only in some part?
(hourglass shape)
did u ever experienced stiff penis in faccid state?

 

[Thickandthin]

Nothing really to report this week.

What are the chances I have permanently messed up my penis?

I was on finasteride for ~8 months, FWIW.

don't panic, wait a little bit more

ur penis looks simply smaller or is shrunk only in some part?
(hourglass shape)
did u ever experienced stiff penis in faccid state?

it's smaller all over. like i said, it sometimes is normal, so i know that physically it isn't damaged.

and my erections are sometimes much smaller than usual, although that happened (rarely) before finasteride, and they usually end up being full size by the end. i think part of that is simply due to the fact that I have almost no libido now, so naturally my erections will be weaker because there's just no desire.

 

[mpbsux20]

Ever since I got on finasteride,I dont get wet dreams but I still get nocturnal erections.I recently had an appointment with my shrink and he feels that I shouldn't be on finasteride since I already have Severe Depressive Disorder at only 21.I dont know about my penis size but when erect,it does feel a little softer.Maybe the sides are finally catching up :thumbdown2: .....I thought I will be fine as I am a very hairy guy with a decent muscle mass for someone of my age.

 

[Ende]

Ever since I got on finasteride,I dont get wet dreams but I still get nocturnal erections.I recently had an appointment with my shrink and he feels that I shouldn't be on finasteride since I already have Severe Depressive Disorder at only 21.

I don't think anyone is aware of how much DHT actually affects your brain. I'm currently doing an experiment with Andractim which is going great. One on the most noticable changes, is that I've had voilent and sexual dreams every night since I begun treatment. I'm doing an experiment regarding maintenance of the testosterone/estrogen ratio, which is close to optimum now, but the dreams are clearly fuled by DHT.

 

[mpbsux20]

Thanks for that piece of information Enden,I had depression even before taking finasteride.After a while on finasteride[For 4 months I was doing fine mentally & the drug seemed like it was agreeing with my body],the sides started to creep in,mentally I was back to where I was before but only worse as I had a lot of guilt taking finasteride in the first place.I guess I was wrong,the side effects part is really underplayed by Merck....The drug does some form of damage and I now feel it certainly isn't worth it messing with my hormones just for the sake of hair.Hell,I'll just apply MIN and if I do go past a NW4,I'll just live with it or buy a piece.

I dont want to do pretend like I am brave and do something stupid like trying to ride out the side effects[I feel they will only get worse if I do].

This is my timeline on finasteride
April 10-Jun 10-1mg twice a week[no sides]
July 10-Aug 10-0.25mg EOD [Hair started looking healthier,side effects were minimal]
Sep 10-Dec 10-0.25 mg ED [After much discussion with my shrink and GP,I have decided to discontinue the pill]

I have had a low libido ever since my depression and finasteride didn't change this,it just made the erections very weak and I cant remember when was the last time I had a dream.

I feel I should be able to recover to some extent in the next two weeks.

Again I am not going to b**ch about the pill,it was my decision to take it in the first place but I have realized that I shouldn't make things worse for myself by messing with my hormones.

@Thickthin:I hope you recover soon.

 

[Thickandthin]

I think I'm going to be ok (I hope).

Last night I woke up with a nocturnal erection, which means that I probably just have those throughout the night instead of morning wood. I must have a different REM cycle than most people.

It's still too early to really tell what's going on. I've only been off finasteride for about 2 weeks or so.

 

[Thickandthin]

Alright - I am definitely 100% recovered. My libido is actually higher than normal, and I frequently have morning erections now. Flaccid and erect size are back to normal as well. Great feeling.

50 mg of zinc/day is some powerful stuff.

I may start back on .2 mg/day of finasteride while still taking zinc, and if I notice any sides again I'm done with it forever.

 

[Ende]

Really!!! Thats good news!

Indeed! Just remember to cut the zinc dose to 15 mg a day, if you're not going to try finasteride treatment again, to avoid suppressing estrogen too much.