Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia User Reviews (Page 3)

• Alex
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2021

"Wow! I never believed the people who got PFS. Now I do, I took just half a pill a week ago. The night I took it, my penis had shrunk a bit, got a intense brain fog (which I still got today), couldn’t get hard (I was basically impotent)and semen was watery. The next day I lost interest in sex, motivation hit rock bottom, joint pain in legs and had extreme anxiety and lots more of symptoms. I quit immediately. So.. This stuff is dangerous/poisonous for a few! If you wanna risk a chemical castration then go for it. After half a pill a week ago I still have fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, suicide thoughts, small joint pain and a lowered sexual interest. Which has gotten better each day after HALF A PILL ,A WEEK AGO."

• Honest...
• April 9, 2022

"This is truly the best medication I’ve ever taken. Absolutely zero side effects and my hair shedding stopped completely. Talk to a REAL derm in person, not the crazies online. I think post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) is a unicorn fairytale myth. Funny how people with so-called PFS claim to continue experiencing all the awful potential side effects after stopping finasteride but “coincidentally” return to baseline hair loss once they stop taking it; if the effects of fin still lingered after cessation, there would be at least one case of DHT remaining continuously low thus permanently preventing hair loss. No such case exists - not even one in the entire world. Highly recommend this safe and effective solution to hair loss."

• Ethan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 15, 2023

"At the age of 19, I took finasteride for 2 weeks from dosages ranging 0.25mg to 0.50mg. This was easily the biggest mistake of my life. As a consequence of my usage, I went on to rapidly develop post-finasteride syndrome - for me characterized by continuously cold and numb genitals, muted orgasms, near absent libido, and weakened erections. It's been 2 years that I've been in this hell and because of this, I have no sex or romantic life. I constantly regret taking this drug and think about what could have been had I never taken it."

• Joe
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2019

Propecia (finasteride) "Took this drug for 2 months in the year 2011, it has ruined my life. I have all sexual side effects and physical side effect penis shrinkage is the worst. Its been years since I have quit the medicine and I am still suffering with nasty side effects."

• Ben
• September 2, 2018

"Why the FDA hasn't pulled this drug is gross negligence at best. The data is clear (despite what some pathetic incel science-deniers on hair-loss forums would like to believe). Since the beginning of the decade there have been plenty of publications showcasing the dangers of finasteride and other 5AR inhibitors (like dutasteride and saw palmetto). The most damning publication is this one - "The Dark Side of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors' Therapy: Sexual Dysfunction, High Gleason Grade Prostate Cancer and Depression" Finasteride also inhibits 5 AR 3 just as much as 5 AR 2, and the former enzyme wasn't even discovered when this came onto the market. 5 AR 3 is essential to healthy cell signalling. Stay away from this garbage. If you're losing your hair and other treatments don't work, then lose your hair with dignity like a man. I wish I had. Taking this poison was the biggest mistake I've ever made. It's been two years and I regret it to this day. Any person or organization that continues to peddle this horrible drug I think should be sent to prison."

• Life...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 10, 2018

"DO NOT TAKE THIS MEDICATION! Finasteride is a poisonous substance which can result in devastating, permanent side effects. I took 1 mg per day for less than one week. This was more than 18 months ago and side effects are still severe. Side effects include: Dramatically lowered libido Erectile dysfunction Smaller erections (tissue loss of the penis) Testical atrophy Dimished penile sensivity Abnormal ejaculations Subcuteaneous fat loss Sunken black eyes Severely dry skin Pseudogynecomastia (fat deposits on the breasts) Swollen nipples Lessened facial hair growth Eyebrow and eyelash loss Chest hair loss Leg hair loss Diminished pubic hair Muscle fascinations and twitching of the limbs Muscle degradation Fatigue Depression Suicidal ideation It can destroy your masculinity with only a few doses! DO NOT TAKE THE RISK!"

• Anonymous
• April 15, 2022

"Do NOT take this medication, it can ruin your life. (PFS) Post finasteride syndrome is real and affects millions of people worldwide. There is no cure or treatment . It is a terrible syndrome that can take you from being a perfectly healthy individual to a shadow of your own self living 24/7 in a torture chamber physically and mentally. Please spread awareness and this drug should NOT be sold as it is ruining lives!"

• Bob
• November 28, 2019

"I have been taking the drug finasteride for over 10 years for hair loss First 6 years hairline recovered well. Gradually fading but still decent. You have to be consistent with the taking of it. As for side effects. Still horny but definitely not trying to get hold of the missus everyday. Knob shrinks a bit but after a shake comes back to life. No depression or lack of energy. I do think going to the gym and working out helps counter balance things. I'll carry on for another few years and see what happens."

• Sam
• December 23, 2019

"I’m 29 years old. I took finasteride for hair loss for 14 days and experienced sexual side effects like decreased libido, erectile distinction, loss of interest in sex. It has ruined my sex life. I immediately discontinued and waiting for improvements."

• SPA
• September 7, 2020

Propecia (finasteride) "I've decided to write this review for Propecia because I didn't take this drug for 9 years because of the horror reviews online, even though my hair loss was causing me intense anxiety everyday. I didn't have the courage to take it until my brother started taking it. It truly does give you relief knowing that someone you know closely is taking it. Once he started taking it I told myself it is time I take the plunge. At least if the worst happens we'll experience it together. I've been taking it for 6 months now with little to 0 side effects. Before taking it I was concerned about permanent penile shrinkage, ED, and watery semen. ED definitely not an issue in the slightest. Penile shrinkage, I don't think so at all, but I'm not positive since I didn't measure before and after. If I thought there was penile shrinkage I would stop. My GF hasn't noticed a difference. It's possible my semen is slightly more watery but that's it."

• DO...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 18, 2022

"There is no way the "1.2% of men experience side effects" is accurate. Almost everyone I talk to has serious side effects. This drug has ruined my life. I can't get an erection any more. My sex life is non existent, I have no feeling down there and no drive to have sex. It has been 2 years, and no cure!!!! I wish I could figure out a way to sue this company for misleading information. That's how bad my life has become because of this drug. IT CHANGES YOU FOREVER"

• Tony
• March 2, 2019

"I've been on this medicine right at 1 year, and all I can say is that the difference in my hair from day one to now is TREMENDOUS. When I first started, I still had a good amount of hair, I'm only 23 and I'm trying to catch my hair loss early on. I had fairly significant thinning on the vertex and crown to the point that scalp could always be seen. For the first 3 -4 months on finasteride, I shed a LOT, to the point that I thought the medicine was making it worse, I had lost an additional 40 -50 % of the hair on the top of my head. Now, at month 12, it has all entirely grown back and then some. Wait out the shed my friends, it will be worth it. You may also try adding saw palmetto, it sped up the results for me. I am happy to report no side effects at all, and now when I comb my hair every morning, there are less than 3 hairs in the brush or sink, my hair loss has virtually stopped all together. I hope these results last but the best advice I can give from my experience is. WAIT OUT THE SHEDDING."

• PFS_S...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

"This pill can devastate your life. I used it (1mg 3 days per week) to treat hair loss between June 02, 2020 till Nov 13, 2020. In two weeks, both sexual and mental side effects appeared; namely: Sexual: 1. Entire loss of libido 2. Severe erectile dysfunction 3. Loss of sensation (penile numbness) 4. Disconnection between brain and genitals 5. Anhedonia Mental: 1. Difficulty processing my thoughts 2. Depression 3. Memory issues After stopping in two weeks, my mental side effects improved by, say, 90%. The sexual sides, however, did not. I am now suffering from Post Finasteride Syndrome, as my symptoms did not improve not even eight months after stopping the medication. For the love of God, please stay away from this pill."

• veteran
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2021

"This drug is bad !! It is given by the Veterans Administration, for enlarged prostate. VA doctors including urologists have been incompetent and derelict in failing to warn veterans about the side effects of the drug and its dangers. They also fail to give hormone blood tests before taking and after taking for testosterone and other hormones to get a base line. This drug has messed me up and millions of veterans who have enlarged prostate with no recognition nor treatment from the Veterans Administration or its urologists/doctors . VA doctors will tell you a fat lie that Post finasteride Syndrome doesn't exist as all the symptomology goes away once you cease the drug. This drug has caused our veterans total impotence, shrinkage of the penis and genitals, enlarged breasts , brain fog , anxiety , depression, severe memory loss, sleep apnea, sleep deprivation, post traumatic stress disorder ( PTSD) , sleeplessness, suicidal ideation and suicide."

• Ak1986
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2015

"I have been taking this drug for the last 5 years now and it working great. I have a head full of hair and i feel like very confident about my looks. I almost gave up on my hair but Proscar 1.25 mg gave my life back. Also, i invented a pill cutter to cut Proscar 5 mg into 4 pieces for the daily dose."

• natty...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 5, 2016

"I was on 1mg about a year ago on and off for about 6 months. I only had slight pain and discomfort in my lower abdomen/testicles for the first few days. Then my morning wood disappeared and sometimes came back. At about the 6th month i noticed bad shrinkage/ed/low ejaculate volume. I stopped taking it and after 1 month of seeing no improvement, I was breaking down. I was a tall athletic 30 yr old man and feeling like i had nothing between my legs. Its almost a year since I stopped. I'm about 90% back to my old self (I think I'm one of the "lucky" guys). I thought the number of negative comments were b.s. (they're not). The percentage of men being damaged must be much higher than reported. Don't take the risk."

• johnny
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2019

"Taking finasteride was the biggest mistake of my life. Finasteride is a Type II 5α-reductase inhibitor. 5α-reductase is responsible for so many important bodily functions and some unlucky individuals, like me, become damaged from it. I suffer physical, sexual, mental and digestive symptoms every single day. I don't know if I will ever recover from this poison"

• w77382
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2017

"I've never written a review for a drug before. I'm 47. When I started thinning a couple of years ago I freaked out and started looking into this drug. I read thousands of reviews. Many of them negative. But I went ahead and started taking it anyway. Thankfully it worked for me. I've been on it for 2 years. I experienced weird ejaculations / less intense orgasms starting about 3 days into taking it. It freaked me out, but I kept taking it as some of the reviews explained these side effects were temporary. Yes, the side effect went away on its own after about 2 months and all went back to normal. I noticed my hair loss stopped on its tracks about 3 weeks into taking it. Now I've regrown a lot of lost hair back. It changed my life."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 24, 2019

Propecia (finasteride) "I started on the drug in my mid twenties. I have been taking it for over 10 years now. It is stopped my hair loss effectively and helped me gain some volume as well. I have not noticed any side effects. I stopped taking the drop for a month somewhere along the line and I did lose more hair when I wasn't on it. That was some years ago. I have been on it ever since."

• Hemen
• January 19, 2011

"I am 22 and I had some hair loss. I have started using this medicine and right away after starting (less than a week!) I noticed that I have hair loss no more. Even when I intentionally try to pull my hair out! For help to grow new hair, well I have used this medicine for about 4 months and I can say YES it works but gradually."

• Dub
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 23, 2021

"This drug has the potential to destroy your life in every way possible. Taking it is like playing Russian Roulette. Vanity is just not worth the risk. I found out the hard way and I will regret the day I took Finasteride for the rest of my life."

• carls...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 19, 2023

"Last year, I decided to take 1mg Finasteride for 3 months to address my hair loss. I didn't experience any significant side effects, I had zero trouble achieving or maintaining an erection, nor ejaculating. I do see other people online had opposite experience. I was surprised to see how much thicker and fuller my hair had become, though it was still falling out, albeit at a slower rate. I am happy to be on it for the rest of my life. One problem I had with this drug is that my insurance does not cover it (they said it was a lifestyle medication and not a real disease -- which frankly is really undestimating the importance of a head of hair to the male ego and thus happiness/avoiding depression). As a result I was looking at spending over 100 dollars per month at the pharamcy. So in the end I got a prescription online from masculinemeds.com and then get meds sent by mail order for super cheap. YMMV... just sharing my experience. Good luck to all the guys out there!"

• space...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• December 16, 2014

"I've been on Finasteride (Proscar) for 14 years. I started when I was 40 and noticed rapid and heavy hair loss occurring. When I look at pictures of myself now and back then I can see that I have not lost any more hair since then. I do have to say that I have continued to thin more on the back of my head but up front all remains stable. "

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2019

"I’ve been on this medication for 3-4years now and I’ve had great responses from my family at the recovery and slow down of hair loss. I have also had many people warn me about the drug showing my news articles etc however I haven’t had any side effects at all from what I’ve noticed. I really would be sceptical about people saying they had the poor experiences as I think symptoms like anxiety/depression can be linked to all cosmetic related treatments. For testicular issues it would most definitely be in the minority few , only those who suffer from those type of symptoms would most want to express their experiences. I’d completely recommend this drug."

• JBano
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 15, 2020

"I have PFS (Post-Finasteride Syndrome). I cannot sustain an erection during sex, suffer from genital anesthesia and/or numbness, have muted/blocked/pleasureless orgasms when I masturbate, and suffer from brain fog, memory loss, and thinking at times. I have low testosterone, extremely high FSH, and pituitary problems as a result of being on Propetia on and off for years. I’ve been off of Propecia for a year. Although I’ve had shock wave therapy to remove penile scar tissue and improve nerve damage and had testosterone replacement therapy, my sexual functioning and cognitive issues persist. Oh! And I became infertile on Propecia too. Fortunately, I had enough sperm left to have a baby with my wife via IVF. Stay away from this toxic and poisonous medication! It will potentially destroy your life."