Finasteride Weight Gain (Page 3) (Top voted first)

I have been taking finasteride for about two years now, and it seems to me that I have developed increased abdominal flab. Thankfully, no breast development (yet!), but I definitely feel an increase in size around my waist and below. The literature available suggests that weight gain is not a side effect [1]; however, it appears to me that it might be, as I have gained about 7 to 8 pounds. I would be interested in hearing about others' experiences in this regard. Thank you.

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So you're off the medication and still gaining weight? This is wild! What does the doctor say?

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I had exactly the same thing with a lot of weight gain.

I used this drug about ten years ago (am 42 now) and had no side effects. Came off it before trying to start a family. This time round I gained weight when I should have been losing it (was more physically active), have stopped taking it for about 6 weeks now and am still putting on weight. Very disappointed, this side effect should be on the list of possible side effects right next to libido issues etc.

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Hi guy's, I have been on Fin for about 6 years. It has really helped my hair loss and have thicker hair than I did 10 years ago but I do have the same beer belly look. I am really slim, tall and weigh only 70 kg's but I cannot lose the belly and I have noticed I have cellulite around my boobs. Finasteride definitely is a hormonal drug because I have noticed I don't have any back hair any more and have bisexual thoughts which I have never had in my life of 40 years.

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So have been off Propecia for 5 months now. The weight gain has stopped and now my body is heading back into a normal state - losing weight and everything seems normal.
I won't be using Propecia again, rather be bald than have my weight go out of control.

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Another month and only worsening...No better...Most symptoms appear to be from an estrogen dominance condition..I have still heard of people going on for years like this in this state with no improvement..Some have tried a clomid and Letrozole combination with some success.. At this point I wished I could find anything that just help "some" with these symptoms..This is a nightmare to watch what happens to your body and hair..My hair is what some have dubbed "old lady hair" or what I have called "straw hair" or "cartoon hair"..Complete change in body, hair, mind, no energy, etc..

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Putting on weight daily...hate this drug, very irritable

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I, too gained several pounds. At least ten pounds.

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I have been on Finasteride for about a month now. Have started a steady weight gain with no change in diet or activity. I have noticed about 2 Lbs gain per week. I am too big to start with and this does not help. I am 75 so I will stop this and let the prostate do what it wants.

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Well I have been taking Finasteride since 2/1/2017 and I have gained weight and growing out of my work uniform. So I decided to look up and see if this drug has caused weight gain and as everyone who has been taking this drug has gained weight by taking this drug so I'm stopping now today for 4/14/2017. Also on 2/15/2017 I have had a hair transplant and I am using the Igrow helmet that has cold red laser lights that has also been very beneficial. Anyhow I wish everybody success in getting their hair loss under control.

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I just asked my doctor the same thing. They said adjust my diet but didn't actually admit that the finasterid had that effect.
I did some of my own research and it metabolizes testoserone. So There is the belly fat. And the weight is hard to lose because the testoserone is gone. Thats kind of the male engine.
So yes it does, in my 67 year old opinion!

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I am 43. I started taking Finasteride 4 months ago. At the same time I started cardio, yoga and cutting down on calories. In the beginning, I lost just about 4 pounds (198 to 194) in about 2 month. I continued my low calorie diet, yoga and 30 minute cardio and expected my weight to get lower. Nothing happened. Now I am 196lbs since last month.

I will stop Finasteride and Minoxidil and see if I can continue to lose weight.

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Weight gain is a very very simple concept. If you have gained weight you are eating above your BMR on a consistent basis. If you gain 5 lbs then lower your calorie intake and monitor it. Finasteride is not fully understood so yes an impact is very possible, but this does not change the principles of weight loss and weight gain. Every person has a tendency to store fat in certain places, it is part of your genetic make up. Stomach area, love handles, upper leg are common places. Age will also affect your metabolism, a 35 year old mans BMR will decrease by the time he is 45, meaning his calorie intake must decrease also if he wishes to maintain the same weight. 'It must be the finasteride' is a very overused statement........

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And if you are a female, you should not be taking finasteride

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Re: Mayn (# 126)
It's used to stop hair thinning and is approved for that in women. It works. But those new 10 pounds peeve me no end.

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Re: Placebo (# 1)

I am a 59 year old WOMAN I started taking Finasteride March 10 2021. To help with hair loss.I have weighed 150 pounds or less for more than 13 years. I have gained 30 pounds and I have a huge fat ring around my waist! I have not changed even one single thing in my lifestyle or diet. My hair has returned but honestly I would really rather that I had just worn a ball cap or bought a wig!! You should see the looks on my family,friends and acquaintance faces when they see me since the first part of April??? FREAKY

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Finasteride has without a doubt caused unusual rapid weight gain for me. I'm a skinny 47 year old and have been taking 1mg daily for the past 2 months. Over the past 30 years, I've gained weight at a rate of 10 lbs. every 15 years, but in past 2 months I've gained 7 lbs., all in my lower abdomen. I've never had a belly in my life and was wondering why suddenly all my pants were too tight around my waist when I sat down. After visiting this forum, I've decided to stop taking this drug.

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Re: D9 (# 3)

I started taking finasteride 4 months ago, after having just lost 24 lbs.
I was at my perfect weight for a male in his late 50's. A month ir two after I started this medication I started gaining weight...while maintaining my healthy eating habits.

I have an appointment for a follow-up/refill in two days...I'm going to cancel. I just started to wonder why I was going weight in my gut again...and decided to look up this medication. I can attest to the fact...YES...expect weight gain to begin 6 to 8 weeks after starting....and expect about 15 lbs. Not worth the weight gain...especially if your hair loss is minor. In 4 months I have not noticed any real change in my hair...and should be noticing something by now.

I also feel less energetic and a but depressed....much more since starting....lethargic. .

Hope this helps..

Donnie

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33 year old male, been on finasteride for 3 months. Have gained 2kg on weight.
I had been bulking at the gym prior for about a year, and made about 10kg in mass.
However I got stuck at 80kg and found it impossible to put more weight on until I started finasteride that is.

I have also started valdoxan for the last 1.5 months, could be the combination of antidepressant and finasteride??

How do people take their finasteride? I take mine before bed after a big dinner, maybe it's better in the morning?

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Yes I gained ten lbs. and my boys say I have man boobs!

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I take Proscar (Canadian version of Propecia). For more than ten years I have been trying to get really fit but I can never bulk up my shoulders and I always have a muffin top. Looking at me you'd say I'm thin, maybe fit, but if you just saw my waist without clothes and nothing else you would think I'd never set foot in a gym. I also tried calorie deficiting and went from 180 lbs to 151 in about 5 months or so. I'm a 33yo 5'9" male. And the outcome of that was I looked to skinny - but still had flab around the waist - love handles, belly - just smaller. I've tried low carb, I've tried interval sprinting, I've tried lifting to failure once a week. I maintain a healthy weight, but not the physique appropriate for the beach - never!

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