PFS Patient Story: Damon
My name is Damon, and I live in Georgia, United States. After becoming concerned about my minor receding hairline, I decided to search the internet for solutions and visited a local dermatology clinic to express my concerns.
The dermatologist informed me about Minoxidil and Finasteride, mentioning that the main side effects of Finasteride were the risk of high-grade prostate cancer in the future and potential sexual dysfunction. He personally believed that the depression associated with the drug was merely a result of men being upset about hair loss. Assured by his explanation of the drug’s safety, I decided to give it a try. Although I had come across a few horror stories and watched some YouTube videos, the positive opinions from doctors convinced me that there was a lot of fear-mongering surrounding the medication. I filled the prescription at a local pharmacy and took the first pill.
The next morning, I experienced severe brain fog, feeling as though my eyes and brain were not in sync. Simple tasks became challenging, and even reading words on a piece of paper proved difficult. Looking at a computer screen caused shaking and instability, often leading to bouts of vomiting while attempting school work. Additionally, I felt completely disconnected from my body and experienced overall weakness. Despite being passionate about weightlifting and maintaining excellent fitness, I suddenly found it unbearable to engage in physical exertion. Every movement felt laborious, and I lacked motivation and energy, resembling a zombie. These symptoms progressed to extreme anxiety, racing thoughts, and severe insomnia.
Over the following months, I noticed changes in my skin, which became softer, wrinkled, and lost its color. My entire body developed a rubbery and feminine texture. Fat deposits shifted, resulting in rubbery, numb fat accumulation around my hips, thighs, arms, and abdomen. The hair on my body thinned, with most strands losing color and turning grey. In approximately six months, I went from weighing 160 lb with a lean and muscular physique to a sickly-looking 132 lb. It has now been over two and a half years since I took that single 1mg pill, and my symptoms have not improved but worsened.
I struggle immensely with reading and comprehending information, living in a constant state of brain fog. I never feel rested, even after sleeping for 8–10 hours. Feelings of confidence, positivity, excitement, and bliss have been replaced by fear, anxiety, misery, and dread. Androgen activity seems to have completely left my body. My hair has become dry and coarse, the structure of my penis has changed significantly, and dark bags have formed under my eyes. Activities that used to bring me joy, such as laughing and exercising, are now nonexistent. My body feels lifeless, and my skin has become rubbery, making me appear ten years older. I struggle to perform even basic bodyweight exercises. Rubber-like fat continues to accumulate all over my body, and an unpleasant, toxic odor similar to cat urine emanates from me. I experience a hollow feeling in my chest, as if something is missing.
I am currently pursuing a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and each day is a tremendous challenge that threatens to break me. It’s incredibly difficult to explain this condition to someone who knows little about it. Never did I imagine that all of this would result from trying a medication just once. At this point, my main concern is moving forward with my life without relying on family or disability assistance. I try to stay positive, hoping that with time, my body will begin to heal itself and return to some semblance of normalcy.
Taking just 1 milligram of Finasteride has completely devastated my life.
