Posted by kregpark@yahoo.com on September 1, 2001, at 5:38:37
In reply to Re: Most Effective Med for Social Phobia » rick_number1001@yahoo.com, posted by Rick on August 28, 2001, at 18:43:31
From: (Formerly rick_number1001@yahoo.com)
Dr. Bob: Thanks for notification about box.
Name changed and can see all messages too!
Great site!Rick:
Yes, actually thinking back, I was taking Propecia while on Nardil 90mg. No difference noted, had moderate side effects already but don't think much difference initially at 1.25mg. Later switched over 4 months to 45mg Nardil and 4.5Klonopin (thanks for the Klonopin article years ago Dr. Bob!!) - I did research and convinced my doc Klonopin used regular could be safe. Anyway, this combo spurred me to 10 first dates in 5 months (a miracle for me!!). Still with propecia no side effects at all sexually.
I switched later to Zoloft + Klonopin (then added Serzone) and trialed many other things as well. So I guess that after rethinking after your question I'm no longer so sure that after 1 year or so finasteride started to affect me more. I never though about it until I stopped it once because of the "reported no sexual side effects over placebo" data from the FDA studies. HA! Similar to SSRI FDA studies!!! :)
> Interesting. Were you taking Propecia BEFORE Klonopin? I'm sure you know that many psychotropics, including Klonopin and Wellbutrin, can sometimes cause hair loss.I know of about 8-10 personal cases, at least 3 or so had side effects. Maybe more if the others didn't mention it. Plus they mostly take 1mg, not 1.25mg.
> My understanding was that sexual dysfunction from Propecia was fairly uncommon (1-2% incidence), and that when it occurs it usually goes away after awhile. But I got that mainly from Merck's literature, and you're the second person who I've seen mention anti-sexual effects in just the last few days. I do know one guy who confided to me that he was a little worried about trying it for that reason, but later reported that he needn't have been concerned.So we are both taking finasteride also!!!??? Interesting the paradoxic effect you got at first. I'd like to hear about the mineral!! Yes, Klonopin never seemed to give me a problem until I added (to Nardil60 + Klonopin2.5) first WEllbutrin 50mg (very effective but rash and hair loss at scalp!! aghh!), then Provigil (less problematic than Wellbutin).
> I started Propecia months after stopping Nardil, when I was taking Klonopin and noticed a small but worsening amount of hair loss that didn't seem natural because of the pattern and suddenness. So I started both Propecia and a mineral combo that my pdoc recommended (I had been thinking about starting a multi-vitamin/mineral anyway). It's worked out great, and my strong feeling is that its the Propecia that's doing the trick (I hope so, given that insurance doesn't cover it!)Celexa was worst SSRI for me, lowest dose fairly devastating. Otherwise I really liked Celexa!!! But no way.
Sounds like you combined meds work well together for low side effects also!
Klonopin is reported to often increase sex drive, though at least 1 study contradicts the more common opinion.
I think that Klonopin and Wellbutrin, if they increase hair loss (and since 1 or likely both) increase dopamine at least at some sites in the brain (Klonopin probably more selective), I think both these meds probably affect male hormones in many, perhaps DHT levels even.
> Propecia didn't affect me sexually, as far as I can tell, but Celexa and high-dose Neurontin certainly did. I've had sexual enhancement on the current med combo, but I don't know how much to attribute to the Provigil vs. the Serzone. I'm leaning toward the Provigil. (I already knew that Klonopin acted as a bit of a sexual enhancer for me overall, as it does for you, although in my case it might be just slighlty inhibitive in terms of the "stamina" aspect.)I'm 34, and I've taken minoxidil since before it was approved for hair loss starting when I was 18. I took finasteride after phase II of Propecia trials came out. I use both in combo now, which in monkeys (ha ha, rats not used for hair loss studies!!) grow more hair with the combo, significantly more!!
> If you have no problem going lower or off the Propecia for awhile, as you mentioned above, maybe you could try Rogaine (topical minoxidil) or the mineral supplement or both for awhile to see if they help without the sexual effects. A couple of weeks ago, someone here reported excellent success with Rogaine. On the otherhand, if you're having a lot of success with Propecia I can see why you might be be hesitant to change.I used to use a razor blade, then I discovered that breaking them in half and each half in half by hand works great and almost no dust.
My response has more robust at 1.25 than 1, and I saw quick sprouts in the front at 2.5 but the sexual side effects more obviously bad, so I stopped that. I think my combo of things is not helping matters either, but all considered side effects are quite minimal and reversible prn as desired.> BTW, re taking 1.25 mg Propecia:
> 1. How do you split those tiny hexagonal pills??
> 2. The mfr claims that doses over 1 mg give no add'l benefit (although maybe they're assuming the next step up is 2). Do you find less effectiveness at 1? But with some lessening of sexual impact, perhaps?
> Rick
poster:kregpark@yahoo.com
thread:35977
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010828/msgs/77234.html