Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia User Reviews (Page 2)

• Tom...
• November 24, 2019

"I was given this drug finasteride by a complete imbecile of a dermatologist at the age of fifteen. I am now 30, and I am only just getting over the side effects after more than ten years of being off the drug. It is highly destructive, far more than the reported 2% of people. I suffered pretty much every symptom in the book: sexual, cognitive, muscular, sleeping, depression, gastrointestinal. Why potentially risk destroying your life? I can assure you from firsthand experience, it is absolutely not worth it! At one stage, I went eight years without any form of sexual activity, and as a former sports enthusiast, I can now no longer run more than a few seconds without horrendous leg pain. I piled on around three stone as part of a monstrous metabolic crash, and my university degree was absolutely ruined. Take this and mess with your hormones at your peril. Do not trust money-grabbing dermatologists or pharmaceutical companies. I was not provided with the facts/risks."

• Ton...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 17, 2022

Finasteride "Do not use it! This is a very dangerous product. After 4 weeks of using it, I had a total loss of libido and almost became impotent. I have now stopped for three weeks and am still not back to normal. This product is a chemical castration! I don't understand how this product is available on the market. Use other alternatives such as Regaine. Do not use, do not use, do not use!!!!! Giving a 1 rating is overrated."

• Mal...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 22, 2020

"53 years old, been on 'Finasteride' 2.5 years, shocked/concerned at the realization of going bald, mainly on 'crown' area, Doctor recommended Finasteride, worked out much 'cheaper'. Hair stopped falling after a month, noticed 'hair growth' after 3 months, and 2.5 crown area filled in, no side effects, Finasteride taken in the morning without breakfast, highly recommended !!!"

• The...
• June 22, 2019

"I’m Nigerian, and Propecia down here is unbelievably expensive. So what I did was purchase finasteride instead, which is less than a fraction of the cost of Propecia. Since June 2018, up until this very moment, I have been on 5mg of finasteride. Yep, you read that correctly, it is the dose they use for prostate problems. I can tell you the results are more than amazing. People always laughed at my frontal hair because it was an eyesore, to be honest, but now everyone wants to know why my hair is so full and thick. I’ve not experienced any of these conventional side effects that are so popularized on the internet, even though I’ve been taking 5mg of this alleged dangerous medication for over a year now. Nope, none whatsoever. If anything, aside from doing its job, it also increased my libido like crazy, and erection is normal, as has always been. The only noticeable difference is general body weight gain, which could be caused by the fact that I take a whole 5mg of finasteride daily. Other than that, everything’s perfect."

• Anonymous
• August 31, 2016

Finasteride "Don't take this drug. I used it for a few months, and it killed my libido. I did get some noticeable hair regrowth during that time, so at least that worked. It became very hard to get an erection, and I became completely disinterested in sex. I've read accounts that some people never regained their libido and suffered lasting erectile dysfunction. This is not natural. Your libido is part of who you are, and so is hair loss. Be a man and accept the loss of your hair as part of who you were meant to be."

• Asd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2023

"I took 1 mg once daily for 4 weeks. Yes, I did notice a slight change around my hairline. However, that’s where the positive ends. I am 24 and have had a receding hairline due to stress. Slowly but surely, I began to get anxious, and I was unable to think and study for my classes. This caused me to go into a full-on downward spiral, and I went into panic mode. I had nightmares each night and would wake up in the morning with my heart racing and my breathing heavy. I’d wake up, eat, and have coffee as usual. Boom, full-blown panic attack. Then I took my prescribed Propranolol, and the racing heart would go away, but what was left was a broken, lost, depressed, suicidal shell of who I formerly was. I had to get a doctor's excuse to miss exams that week. I finally realized it was the finasteride, and I quickly stopped it per two of my doctor’s opinions. Even after stopping, I have continued to be depressed and have suicidal ideation. Getting better."

• LOr...
• January 28, 2010

Finasteride "I started suffering from hair loss just recently. My doctor prescribed me this medicine. After 1 month of using it, my hair doesn't fall anymore. Until now I continue using it and there are no other side effects. This medicine is so amazing!"

• Pak...
• February 21, 2017

"I'm the son of a man who went bald at the age of 18, and I'm one of 4 brothers. I started taking Propecia at the age of 39, and I'm 51 now. Not only has my hair become stronger and thicker like I've lost none, I'm the only brother now with a full head of hair. I had my first child at age 42 and have just had my fifth 4 months ago. I have never had any of the side effects that others have written about on here. If I had my time over again, I would do exactly the same thing, except maybe have started taking this pill a little earlier so that my hair wouldn't have thinned so much before I started taking it (the thinning has totally reversed). I have and would recommend this treatment to any other male who likes to feel good about themselves."

• Lon...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 17, 2017

Finasteride "When I turned 50, I went in for a physical. The doctor noticed my hair was thinning and recommended Propecia. That was 14 years ago, and today I have a very full head of hair, especially for a 64-year-old. Two issues: one, it must be taken religiously. I take it at least 350+ times a year. Two, it's not cheap. Generics are available on the internet. My brother was born 10 months before me. Physically, we are very similar. During our youth, our hair was almost identical. Today, he is balding badly. Side effects. Shortly after I started taking it, I did have trouble getting an erection, but the problem went away after a number of weeks. I was thinking of quitting, but just wanted to give my body a little more time to adjust. And it did. No regrets."

• Rra...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 22, 2020

Finasteride "I took finasteride for hair loss in 2017. I experienced testicular pain and loss in semen volume. While on the drug, I noticed a callous-type knot in my left hand. I stopped the drug, and within a week, developed severe upward curvature from Peyronie's disease. I had bloodwork done, and I'm now hypothyroid as well. Before I took this drug, I was perfectly healthy. I'm now experiencing weight gain and feel like I'm 70 years old. I'm 36."

• Jak...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 9, 2020

"Terrible medication that has the potential to cause persistent side effects even after going off it. More people get side effects than they would have you believe. Ongoing research is being done about PFS (post-finasteride syndrome), and more and more doctors are speaking out about it. It will work for keeping your hair, but you’re playing with fire."

• eph...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2021

"I've applied 0.2 mg topically to my scalp daily, and after a week, I started to experience decreased penile sensation, decreased libido, and a weird pain in my testicles. No erectile dysfunction or mood swings, but I thought I'm sensitive to it and the sides would get worse if I continued. So I stopped, and everything went back to normal in like 2 days. I actually kinda liked the decreased libido effect, you see the world in a different way."

• Jim...
• May 21, 2013

"Well, I have been on the 1 mg for years. It really helped make my hair thick. It quit working as well as hair falls out some in the shower. Plus, I have a lower sex drive, but that is good. I am more concerned about my hair than my sex drive. Anyway, I am starting on the 5 mg today. I will see what happens. I am 49."

• KDL...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 29, 2020

"The medication product information never mentioned that finasteride could cause defects to male fetuses through semen contact with the mom. Tragically, my son has experienced this. Please never use this medication!!!!!"

• JMC...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 4, 2020

"I may have reviewed this medication a while ago, but I am here again to provide an update. I am 24 now and started on Fin when I was 20. This medication does work. I am a twin, he’s not taking the medication and buzzes his head and is obviously losing his hair. It works, no side effects. I have my hair, and it’s in better health now than it was during my teenage years. I gave this a 9 because after two years of being on it, I felt like it started to reverse, losing hair again. I found a doctor who prescribed me Dutasteride .5 mg 1x per week, and I am doing very well (knock on wood). I am seriously so grateful for these meds and Rogaine. I would likely have no self-confidence. Do not fear side effects. I work out. Sexually, I am still wild. If you work out, your workout supplements give you more side effects than this. But I can tell you after being on this med for 4 years, no side effects. Take it."

• Rih...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 1, 2020

"NOT recommended. I am 33. For treating thin and weak hair and excessive hair fall and partial baldness, I took the drug finasteride 1mg Genesis brand name for 3.5 months, then stopped for not getting even 1% results but side effects. Side effects are 6-8 kg weight gain, especially on my tummy and lower body, low performance at the gym and lazy overall as compared to my previous health state, minor stomach problems, minor pain in the penis and minor shrinkage in size, reduction in sex desire, etc."

• tea...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 22, 2023

"Currently noticing slight hair loss at 28 years old and decided to give this a go, but I cannot stress enough to not touch this, especially for young guys. Your body will be naturally producing high levels of test and DHT to alter these levels more than likely will cause really bad side effects. I personally had to stop after a few months. I experienced a really low, flat feeling like something was always missing and nearly went on antidepressants because I thought it was me and not the drug. It really heightened anxiety and a lot of anger and agitation at everything. I noticed I've went from 7'9" erect to 6'4" erect, and I struggle now to maintain the erection. It can disappear extremely fast and ultimately lose it all, which was never an issue before, but I also have a lot of clear, watery semen. I also pee a lot like I can't fully empty the bladder, always frequently going. Thankfully, this drastically improved after stopping, but I still don't feel 100% where I was before."

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

"This pill can devastate your life. I used it (1 mg 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."

• Dav...
• July 22, 2017

Finasteride "Have been taking this drug for almost a year now. My hair was starting to thin a few years back, and I just decided to give this a try, as we all know nothing else works! Since I've been taking it, I haven't noticed any real side effects, so I guess I've been lucky in that sense, but to be honest, neither have I experienced any change in hair loss either. My hair is still thinning, probably even more so now than it used to. This drug has been an absolute waste of time and money. It does not work. Scientists can transplant organs from one body to another, they can clone sheep, they can grow an ear on a mouse's back, but for some reason, they can't figure out how to grow hair where hair used to grow anyway! Don't waste your money."

• Ale...
• April 20, 2019

"I am a 32-year-old trans man. I had been going through a period of rapid hair loss. Some was due to stress, genetics, and some was due to the testosterone I take. I was highly doubtful whether finasteride would help the hair loss, but after 4 months on this medication, my hair grew back full and thick! And it continues to grow at a rapid pace. I was worried about side effects, but I had none. I highly recommend this."

• Chr...
• March 10, 2017

Finasteride "After 2 days on Propecia, I started to feel heavy brain fog. I didn't know about this side effect, but I found out on the internet that it is a common side. I can tell you that feeling is worse than the sexual side effects. I wish no one to feel that horrible feeling."

• 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 every day. 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 counterbalance things. I'll carry on for another few years and see what happens."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 14, 2022

"The drug is posed as a clinically safe way to reduce hair loss. Studies supposedly proved this, and all doctors considered it safe. After taking this drug, within 2 hours, something shifted in the way I perceived the world; anxiety and emotional empathy were abnormally heightened. Attributing it to temporary effects, as seen in painkillers and recreational substances. Took one more dose. It’s currently >6 months after quitting. These effects and more still remain. Research concludes its effects are set in the epigenome. - sour ammonia body odor - pale skin - thin body hair - more subcutaneous body fat - muscle loss calves; forearms; neck - gynecomastia - female fat distribution - loss of ambition/enthusiasm/life energy - loss of libido/ED - personality alterations - altered brain-body connection - depression/suicidal ideation"

• 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 5AR 3 just as much as 5AR 2, and the former enzyme wasn't even discovered when this came onto the market. 5AR 3 is essential to healthy cell signaling. 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."

• Jac...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 22, 2016

"Started taking finasteride for hair loss 4 years ago at the age of 22 when the balding became evident. My balding started in the crown area and moved its way toward the temples, so I am/was a diffuse thinner. I was lucky enough to stop it in time and regrow virtually everything and more with this medication, along with the help of Minoxidil. There are no side effects for me to document. My sex drive has and is still always in hyper speed; I have suffered no brain fog, no ill effects to speak of whatsoever. Besides the price tag, this medication will save your hair. You have to try it out for yourself. And just to note: there is no possible way for 1 pill to have permanent side effects, do your research."