Hello all. I have a pretty bad problem I am dealing with. From December 2006 - July 2007 I was taking Propecia (finasteride) at a .5mg dose every day for hair loss. At first everything was ok, I noticed an increase in my sex drive, my ability to get and maintain erections, it seemed like everything was fine. However, during June and July I started noticing bad side effects. My libido decreased dramatically, to the point where it became nearly impossible for me to become sexually aroused anymore, I am actually still dealing with this problem 5 months later. My cognitive functions have also taken a huge hit. It is incredibly difficult for me to process information now, I have extreme trouble holding conversations with people. Before I took Propecia I was a very out going guy, I was funny, I could entertain people very well and they were just happy to be around me. Now it is the complete opposite, I can no longer think of anything witty to say, I cannot hold good meaningful and long conversations with people, my short term and long term memory are very bad. It seems like part of me has died ever since I took Propecia.
I don't know what to do. All of my relationships are suffering because of this. I am getting very upset and depressed about it, I'm at the end of my rope and I do not know what to do and where to go and if anything can help me. Since my sex drive has been taken away, I am no longer interested in any type of sexual activity, and when I do find a girl I like (which is rare because my libido is so low anyway), I cannot get sexually aroused by her. As if this isn't bad enough, I can't even hold a meaningful conversation anymore. It just seems like there is a roadblock in my head preventing me access to my thoughts.
I am starting this regimen in a couple of days to try and help restore my body to my pre-Propecia days:
-Ginkgo Baloba 240mg daily
-St. John's Wort 300mg daily
-Horny Goat Weed 500mg daily \
-Maca 4:1 Extract 250mg daily ---Horny Goat Weed, Maca, and Yohimbe all in one pill
-Yohimbe Extract 100mg daily /
-Melatonin 300mcg every third day
-Vitamin C 500mg daily
-Vitamin E 400IU daily
-Primordial Performance Sustain Alpha (99% Resveratrol)
-Paravol 4 times daily
-Reset-AD twice daily
-GABOB 500mg before bed
-ZMA 3 pills before bed
I am 20 years old. My diet is good. I drink a gallon of distilled water everyday. I just started drinking green tea every morning. I also work out 5 times a week (no cardio though).
Please help if you can, this is probably my last hope, my life just doesn't seem meaningful anymore. I haven't been to a doctor yet about it, I'm wondering if I should. I don't know if they will be able to help me though.
Thank you.
A few users of propecia get nasty (very long term if not permanent) side effects from it. What you're describing are classic symptoms of low testosterone (I know, I have been there myself and am on TRT right now - 27y/o).
I understand exactly what you're going through - hot girls aren't really doing it for you even though you KNOW they should, you're dragging ass all day, feel very emotional and hopeless, can't think of anything useful to contribute... almost like you're invisible, the glass is half empty, and nothing is going to get better anytime soon.
Definitely get yourself a hormone panel, Testosterone, Free Testosterone (Bioavailable T), SHBG, DHT, LH, FSH, & Estradiol E2 ("Ultra Sensitive") and see where you are at. Post up your labs here or PM them to me and I'll try to help you interpret them. After that you would need to see a solid doctor that will listen (not just anyone unless you want to be told its all in your head go see a shrink, given anti-depressant medication, and viagra)
If propecia screwed you, you'll need to accept that and fix the problem. I know you're 20 and have a thing against pharamceuitcal companies... if it helps any, the big companies don't make testosterone (no patent = no profit). Its around 90 dollars for a 5 month supply. If you go the route of TRT, I would slow down (if not stop) all of the suppliments you are taking so that you know exactly what TRT is doing for you, where your magic dosage is, etc... until you're pleased.
Good luck, hope this helps.
Edited by JasonLV, 07 April 2009 - 09:50 PM.