FINASTERIDE depression/ED

[NJ41yearOldguy]

FINASTERIDE. I am 41. Male, take 1mg finasteride a day. Experiencing some E.D. And depression. I know some experience these side effects for a long time. Has anyone quit drug and they went away immediately?

[xsevenx]

You are quite young for prostate enlargement. Have any other treatments been tried eg: tamsulosin or tadalafil? Sadly finasteride is associated with mood change. Talk to your doctor. Tadalafil works wonders for ED.

[NJ41yearOldguy in reply to xsevenx]

Hi. I was taking for hair loss

[DaveRochester in reply to NJ41yearOldguy]

What you are experiencing is Post Finasteride Syndrome. This is a very serious condition.I recommend reading information given by the Post-Finasteride Foundation.

It is not reversible!!

You are at risk of suicide ideation.

[AreYouSureAboutThat in reply to DaveRochester]

Post Finasteride Symptom is when symptoms persist after a person has stopped using finasteride. This guy is still taking it and it is normal to get some symptoms for a short period of time after you start taking it. It is not normal if they persist. And it is only PFS if the symptoms persist for a period of time after discontinuation.

[SetteeSofa in reply to xsevenx]

I mg daily is the 'usual' strength for dealing with male pattern baldness/hair loss, and 5mg daily for prostate shrinkage. The trouble, as I understand it, is that once the drug is stopped, hair loss will resume within about six months, so it's not a 'cure' but rather an ongoing treatment plan. I'm been taking 5mg daily for my enlarged prostate for a number of years, but I'm not convinced it's having much of an effect!! Best wishes to you all. SetteeSofa

[xsevenx in reply to SetteeSofa]

SetteeSofa thanks for clearing this up. I was unaware there are 2 different doses and uses for finasteride. Maybe there is a difference between UK and US practice?

[SetteeSofa in reply to xsevenx]

Yes, maybe. Personally, I'm more than happy to carry on taking the 5mg daily dose as my hair is thinning dramatically, and anything that helps to keep it anchored in place for a few years more is a bonus - even if it's a 'side-effect'!!! LOL!!!

[NJ41yearOldguy]

For hair loss control

[gdon936]

I would ask your doctor about Tamulosin. I was taking Finasteride initially for prostate and just couldn't get on with it. I know you use it for hair loss but I can assure you Tamulosin works on hair growth.

[FernandoPo]

I was on 5mg for several years for BPH (for which it was quite effective) and did not notice much difference when, due to a prostate cancer diagnosis I stopped and was put on hormone therapy followed by radiotherapy and that may well have masked any effects of stopping it. That was a couple of years ago and I still have plenty of hair on my head!

Incidentally I did not realise that apparently if you are on 5mg Finasteride it depresses PSA and as a rule of thumb they seem to double the reading when trying to grade the cancer. In my case I suspect they may have overtreated me as a result. Better than undertreating me I guess and I am still here to tell the tale.