Side Effects

ThaDude

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Hello,

I'm 29, in health care, was relieved to learn of a possible medication to help with my diffuse hairloss. I was not aware of most of the reported side effects initially and thus don't believe placebo effect is at play. Prior to taking Propecia I had a fairly high libido and predictable, if I were to abstain for ~3days I would be very easily aroused, always.

To keep things brief, most side effects for me were temporary. However, in addition to few morning and spontaneous erections, one side effect for me which began and never resolved while on the medication was a reduced arousal and reduced penile sensitivity, perhaps these are related to each other. Prior to taking the drug, the longer I were to abstain the more sensitive and easily aroused I would become. When having sex I could control and maintain a high arousal level short of orgasm (ie. 'edging') during which there was there would be pronounced penile sensitivity. It would be a challenge to lose an erection at this point and it would certainly be out of the question to stop sex without finishing. After beginning the medication I no longer experienced this arousal state short of orgasm (which is the most enjoyable part), orgasm was the only enjoyable part of sex. After remaining on the medication for ~7months I felt it was sufficient time for things to resolve if they were going to so stopped taking it. It has been 2months off, I have experienced more morning and spontaneous erections and no longer notice urine dripping after urinating. However, I continue to experience little arousal state short of orgasm and little sensitivity-my normal erections feel more like what a morning erection feels like-no associated arousal. I can still reach climax but could stop sex before and lose my erection quite easily. The first 2 weeks after stopping I experienced a dull pain in my groin just before orgasm, this is still present but continuing to subside.

I am trying to remain pretty calm at this point and will visit my Doctor in a few months if things haven't resolved. Has anyone experienced this loss of arousal/sensitivity during sex? I have not seen it described here as such but perhaps some just mean this when referring to libido?

Would welcome others input. After close to a year I look forward to returning to a normal sex life.
 

odyssey

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I'm experiencing some of the same side effects as the last poster.

I've been on dutasteride's for only 1 month, taking .5mg every 5 days, coupled with 1.25 Proscar daily. Unfortunately though I am experiencing loss of libido and loss of stamina. I'll get hard, but it won't stay up long. Everything's going fine, then mid session, it's gone. I stopped taking them 1.5 weeks ago, once I realized this was occurring, and I still have issues.

Does anyone have any idea how long my symptoms will last? Or, what I can do to counteract these symptoms? Obviously I could hit up Cialis or something like that, but I'm only 32, so I'm not a fan of that.


Been on propecia or proscar for over 10 years and will continue it.
 

Mew

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Get bloodwork done as outlined here: http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=92

You may find you have low Total/Free Testosterone post-Propecia, amongst other imbalances

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*My guess* is numbness could be due to any combination of factors...

- loss of 5AR2 enzyme activity in the skin, since genital skin is rife with androgen receptors and abundant in 5AR2.
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1044
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=146

Only way to know for sure would be to get a genital skin fibroblast culture/assay done to test for 5AR2 activity...

- penile cell apoptosis due to destruction of Prostate nerve fibers thanks to finasteride, and drop in T levels
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1007
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=136
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=253

- decrease in number/abundance of nitric oxide containing nerves and NADPH nerves in penile tissues thanks to finasteride's inhibition of DHT (DHT mediates NO).
http://endo.endojournals.org/cgi/reprint/136/4/1495.pdf
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1004
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=144
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=65

- decrease in PDE5 enzyme activity in penile tissues
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33

- decrease in calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in penile tissues
http://www.asiaandro.com/1008-682X/inpress/0503.htm
 

Norsk

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I experienced exactly the same thing as you from day 2 onwards. Haven't touched finasteride now for almost 2.5 months. Still not much improvement.
 

Mew

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I experienced exactly the same thing as you from day 2 onwards. Haven't touched finasteride now for almost 2.5 months. Still not much improvement.

So my question for you guys that have no improvement is:

What are you doing, or going to do about it?

Or are you going to just give up and accept your new "state" for the rest of your life, despite Merck's claims that all side effects should have resolved when you quit?
 

ThaDude

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Norsk said:
I experienced exactly the same thing as you from day 2 onwards. Haven't touched finasteride now for almost 2.5 months. Still not much improvement.

How long did you remain on it? It started day 2 for me as well. I stopped after 3 weeks and things returned to normal after 3 weeks. I then felt more confident trying to 'ride it out' (for 7 months) in hopes sides would disappear. While most did, this one did not. I'm not a physician but I'm curious if this dull pain just prior to orgasm could indicate prostatitis, granted it is not in the midline but rather just left of midline.
 

odyssey

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I'm getting on Cialis, screw it. I hate messing around with this crap. I would be very aware of trying duts, but I do wish it would've worked...

I've been on Rogaine for the past 6 months, and I think it, coupled with finasteride is working great...
 

Norsk

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I quit after 6 months, because I got worried that I possibly developing gyno. The last 2-3 weeks of that period I tried a reduced dosage.

ThaDude said:
Norsk said:
I experienced exactly the same thing as you from day 2 onwards. Haven't touched finasteride now for almost 2.5 months. Still not much improvement.

How long did you remain on it? It started day 2 for me as well. I stopped after 3 weeks and things returned to normal after 3 weeks. I then felt more confident trying to 'ride it out' (for 7 months) in hopes sides would disappear. While most did, this one did not. I'm not a physician but I'm curious if this dull pain just prior to orgasm could indicate prostatitis, granted it is not in the midline but rather just left of midline.
 

zendave

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I have been on Xandrox for almost five months now and very recently,(within lastfew weeks), have experienced what could be sides such as mild nut ache and some problems sustaining erections and loss of sensitivity.Now Im very aware of it and I dont think my worry is helping. I dont use anything other than the xandrox so was hoping I wouldnt get any sides but Ive read there can be some absorption. Should I sit this out and see if it subsides or is there anything worth trying to counteract this.
thanks for any advice.
 
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