I am 23 and was prescribed finasteride 1mg for hair loss. I took 5 pills over 5 days.; day 3 to 5 I experienced a weak erection and a weak orgasm. Strangely, later that evening, my testicles started moving uncontrollably. I quit the drug and it has been a week since. Hot flush and red face two days after; and bloating. I am living in a state of extreme anxiety. My fear: not knowing for months if I will crash and be permanently stuck with sides? Can I take any precautions? Thank you
July 8, 2017
Answer: Finasteride "side effects" or anxiety? Sexual side effects from finasteride are very rare. It is almost unheard of for someone to experience what you describe as soon as three days after beginning treatment (and you are the first person in my 13 years of experience to report uncontrollable movements of the testicles, "hot flush", and "bloating"). Based on what you describe, and your level of anxiety, I would be willing to bet that you were all over the Internet reading up on finasteride either prior to taking the medication or immediately after filling the prescription. (Certainly, if you were not, and you were completely unaware of all the unsupported claims out there, I owe you an apology.)To be clear, there is no drug that has no side effects, but the much-feared side effects of finasteride are greatly overblown in Internet chat rooms, with no scientific studies to give credence to the high frequency of the claims. On the other hand, a large, randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind study found that there was only about a 0.5% greater risk of decreased libido/ED compared to a placebo. It’s important to remember that up to 40% of men have ED by the age of 40, and that ED has myriad known causes: relationship stress, family stress, financial stress, job stress, generalized anxiety, depression, and hypertension/diabetes/alcoholism/other drugs, to name the more common reasons. But finasteride has become a convenient scapegoat for many cases of sexual dysfunction, and more often than not the “side effects” are simply a self-fulfilling prophecy known as the "nocebo effect". (Your mind can be your own worst enemy — see link below.)It is also important to remember that the side effect of *not* taking finasteride is baldness. You might consider talking to your doctor about starting the drug again very gradually (e.g., 1/2 pill very third day and increasing from there).
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
July 8, 2017
Answer: Finasteride "side effects" or anxiety? Sexual side effects from finasteride are very rare. It is almost unheard of for someone to experience what you describe as soon as three days after beginning treatment (and you are the first person in my 13 years of experience to report uncontrollable movements of the testicles, "hot flush", and "bloating"). Based on what you describe, and your level of anxiety, I would be willing to bet that you were all over the Internet reading up on finasteride either prior to taking the medication or immediately after filling the prescription. (Certainly, if you were not, and you were completely unaware of all the unsupported claims out there, I owe you an apology.)To be clear, there is no drug that has no side effects, but the much-feared side effects of finasteride are greatly overblown in Internet chat rooms, with no scientific studies to give credence to the high frequency of the claims. On the other hand, a large, randomized, controlled, prospective, double-blind study found that there was only about a 0.5% greater risk of decreased libido/ED compared to a placebo. It’s important to remember that up to 40% of men have ED by the age of 40, and that ED has myriad known causes: relationship stress, family stress, financial stress, job stress, generalized anxiety, depression, and hypertension/diabetes/alcoholism/other drugs, to name the more common reasons. But finasteride has become a convenient scapegoat for many cases of sexual dysfunction, and more often than not the “side effects” are simply a self-fulfilling prophecy known as the "nocebo effect". (Your mind can be your own worst enemy — see link below.)It is also important to remember that the side effect of *not* taking finasteride is baldness. You might consider talking to your doctor about starting the drug again very gradually (e.g., 1/2 pill very third day and increasing from there).
Helpful 2 people found this helpful
February 15, 2017
Answer: Finasteride Sounds like a panic attack in that so many problems appeared.that appear unrelated. All side effects should be gone in one to two weeks after stopping the medication but you might want to go back to see your doctor nevertheless.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
February 15, 2017
Answer: Finasteride Sounds like a panic attack in that so many problems appeared.that appear unrelated. All side effects should be gone in one to two weeks after stopping the medication but you might want to go back to see your doctor nevertheless.
Helpful 1 person found this helpful
