Finasteride Weight Gain (Page 5) (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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I've been on it 3 months and have gained 18 pounds. Using it to treat Enlarged prostate. Will be looking into alternate medications to treat the prostate. I've taken off 60 pounds in the last ten years with diet and exercise and now this medication seems to be impacting it.

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@Post #55, same reason it was prescribed for me. I am still on Rapaflo which doesn't shrink the prostate, it only relaxes it. I use it in combination with Beta-sitosterol and the recommended dosage of Urinozinc. It's not perfect, but things are under control and better than that "nasty ride" I was on.

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I am a 73 year old male and have been in good shape my entire life. I exercise regularly and eat wisely (thanks to my wife!). Until 21 months ago we had lived in Colorado at 9100 feet for over 10 years, I was active and healthy but had a serious accident just after Christmas 2012. Since then my BP has been high (for me) at around 140-150/80-90. We moved to Arizona (at 5500 feet) and I found a new doctor who was alarmed at my BP and he prescribed several medications until my BP was in a "healthy" range (120-130/70-80). I might also add that my prostrate has become somewhat enlarged and I pee a lot.

I started with 100mg of Losartan, and later added 5mg of Finasteride and then added 12.5mg of Hydrochlorot (real name is longer). In about 15 months I've gained 15-20 pounds and cannot make a dent in it! It's all around my midsection and is a real flab issue for me. I consulted with my doctor about the weight gain and the possibility that the drugs might somehow be responsible but he assured me that weight gain is not a side effect of any of the drugs for BP I've listed! All he could offer was to cut calories to lose the weight!

I suppose I could do better than I have, but there has essentially been no change in my diet for years! I've cut down on what I eat and drink but nothing seems to have any positive effect. I'm doing more research on the drugs I take and am moving towards using a different diet to control the BP.

Does anyone have success with this approach?

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Saw my dr last week..weight is getting even worse. Did a cbc. Said it was all normal and put me on prozac.. Referred me to a holistic Medical clinic next where she said they do a mouth swab examination for hormones..I am going there next week.

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Went holistic clinic..Paid 400 bucks for consultation and a bunch of yang yang..Drew about 6 viles of blood..Go back at end if the month for results and more money..Beginning to think this is a waste of time and money.

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Glad to read all these posts. Have had the exact same experience. Was a steady 180 for years and put on an extra 15-20 lbs around the waist and butt despite 1 hr exercse per day and a very healthy diet. Went off the fin about 6 weeks ago and the weight has remained on. How long has it taken for others to lose the finasteride tire?

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It's been appx 3 weeks since I discontinued finasteride. Have lost about 2 of the pounds that I had gained while on that crappy drug and feel less bloated. They say that weight gain is not a side effect but leave it up to drug company's to make such a grossly generalized statement.
Regardless, the way I lost 2 of the 8-10 lbs I gained while taking that poison is by following that Fast Diet or 5:2 diet.
in my opinion I'd rather throw in a few extensions than take this crap drug. And as a female, I'd rather see a man sporting a buzz cut or shaved head instead of gaining 10-20 lbs using this stupid drug. Just sayin..

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It was prescribed by a dermatologist. It's fine for post menopausal women to take. Only danger is for women in childbearing years. Could cause birth defects. Does not apply to me.

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Fair enough thanks for the clarification insight into this product is key

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Holy head...I am very curious to hear results from the mouth swab. I am scheduled for the same thing for the same reason...extreme belly weight gain. I may wait until your results are published. Good luck, and thank you for your updates.

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Well u may as well get it done because I am not going back..Not spending anymore for no results..Guys this stuff turns off something biological and it doesn't come back imo...Now they took six viles of blood and didn't do anything but charge me 400 bucks..The mouth swab is an adrenal evaluation, she told me the insurance doesn't pay for that..It was another 250 bucks..Plus on top of all that I have been told on various forums if you do take anything else that messes with hormones like anti estrogen etc....It makes all the symptoms of pfs Worse...I would be careful I think father time is the only thing you can wait and see if it improves..There is nothing they can do for this guys imo..they don't even understand what has happened..But it is definitely a lowering of dht combine with binding of receptors that appears to be irreversible...

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Seem to be experiencing the same weighat gain. I am 25 year old female and plan to have more children in the future. Been taking this for 3 months now along with Amethyst(a birth control pill that stops periods). Was reassured that it was perfectly safe for women; until I gained nearly 20 pounds. I have had my thyroid tested and perfectly healthy. Typically thin with not much effort to stay thin, minimal workouts twice a week along with an active 3 year old. I have also noticed my extreme fatigue as well as increased appetite. Any suggestions would help!

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Lynn- have you had your ferritin and vitamin D levels checked? Mine were very low which could cause hair loss. Have been taking iron and vit D supplements for past 6 months. Also was prescribed finasteride by dermatologist. If you read below I experienced the same weight gain. Cannot seem to get rid of the weight gain even after being off of it for 6 weeks or so. Down just about 2-3 of the 15 lbs that I put on while taking the drug, even with dieting and exercise.

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No wonder so many people are experiencing weight gain if they're taking 2.5mg - 5mg of finasteride. If you're taking it for hair loss you should only be taking 0.5mg - 1mg.

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Why would a dermatologist prescribe 5mg then? That's what she claims is most beneficial for hair loss.

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I do remember reading online that only 1mg should be taken every third or fourth day for hair loss. Some hair loss expert that had done a study suggests that should be the max dose. Funny, my dermatologist started me on half of a 5mg tab then when returning for 3 month eval, she actually suggested that I raise the dose to 5mg/day. So I followed my doctor's "advice"and took the 5mg daily but only for a couple of weeks before stopping them completely. Stopped because during those couple of weeks I had actually gained 4-5 additional pounds after increasing the dose. That was a few months ago and luckily with some strict diet and exercise I have lost all but about 4 lbs of the weight that I gained. I only took the finasteride for a total of maybe 4 months so perhaps I won't have any of the symptoms you spoke of after discontinuing. I think I'm safe since my body has only been recovering since stopping.
So, you don't even recommend even taking the 1mg every 3-4 days? Is this the dose you had taken and still experienced all of the horrible side effects? Just curious because since apparently my Dr. was overprescribing the dosage, I was contemplating trying the lower doseage that you spoke of and that I had read was a sufficient amount to regrow hair. Curious on your thoughts.
Thanks.

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Gained 30 pounds in 9 months. I'm taking 5 mg per day .

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I too have put on about 10 lbs. since starting Finasteride. I work out 6 days a week typically weigh low 160s and now low 170s with no change in diet or activity. I am going off and will discuss an alternative with my doctor.

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Same old s***..Still climbing and nothing different..Up 25lbs now at 186lb..Looks like it never ends after you quit taking this death sentence..Been off for 9 months now.

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Dude..thats why its called Post finasteride syndrome..Most symptoms dont show until after stopping the med..Although i did feel bad while taking it and had to stop..Dr is clueless..They have no idea why this occurs but basicly due to Androgen deprivation..For some reason the receptors dont respond one the dht goes back up and i would also guees all that is also increasing free testosterone and estrogen..

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