My Worst Fear - Don't Know What To Do (Propecia Decision)

[infofortruth]

I bought 180 tabs of finpecia and was deciding to split each 1mg pill into 1/4th the size (I can't be exact on my cuts so its near 1/4th). So I took my first 1/4th pill (somewhere between .25mg-.33mg) and I'm getting a whole bunch of symptoms right off the bat. My balls are tingling, I can't keep my penis hard for long, I can feel a little bit of tingling in my extremities. I'm scared to move on from this point. I was planning on taking 1/4th a tablet every other day but I'm not even sure if that is worth it. The only two options I'm even remotely thinking about is either chopping the pills into 1/8ths and taking that every other day OR just stopping completely.

One thing is for sure, these finpecia pills are the real deal. The only problem is that drugs react differently in each person (something we are always taught) and I'm not sure if this is meant for me. I also don't want to go bald. I have a years supply of unused minoxidil. Maybe I should just use that instead? So upset right now.

Now I don't know what to do with all my pills. I knew I shouldn't have bought this many. :blush:

 

[Mestys]

One pill and only 1/4 of the normal prescribed dose? Come on, this is clearly all in your head. Stick with it for at least a couple of weeks, stay off the forums and see how you go.

 

[antman]

I can feel a little bit of tingling in my extremities

google 'anxiety' and 'symptoms'

 

[infofortruth]

It's definitely not in my head. The sensations that I'm getting today are sensations that I've never had before. The tingling in the testicles is very real and I've never had a problem with staying "hard".

The anxiety symptoms you talk about are scary. When I took my first dose I took it at night and I was excited to get started. I wasn't fearful of the worst happening. Until I woke up in the morning and things didn't seem and feel right at all. Of course these feelings happened throughout the day.

 

[Bryan]

I bought 180 tabs of finpecia and was deciding to split each 1mg pill into 1/4th the size (I can't be exact on my cuts so its near 1/4th). So I took my first 1/4th pill (somewhere between .25mg-.33mg) and I'm getting a whole bunch of symptoms right off the bat. My balls are tingling, I can't keep my penis hard for long, I can feel a little bit of tingling in my extremities. I'm scared to move on from this point. [snip]

Whenever anybody claims to have a rapid response like that to finasteride, I always recommend doing a placebo-controlled test, to see if the effect is real, or if it's just imagined. To do that, all you'll need is the help of a friend, and some commonly available material. Let me know if you're interested in doing that, and I'll explain in more detail exactly how it's done!

 

[infofortruth]

I'd like to hear your test but I know my body VERY well.

How do you explain this: I've heard of some of the symptoms of Propecia like erectile dysfunction and impotency but I thought it was after long term use. I never heard of testicles tingling or the strange feelings I was getting throughout my body so I started to google these things (as they were happening) and sure enough other people have had these symptoms.

I could think of a way to create a "double blind study" with just myself. I could put 3 of my 1/4th tablets in a container (with lid) and put an equivalent sized object... lets say a piece of a sugar cube in the same container. I could dye the sugar cube piece a certain color. I could then close my eyes and take out one of the four pieces with a pair of tweezers and have a video camera record it. After I take out the piece I could place it on a spoon full of sugar and swallow the whole thing. That way I'll have no clue if its the sugar cube or not. Then for 24hours I could document how I'm feeling. I could rinse and repeat this until all 4 piece are gone. After all the pieces are gone and after I document my experience, I can view the recorded video to see which day the sugar cube was taken and which days the Finpecia was taken.

I'm 100% certain I would be able to tell which day is the sugar cube because there is no way in hell I would get those symptoms and there is no way my "head" could make these feelings up. If this was the case, every drug I take I should probably be experiencing the worst case scenario consequences. This never happens to me.

 

[Bryan]

I could think of a way to create a "double blind study" with just myself. I could put 3 of my 1/4th tablets in a container (with lid) and put an equivalent sized object... lets say a piece of a sugar cube in the same container. I could dye the sugar cube piece a certain color. I could then close my eyes and take out one of the four pieces with a pair of tweezers and have a video camera record it. After I take out the piece I could place it on a spoon full of sugar and swallow the whole thing. That way I'll have no clue if its the sugar cube or not. Then for 24hours I could document how I'm feeling. I could rinse and repeat this until all 4 piece are gone. After all the pieces are gone and after I document my experience, I can view the recorded video to see which day the sugar cube was taken and which days the Finpecia was taken.

I suppose that MIGHT work, although I think it might be fairly easy for you to detect which is the finasteride piece, and which is the sugar cube piece (by changes in how they feel or taste in your mouth, etc.).

I suggest a simpler way, although it requires the help of a friend. Get a supply of muffins or donuts (14 for a two-week test). Clearly label each one "1" through "14". Decide beforehand which of the 14 muffins you want to be real finasteride muffins (just for the sake of argument, let's say that three of the 14 are the REAL ones). The next part of the test is done ALONE, by your friend. In private where you can't see him, he inserts one of the finasteride chunks into three of the muffins (he can throw dice, to determine randomly which are going to be the "real" ones). He inserts powdered sugar into all 14 of the muffins, just so you can't tell by looking at them which three have been tampered with. He makes a careful written record of which muffins (1 through 14) are the REAL ones with finasteride, and keeps that information hidden from you. Then he gives you all 14 labeled muffins.

You eat one numbered muffin per day for the next two weeks, and keep a careful record of any and all effects that you feel; sexual effects, problems with your penis, etc. At the end of the two weeks, your friend gives you the piece of paper on which he has recorded which muffin is "real", and which is "fake". You then go through that entire list, and see how well you did at determining which is which!!

Are you ready to try the experiment?? :dunno:

 

[kehcorpz]

It's quite possible that reaction is real since Finasteride works pretty much instantly to reduce DHT levels. Within 24 hours 65% reduction was tested. Now, if you do produce a lot of 5-ar II enzyme in prostatic tissue then for sure you may get those reactions. Nevertheless, I too experienced testicular pain and some reduced libido at first but it balanced out after about a month. This is normal for most people, but if you continue to exhibit these symptoms it may be a good idea to quit.

Now, keep in mind you sound like a very anxious person. The fact that this was your worst fear from what the title suggests means that you already made your decision about the drug prior to taking it.

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

The second day after I started finasteride I would feel a weird feeling in my upper-left thigh and my left testicle. This eventually subsided.

I don't think it's any big deal. Stay on Finasteride for a month and if the sides still persist then you can drop it. Try not to be worry about it, I've noticed most people with anxiety and\or depression always experience sides (making me think they are all in their head).

 

[Wuffer]

You said that having side effects is one of your worst fears, which has already set you up for psychosomatic side effects. Keep in mind that when you experience an anxiety or nocebo-related side effect, it's NEVER a conscious thought that causes the side effects. The effect happens entirely on a subconscious level. You might experience symptoms that you never really even thought about before, and often are something you have never experienced. Unless you are experiencing completely physical symptoms (like developing gyno for example) you can never say with 100% certainty that the sides aren't 'in your head' so to speak. Tingling sensations and ED are two symptoms that are well known to result from psychosomatic reasons.

All that being said, it is also possible finasteride is causing the symptoms. However, given the fact you display anxious tendencies and are basically a perfect candidate for psychosomatic symptoms, I would say it is much more likely this is the cause of your sides.

I would take a week or so off finasteride so that your DHT levels return to normal, and then try the placebo control test. Obviously, ensure that there is absolutely no way of you knowing if you are taking the placebo or the drug. You also may not be a candidate for the drug. From what I’ve seen on the forums, whenever I see someone grudgingly start taking the drug when they are scared as hell from it, they almost always end up quitting shortly after. You may want to consider dropping the idea all together, because fear will just set you up with more problems down the line. I don't think anyone should start finasteride unless they are 100% content with their decision, with no fear.