Finasteride and Brain Fog: What Users Say

• JBa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 24, 2020

Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia "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, low cortisol, low vitamin D, adrenal issues, and pituitary problems as a result of being on Propecia on and off for years. I've been off of Propecia for a year. Although I've had shockwave 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."

• Lif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 7, 2019

For Androgenetic Alopecia "I took this drug for only 4 days in May 2019. I had mild hair thinning and went to a dermatologist who recommended it. I had done research beforehand and knew about finasteride already, and how for some men the drug could have serious side effects, but decided to listen to a doctor who assured me it was safe. It’s not, and I had to learn the hard way. This poison has completely ruined my life. I’ve completely lost my sleep and have total insomnia, no libido, ED, brain fog, fatigue, anxiety, and depression, penile tissue changes, muscle wastage, and weakness... The list goes on. I’m not making this up, this drug should be avoided. I’m 23 years old, I was healthy before I took this. There is no reason to believe this drug won’t mess your life up. Please avoid it. I don’t even feel like the same person and regret my decision every single day and am having trouble adjusting to this new life. I hate myself for taking this risk."

• Dep...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 11, 2020

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Let me start off by saying that I realize everyone has different reactions to drugs, but here is my experience. I used generic finasteride for 6 weeks, and although it helped my hair, the side effects were unbearable. This drug is straight poison to my body. I have extreme brain fog and memory issues, zero sex drive, numb penis, low semen volume, softer erections, smaller penis and testicles overall, very bad depression and anxiety. I genuinely feel like this stuff has caused brain damage that hopefully will reverse itself. I’m still suffering side effects even after being off it for 3 weeks."

• QC9...
• August 23, 2019

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Don’t get scared off by some of the negative reviews on here. Yeah, there’s a small chance you may get erectile dysfunction, but the vast majority of men who take this drug don’t experience that. I haven’t experienced any kind of depression, ED, brain fog, or any of the other symptoms people mention on here."

• Jus...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 12, 2016

Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia "Complete brain fog, worse than anything you can imagine, literally can't get out of bed because of the brain damage that this drug induced on me. I feel completely, literally detached from the world now, not to mention even the less serious it caused, ED, no libido, head pressure, complete cognitive shift. Feel like I'm in a whole different world. NEVER TOUCH this drug EVER, EVER, EVER, unless you're old and have nothing else to lose and don't care about life anymore. I would trade this with ANY other disease just for my brain function to come back again. I feel like I'm in a coma, it's absolutely frightful, every day 24/7, it never leaves. Sexual sides are a joke compared to this."

• hlj...
• July 12, 2019

Finasteride for Androgenetic Alopecia "I took 5 pills from April 2-6. Over the course of those 5 days, I had worsening symptoms of brain fog, headaches, sleeplessness, suicidal ideation, ED/impotence, loss of libido, increased fat mass, and muscle weakness that didn't dissipate for a month and a half. Even now (July), I still have increased fat mass, increased tissue on the breast, peripheral edema (mild), and difficulty (mild) with erections. I'm not as focused or driven due to ongoing sleep difficulties (mild/moderate) and the intensity of these effects. Every day, I regret taking this drug. I took this drug without researching any side effects, I really regret not looking into possible side effects. Please be aware that the consequences could be extremely negative and persistent."

• Cc7...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 29, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "I've been using 1 mg finasteride over the past year. After a few months of use, I was unable to recall basic information that I otherwise would have had at the tip of my tongue. Brain fog, haziness in my responses, and sometimes I could not even verbalize what I was thinking. Find another way to save your hair loss."

• far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2024

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have been on 5 mg finasteride for 3 weeks. I am 61 years old. I have had most of the side effects. Started with terrible brain fog for a few days. My testicles ache every day. My penis shrinks more every day, but the meds make me horny. I masturbate. I don't get hard, but started with brown cum, watery. Now I'm almost dry cum. See how it goes. Only 3 weeks on meds, no testicle shrinkage yet. I read a lot of bad things. My marriage is sexless, so keep going. See if it improves."

• vet...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "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 baseline. 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."

• Rob...
• December 9, 2019

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Took Propecia for 18 years. Worked great. Insignificant sides. Well, it was years afterward that I started getting all the sexual and some cognitive (brain fog, bad sleep) side effects. Went to the doc about semi-hard erections, he gave me Cialis. I decided to go off the drug, and after about 2-3 months, I noticed my erections were completely hard as a rock. So much so, that it hurt when I got an erection (in a good way). It was growing BACK! I went back on the drug after about 1 year. My new hair loss stopped soon after, along with my penis working. This time it also started to get hard crooked. I stopped again. Many of the side effects men speak of on this forum are also dissipating. When I was on and had no big side effects, all was good and I thought the negative experiences were small. I'm done for good with Propecia - had I known before what I know now, I would not have started."

• No...
• January 30, 2017

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Been taking this medicine since I was 23 and found I had a receding hairline. My hairline has stayed mostly at the same level for the grace of this medicine. No brain fog, no low sex drive. You just need to do exercise and keep a positive attitude. In fact, it was exactly what I did and feel like it was the most productive 2 years of my life (I was doing an engineering master). If you worry about the hair, give it a shot, and divert the time spent on worrying to something else important. Cheers."

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

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "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."

• Tex...
• October 5, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I have been taking finasteride for several years. About a year ago, I noticed shrinkage of my unit and testicles, no energy, depression, and low libido. I thought it was my age. Brain fog all around, lack of excitement for life. I couldn't figure it out until a few weeks ago. I hope it goes away. I can't get into my doc for 3 months. Be careful. Was on the med for 6 years for BPH. It helped with that but screwed everything else up. I am so mad at my doctor."

• Vic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2020

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "I took this medication for 8 days when my side effect symptoms started. It put me into a 3-day panic attack that wouldn't stop, and my entire body was numb. I felt disassociated from everything mental, and I'm starting to come back to my old self, still have mental fog, though. Luckily, my penis still works, unlike many of the other men I've read about. Don't listen to these people saying that it's lots safe and to give it a try, all to keep your hair. One dose could be all it takes to ruin your life. Just keeping my fingers crossed mine isn't as severe as the other accounts I've read."

• JBa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 15, 2020

For Androgenetic Alopecia "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 Propecia 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."

• Ale...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 17, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "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 an intense brain fog (which I still have 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 I had extreme anxiety and lots more symptoms. I quit immediately. So... this stuff is dangerous/poisonous for a few! If you want to risk chemical castration, then go for it. After half a pill a week ago, I still have fatigue, brain fog, depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, small joint pain, and a lowered sexual interest. Which has gotten better each day after HALF A PILL, A WEEK AGO."

• mmm...
• January 2, 2022

For Androgenetic Alopecia "I took it for a couple of years. I wish I could say it was great. Something started to happen to me that I never had experienced before. Doctors denied it at the time, but they didn't know. I became really depressed and dealt with brain fog, loss of memory, not sure about my sex drive, though. Now it's been 3 years, I am off this medication, and I think I'm feeling a bit better now. Sadly, my hair is not doing well."

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2021

For Androgenetic Alopecia "Did not have a visible effect at slowing down the progression of hair loss over and above Minoxidil + Nizoral for my particular situation. Tapered off finasteride, and libido noticeably increased. Side effects noticed while taking finasteride: - Brain fog. - Noticeable impaired judgment. - Reduced libido (though wasn't noticeable until I stopped taking it). Just gone back to Minoxidil + Nizoral combination and will probably just shave off hair once hair loss has progressed to be severe enough."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 11, 2025

For Androgenetic Alopecia "My experiences with Finasteride. I am a person who experienced side effects. I'm 21 and started experiencing side effects around 9 months into treatment. I was getting side effects like pain, full gyno, brain fog, depression, and dermatitis for around 6 months, and my hair loss increased on Finasteride. I have been dealing with it, and there has been no improvement. I found out what was causing all these problems, it was low progesterone and low pregnenolone levels causing these issues. It appears that Finasteride does not just block the conversion of DHT but lowers hormones like progesterone, pregnenolone, and allopregnanolone, most likely causing these side effects. But the treatment appears to be working, my side effects on Finasteride appear to be clearing up. The main reason, I think, is because I have lower levels of these hormones naturally, so what I have done is started to supplement with pregnenolone, and my side effects appear to be clearing up. I am still taking Finasteride."

• Des...
• April 26, 2019

For Androgenetic Alopecia "I am 24 years old, and I took a single 1 mg pill of Finasteride 6 months ago. Like many men my age with a receding hairline, I wanted to try anything to keep a healthy head of hair late into my years. I studied the drug for 8 months without taking it, for reading horror stories/fearmongering across all media. Eventually tired of constantly looking at my hairline in mirrors, I got the script, took a single Generic 1 mg pill, and took the leap. Guys, it's real. By the next morning, I had extreme brain fog, I've described it as a 'high you cannot come down from.' It has been so bad that I have not been able to make sense of the words on a piece of paper. I have had substantial muscle wastage, penile shrinkage, watery ejaculate, ED, and insomnia. It has been 6 months now since the pill, and it has been the hardest period of my life. I still struggle with all symptoms currently, and I hope every day I will improve. The fearmongering, the horror stories, they are very real."

• dta...
• February 8, 2011

For Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia "Took it for one week, brain fog was so thick I had to discontinue use. Side effects lasted for a couple of months after discontinuation."