Finasteride for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia User Reviews

• Anonymous
• April 12, 2012

Proscar (finasteride) "Had problems immediately (Tiredness after 7-10 days) with Flomax and so doctor prescribed Proscar and it helped somewhat. However, It caused me to feel tired and occasionally extreme exhaustion. After about one year of use, I became impotent even with Viagra. I quit it for about 6 weeks. Felt normal with no erectile dysfunction. Started again and felt tired and had ED. Quit for about 2 months again and felt OK. Started a third time with the same tiredness and ED problems. Have now stopped using it."

• calling
• September 1, 2013

"Taking finasteride for 9 years for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia, urinary issues improved by about 50%. Total loss of erections, seminal ejaculate near zero, greatly reduced libido, though this may partly be due to age. This is okay compared to my previous condition of frequent urinary incontinence, especially when on the road or when sleeping."

• Joe
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2019

"I started this medicine and used it for several weeks. I immediately noticed strong sexual side effects. I started to do research on the side effects and determined that the side effects are downplayed by both the manufacturer and the doctors that prescribe them. My side effects were a complete lack of interest in sex, along with considerable erectile dysfunction, not to mention startling and disturbing ejaculation problems. I am a normal guy with an active lifestyle. This medicine is poison and I stopped taking it. It even affected my mental masculinity after suffering these symptoms. Please stay away from this venom. If you do further research you will find many stories like mine. Just use the minoxidil and that is all you can do."

• Jim
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 11, 2019

"Took it along with 'Flomax'. It definitely helped with an increase in volume of the urine stream. Side effects with me were I believe an increase in the growth of body hair and nails. Other things I felt were related to the drug was a decrease in activity and exercise and really strange was weight gain noticeably especially around the waistline. Since I stopped taking it, the activity level is back to normal and so is the waistline. However, the urine stream has diminished accordingly. Additional side effects were reduction in semen production and somewhat of a lower sexual appetite coupled with decreased erections and duration of them. The semen was also much clearer and of water-like in appearance. After I stopped taking it, everything returned to normal again."

• Alan
• September 15, 2021

"Was prescribed this along with Flomax for BPH. Initially, urine flow improved after a few weeks, but I began to have sexual issues - poor erections at first, then, on rare occasions, when I managed that, no semen came out. Finally gave up, and I am on Cialis for BPH with a herbal supplement, saw palmetto. Everything back to normal. Finasteride never again."

• Damien
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 24, 2020

"I started having some effects on urinating frequency in a few weeks, but it seemed to have sexual side effects. Nevertheless, I decided I would give it at least 6 months. During the 4th month, my symptoms practically disappeared. Flow increased and frequency decreased. It has given me my former sexual self back. Improved sensitivity during sex and I began having strong orgasms, something I had not had for several years. Semen is clear, but so what? I am 68 years old. I will see the doctor in a month and find out how long I will need to take this drug. This medicine has actually worked wonderfully for me. The first medicine, Flomax, sucked badly though! I am so happy that I won’t have to do surgery."

• MZ94
• April 2, 2020

"I used this drug, finasteride, for one month and decided to stop taking it after the side effects appeared. I'm 42 years old. After a week, my libido decreased, and I had no more erections. I experienced depression and panic attacks. This drug was bad for me."

• Anonymous
• July 16, 2009

"Second medicine for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Flomax didn't work. This medicine helped a little bit after six months but the side effects were greater than the benefits. Experienced erectile dysfunction, semen reduction, and impotence. Sex is good 3 weeks after quitting this medicine. Some hair growth associated with this medicine."

• JMano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 9, 2019

"Have been taking finasteride 5 mg every other day for about three years for an enlarged prostate. The only side effect was a small lump on my left breast, which went away after changing my dosage to every other day per doctor's instructions. It has not affected my sex life, mental or physical health, and my hair is growing back. I am 70 years old and still going strong, and my prostate is no longer giving me problems."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 10 years or more
• July 1, 2017

Proscar (finasteride) "I started taking Proscar when it was a blind study. It has reduced my prostate to the size of a teenager's prostate. I still take it, but am now using the generic (Finasteride). The only side effect that I have had is slight breast tenderness and swelling (not cancerous, as it has been that way for almost a year). Also, my bald spot all but disappeared."

• Anonymous
• November 8, 2015

"Been using Finasteride for 9 months. Still get up every 2 hours at night to pee. No erection, sex is impossible. Penis looks like it is smaller and different shape. Would not recommend this drug to anybody. Probably going to quit, there has to be something else other than this drug. No sex drive at all."

• Anon
• September 8, 2019

"BEWARE: For some men, very bad side effects after one dose. For BPH, took 1 mg of this drug, one time... next morning, very low blood pressure (on medication for high BP), significant increased depression, loss of strength and energy, muscle weakness, severe agitation, irritation, extreme chills, dizziness, lightheadedness, sleepiness, or unusual drowsiness - slept all day. If prescribed for enlarged prostate, takes 6 months to work... you can pee more often or not be able to do most anything else. It is not easy to find ALL side effects, even on the FDA website, but with 2 hours of searching and making lists, you may have found ALL side effects. I would never take a single pill of this again."

• PercyP
• August 26, 2015

"Used finasteride for BPH for about 9 months. I do not now need to get up at night to pee, but it has totally ruined my sex life. My penis has shrunk and changed in shape, erections are rare, and intercourse is impossible. If surgery is not offered, I will certainly stop using it."

• Small...
• April 8, 2017

"Have been taking this med for about a year now. Urinary function is much better, but the side effects make me wonder if the benefits are worth it. My penis has gotten much smaller, no erections at all, and when I do ejaculate, the quantity is dramatically less than before and is now just a small amount of clear fluid. Will talk to my Dr. about options."

• Gaz
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 12, 2018

"I have been taking Finasteride for just over 3 years now. It has worked to reduce the size of my prostate, but it comes at a price. Sexual libido is very much down, and so are the erections! The other thing to note is that since taking Finasteride, I lost all my body hair, not on my head or beard, but legs, arms, and chest hair all vanished. I stopped taking Finasteride about 3 months ago, and gradually all my hair is now returning. I also have a much stronger erection, although I can't say my libido has come back!"

• PegMa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 26, 2018

"After 6 months of taking Finasteride, there has been no decrease in the size of my prostate, nor any benefit as to frequency of urination. My sex drive is almost nonexistent. When I do orgasm, nothing comes out. Keeping an erection has become harder. I have experienced tingling in the bottom of my feet, resulting in nerves firing in my calves."

• Peter...
• March 1, 2016

"Had severe prostate issues where I could not urinate. I had to have a tube and bag for 50 days until Finasteride started to work at 5 mg. I also took 2 pills daily of Flomax in an effort to shrink my prostate. Now after 9 months, I feel I can write a review. As stated, it was difficult times with surgery being the option if the medication did not work for enlarged prostate. Side effects are feeling tired, as well as the sexual issues mentioned by others, which are important, but it's so much better being able to urinate on my own. I will take them over the issue I faced."

• Small...
• September 17, 2017

"Update to earlier posts. I have now been off this medicine since June, and finally my problems with side effects are all gone. My semen has come back to normal amounts, and my erections are also back! YEA!"

• Alexl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2019

"In 2018, I tried Flomax to decrease my prostate and help my urine flow perfectly, but then the doctor prescribed another medication, which is finasteride. The first week I tried it, I felt funny in my testicle, and I became dry immediately, but my sex life is bad, and my doctor found small cancer in my prostate, and they said it would be good for another 15 years before I had surgery, but I decided to have the surgery since my cancer wasn’t a productive one, that it does not go all over the body. Now it’s been almost 9 months since I had the surgery, and I’m doing great. Sex is okay. Thank goodness I am cancer-free, and I am 68 right now. I decided to have the surgery and then take the medication for another 15 years. It is a bad, bad medication."

• Rkruger
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 12, 2016

"I am a 72-year-old male, have taken this med for a year now. Definite increase in weight and breast size (as much as 5-7 lbs), easier urinary flow, but not as it used to be, notable decrease in sperm, erections at first were more difficult, but have improved over the past six months. Originally tried a natural prostate offering for six months with little sign of change, but thinking now that my prostate has shrunk some, I'll try that again before renewing this prescription. Notably, my PSA score dropped from 6.5 to 3 over the past year!"

• BPH...
• February 4, 2017

"Age 63, using finasteride for 2 years and no other medications. Took many months for improvement in urination and now much improved, though definitely not what it was when I was young. I am no longer scouting for spots to stop in a 30-minute walk. I typically sleep about 5 hours at night before having to get up. Other changes since beginning dosage: ejaculation volume has decreased, occasional but rare loss of erection during intercourse. No other changes noticed, in particular no loss of libido, and no mental changes noticed. After doing the research, physiological effects seem to be the same at 1 mg (for hair loss) as 5 mg (for BPH), so I quarter the 5 mg pills and take a 1/4 pill per day."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 22, 2018

"I've been taking finasteride for 3 months now. It works well in shrinking the prostate, but has definitely seemed to take away my libido, sex drive, and my erections are very weak. It is not solid in the morning when you have to go to the bathroom, which is normal for guys. I'm thinking that it's not worth taking the pill. It does work on shrinking the prostate, it is just that it takes your libido and sex drive away, which is very disappointing, very discouraging, and sad. I hear different professional opinions: some say it will come back when I'm off it, and some that I've read said it may take a very long time for things to get normal."

• john
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2019

"Tried finasteride 10 years ago for urination problems. It caused serious cognitive issues, not yet completely resolved. Doc switched me to dutasteride. I have taken it for 10 years with good results, no side effects except reduced ejaculate volume. Now my insurance company wants me to switch back. No way. If I cannot resolve the issue with the insurance company, I will order dutasteride from somewhere else."

• JJano
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 27, 2020

"It gradually reduced the number of times I had to get up at night to urinate, from 2-3 to 0-1. But after a year or 2 it became gradually less effective until I was back to getting up 2-3 times per night. Also, I noticed that my ejaculate was less, my libido had decreased, and I developed a bend in my penis for no apparent reason. I stopped taking it and my libido immediately began to return and continues to strengthen. Also, I seem to be getting stronger at the gym and a little more aggressive. It feels like my testosterone is being restored to normal."

• farmer...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2024

"I started it 6 days ago. I immediately felt discomfort in my testicles. I'm on 5 mg finasteride. I did orgasm yesterday, but was soft. The color was brownish for semen. I have major brain fog. I do feel it in my left testicle. My nipples are very sensitive. My fingers are tingly. My wife and I have not been sexually active for 5 years. So if I develop impotence, I'm okay with it. I did tell my urologist, I might as well take my testicles out. But he said no. So, I do have most side effects. As far as results, too short of time to know. There are many reviews of impotence from this drug, as long as you're okay with that."