Finasteride, Hair Raising Disaster

[considering (imported)]

I was at my doctor's today and, as he periodically does, he examines where my scrotum and testicles once were. Nothing unusual, just part of a pre-surgical check up to make sure all is working. He's been my doctor and my friend for quite some time and so the conversation seldom stays on the facts of my visit. Today he was newly back from a conference run by Mayos in Honolulu and said, "One of the guys who was there was a endocrinologist and he mentioned that he's having legal troubles over Finasteride (Propecia) as some of his patients who were given it for prostate problems have now found themselves sterile and are blaming him." Okay, I can see that, no one should be given this drug without a very careful explanation of the very real side effects and how quickly they can set in; Average time to sterility is about six weeks or so I've read. And he got distracted at the number of men who came to him wanting to grow hair using this or, more accurately, wanted to save what they had and, of course, whatever your use, the outcome is the same. He will not prescribe it nor will he refill it after another doctor has prescribed it. Looking at my lack of scrotum and balls within, he said, "Thank God you took the time to have it surgically done." And he laughed, "Sometimes after you've been in and I see how great you're doing apart from the MS, it almost makes me want to have my own little do it yourself project.

My point in this is that whatever your motives, unless you have the problem for which this drug was designed, don't take it. It's not a step on the road to self-castration, it's a step to sterility which is not quite the same as being a eunuch. You're dealing with a drug, a chemical product and why not avoid something that, really, is of no use to you beyond the purpose for which it was marketed.

He ended-and moved on to something else-by saying he thought it might be pulled from the market as more and more doctors are reluctant to prescribe it and those who do for "hair growth" unless they've fully revealed the side effects will increasingly face legal action as soon as a precedent is set.

[cheetaking243 (imported)]

Well, I wouldn't say that it's completely useless aside from re-growing head hair. It has been shown to improve the effectiveness of androcur. And the combination of both androcur and finasteride has been shown to be much more effective at eliminating the growth of body hair than just androcur alone. So it does have its uses, especially for transgender folk who want to grow more head hair and a lot less body hair. (The warnings about sterility DEFINITELY need to be considered, though.)

[considering (imported)]

Well, I wouldn't say that it's completely useless aside from re-growing head hair. It has been shown to improve the effectiveness of androcur. And the combination of both androcur and finasteride has been shown to be much more effective at eliminating the growth of body hair than just androcur alone. So it does have its uses, especially for transgender folk who want to grow more head hair and a lot less body hair. (The warnings about sterility DEFINITELY need to be considered, though.)

My apologies, I had not considered the potential uses by others for their distinct and correct purposes. My rather too lengthy comments can be condensed into the simple notion that to prescribe without making the patient/consumer aware of the rather specific side effects and those taking without that awareness may be facing either legal action or find themselves contemplating. Thanks for you polite and sensible correction.

[butterflyjack (imported)]

I'm 67, have 3 grown daughters, and couldn't care less about live loads...It's primary use (I assume) is to block testosterone and help ease the symptoms of swollen protate disorder (which I have)...I've been taking (as prescribed) finasteride for about a year, or perhaps longer, and I could pee almost normally. I've been on a self prescribed dosage of 50 mgs daily of spironolactone and 4 mgs daily of Estrofem for about 8 months now...My last checkup with my urologist revealed that my prostate number had dropped precipitously..He was astonished, and delighted...Say what you will but the stuff(spiro) sure straightens out the prostate disorder, although it also causes me to get up once during the night to pee...(it's also a diuretic)...At higher doses, the spiro also caused light headedness, I'm assuming due to low blood pressure..(it's also a hypertension lowering med)..Since I'm already taking a medication for hypertension, I'm assuming (once again) that the combination of the two drugs caused my BP to drop...Hence the lower, 50 mg daily dose...My libido has lessened significantly (not entirely gone)...and my body hair has lightened...All seems well...My guess is, most men prescribed this medication (finasteride) couldn't care less about killing their sperm....As long as they can pee properly...Thanks Jackie

[considering (imported)]

Jackie-Absolutely and you're the exemplar of what I'm saying; Used appropriately it works, has results that are of benefit to prostate patients and should be taken. It's just the "incidental" uses that concern me and that many men do not fully understand the side effects. I was castrated several years ago so, if I needed it, issues of sterilty would be non-starting. Thanks for elaborating on the beneficial uses of this drug. Petr Johan

[cogman (imported)]

I have to admit I partially agree with considering, the warning about potential side effects should be more evident on the packaging.

As for sterility, I paid for that surgically, would have been a lot easier to take Finasteride according you you

My son has been prescribed 1mg finasteride for hair loss and I am none too happy about it...of course they (his mum) wont listen to me and I dare not tell him because he is more shit scared loosing his hair...its such a shame because later when he is older he wont care less about his hair (I dont any more), but he sure as shit might want to make a baby...alas it does not seem to stop him from hooking up with some good looking women.... I do feels he suffers a bit from depression which is definitely a side effect of it (I know its a subtle slow moving side effect with this drug for me anyway). I will NOT be happy saying I told you so in this case...stuck between a rock and a hard place

That said for the MOST part I dont think it can be as bad as you say but I would definitly agree it raises the risk and some people seem to be more susceptible than others....just like some people need to take 200Mg of androcur where some people can take a really small amount and find themselves lacking any balls...how it effects libido also varies greatly. There are ALWAYS extreme reactions to any drug. However one should always be very careful with anything that effects hormonal balance

[considering (imported)]

I have to admit I partially agree with considering, the warning about potential side effects should be more evident on the packaging.

As for sterility, I paid for that surgically, would have been a lot easier to take Finasteride according you you

My son has been prescribed 1mg finasteride for hair loss and I am none too happy about it...of course they (his mum) wont listen to me and I dare not tell him because he is more shit scared loosing his hair...its such a shame because later when he is older he wont care less about his hair (I dont any more), but he sure as shit might want to make a baby...alas it does not seem to stop him from hooking up with some good looking women.... I do feels he suffers a bit from depression which is definitely a side effect of it (I know its a subtle slow moving side effect with this drug for me anyway). I will NOT be happy saying I told you so in this case...stuck between a rock and a hard place

That said for the MOST part I dont think it can be as bad as you say but I would definitly agree it raises the risk and some people seem to be more susceptible than others....just like some people need to take 200Mg of androcur where some people can take a really small amount and find themselves lacking any balls...how it effects libido also varies greatly. There are ALWAYS extreme reactions to any drug. However one should always be very careful with anything that effects hormonal balance

How old is your son? From what you write, quite young and, if you've actually given this to him for a time, he's sterile. What sort of doctor prescribes a medicine for prostate trouble to a kid for their hair loss knowing that he might just as well have castrated him in his office as he was there. And you think your son is depressed now? Who sought this doctor? You? His mother? Did the doctor explain the side effects to all involved, mainly the young man? Stop giving him this medicine unless you, he and his mother have a clear grasp not on what may happen but what will happen. Then go to site called Sly Bald Guys which is for men who either shave their heads or all bald. Ask them about Finasteride. I'm sorry to be so overwhelmed at this but...is it possible that you cannot face the thought of a balding kid, that your preferences for a young man with a full head of hair is an issue? Find a search engine, do your homework or...take your kid to the garage and introduce him to the hedge clippers.

[butterflyjack (imported)]

Is this sterility, induced by finasteride, permanent? Possibly not...My outlook on this is: the number one problem in the world today is, in my opinion, over-population..Give everyone finasteride...(just joking)...Jackie

[kristoff]

Is this sterility, induced by finasteride, permanent? Possibly not...My outlook on this is: the number one problem in the world today is, in my opinion, over-population..Give everyone finasteride...(just joking)...Jackie

Once sterility with finasteride sets in, it is generally permanent. Not kidding - give it to everybody, there are too many of us.

[cogman (imported)]

How old is your son? From what you write, quite young and, if you've actually given this to him for a time, he's sterile. What sort of doctor prescribes a medicine for prostate trouble to a kid for their hair loss knowing that he might just as well have castrated him in his office as he was there. And you think your son is depressed now? Who sought this doctor? You? His mother? Did the doctor explain the side effects to all involved, mainly the young man? Stop giving him this medicine unless you, he and his mother have a clear grasp not on what may happen but what will happen. Then go to site called Sly Bald Guys which is for men who either shave their heads or all bald. Ask them about Finasteride. I'm sorry to be so overwhelmed at this but...is it possible that you cannot face the thought of a balding kid, that your preferences for a young man with a full head of hair is an issue? Find a search engine, do your homework or...take your kid to the garage and introduce him to the hedge clippers.

I am sorry but you do not sound as educated as what you make out. I think you are making this a lot more sensational that is warranted. Most of this panic comes from an almost dead forum here http://www.propeciahelp.com. If you have some more relevant and more recent information other than hearsay please provide links so I can be better educated rather than listen to a rant.

Since this drug is proscribed to MILLIONS of people globally, if it sterilised everyone as you say it does, don’t you think a forum that I found in 30 seconds of searching would be somewhat more active?? Its actually hard to find negative feed back on propecia apart from sensational people in forums. Next there will be claims that the multi billion dollar drug companies are filtering the internet!!

Of course have read the papers on it and have indeed said that I have concerns, but again I will reiterate that are a lot more things to consider here, I have said I don’t like him taking it. I have no doubt that SOME PEOPLE have been adversely effected by it. I have taken it myself. But the most recent intelligible study was in 2010, and it was talking about recovery after taking the drug for 5 years!!

I really don’t give a shit if he goes bald, it did not bother me (so much), so please don’t start implying that I can't face a bald child or any of the other rubbish you come up with, what I can't stand seeing is a DISTRESSED child. Almost every drug can have adverse side effects but for those people that the side effects are mild then the benefits can outweigh them.

You may as well slow traffic down to 25M/hour on the motorway because 2% of the population are incompetent drivers.

Still it would not be a bad idea to have him get a hormone and sperm count, I have been pushing for the hormone tests for a while.