Finasteride Weight Gain (Page 2) (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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Re: Mary (# 123)
I now have thicker hair. Cut the finasteride to 3x a week. Lost three pounds. There's a lesson here. BALANCE.

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Well u are never the same after taking this crap..ur body changes and your hair..plus yes u feel something is wrong all the time mentally..It gets worse after u stop but the mental side improves with time..physically not so much..always diet and exercise as I've been an avid runner for years..read my earlier posts here..stay away from this junk...

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I went from having abs to the michelin man..My belly looks like a roly poly filled bag.

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They prescribe generic finasteride 5mg cause its cheap..You are supposed to cut it in half and take half every other day. You should not be taking 5mg daily..1MG daily is for hair loss..I did take 1mg propecia brand name daily for awhile but cut back to only a couple times a week I felt like s*** and side effects were very strange..Now having said that its only after you STOP taking it that the physical changes really start and you gain a s*** ton of weight..And what hair you have also changes in texture and appearance..This s*** should be removed from the market before ruining more peoples lives and suicides etc...I*****s prescribing this have no clue..

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I started taking Finasteride about 2 years ago and noticed many of the symptoms described in this thread, especially the weight gain and loss of libido. I've been active all my life and have maintained my fitness and weight all of these years. I finally stopped taking Finasteride about 5 months ago and started working with a personal trainer about 4 months ago. The entire first hour was about diet. NOT dieting, but eating sensibly. The weight gain started to slowly reverse, but then I had an injury and had to stop ALL workouts for about a month. I discovered that the key for me was to 1) Limit my total sugar intake, 2) Significantly limit alcohol consumption (I don't drink much anyway), and 3) Eat sensible portions. It really isn't dieting in the usual sense in that it really required very little change and certainly no hunger pains. I continued to lose weight EVEN WITHOUT the exercise. Please bear in mind that I was about 190 lbs. about all of my adult life (I'm now 74). I shot up to almost 210 on Finasteride. I'm now at 193 lbs. and my target weight of 185 is in sight and attainable. Your situations are very likely different, but the key for me was how and what I was eating.

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I took it for appx 4 months and gained 7-8 lbs. I did lose most of the weight after a few months but did not lose the spare tire around my waist bit appears as if the finasteride changed my body shape permanently. Weight came off everywhere else except for belly and lower back fat which I never had before taking the drug. I've been off of the drug for over a year.
That's my story. Perhaps someone else has had better luck.

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I am so mad. I couldn't figure out why I gained 6 pounds in the last three months and the only thing that I could attribute it to is this medicine

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I experienced a weight gain and have been working hard to get rid of excess pounds. I'm finding it's taking a combination of very conscientious eating (i.e., no sugar and smaller portions) and exercise to lose the weight. The eating is my primary culprit. I had been taking Finasteride for about 2 years and stopped about 8 months ago. The first 10 pounds came off relatively quickly but these last 10 are proving to be very difficult. Prior to starting F my weight was very steady for years but went up after starting it.

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Re: Mayn (# 125)
That's BS since I monitor every bite, am living on about 1000 calories, do the gym and hour 4-5 times a week and STILL have the problem. These are the things one must consider with meds - you can gain weight on otherwise totally healthy life activities. To say smugly that's not it is not helpful.

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I have been on Finasteride for approximately 6 months for prostate issues. It has worked wonders! BUT- I have gained about 7 lbs. and have developed flab in my stomach. I am a workout freak and am at the gym 7 days per week. I do a minimum of 70 minutes cardio per day and lift weights 3 times per week. I read where weight gain is not a side effect, but I am an exception. My calorie intake is less than 1700 per day. I have no choice but to stay on Finasteride so I will take the good with the bad.

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There is no doubt in my mind the Finasteride is the cause of my weight gain. I'm on a 5 mg dosage and have been on it for about 6 months for prostate issues. In that respect it is really done its job and my prostate has shrunk to the point where I no longer have severe issues in that regard. I am a workout fanatic and do approximately 70 minutes of cardio everyday at the gym. In addition I have reduced my calorie intake and I have still put on about 7 lb and I have noticeable belly fat. There's no way I can stop this medicine because of the benefits for the prostate so I will just keep working out and keeping my calorie intake lower. It is definitely Finasteride which is the cause and nobody will convince me otherwise.

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Thought it was just me! 6 months, 15 lbs! I shudder to think what my weight would be without reducing my caloric intake.

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I have been off for 6 months.. Weight goes up even for awhile after.. now my stomach swelling is decreasing slowly.. Hair sheds constantly but still thick..this stuff is worthless.. ruins your hair and body...Should be taken off the market.

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Just did a 2 day water fast and it still like jello all around the middle..

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Hi
I had non Hodgkins lymphoma in October 2014. After chemo and lots of drugs I am in remission.
During the treatment I found I had an enlarged prostate and was put on finasteride to combat the symptoms. The only drugs I take now are penicillin twice a day and one finasteride pill per day.
During the treatment I lost 3 and a half stone. Since treatment ended I have put on 4 stone and still rising. I'm now 19 stone aged 53. Didn't occur to me it may be the finasteride. I'm coming off it today!

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That's what I thought..Then after a few weeks off it starts going the other way..Gets worse but I am a male..might not in your case..

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I've stopped for the same reason. Don't need a distorted figure that I cannot control. Would rather have a few less hairs. Or a wig if need be one day. Worried about this for too long. Choosing the lesser of two evils.

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I have that in a shampoo I use but it's not enough...
In combination with rogain, 2% nizoral and laser treatment I actually have so much hair someone thought I had a wig on.

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Well nice to see a lot of replies anyway..I am seeing my dr next week and hopefully an endocrinologist after..All I noticed were mainly negatives taking this junk..Before this I had a ton of energy and felt good about myself..While taking my hair began falling all over everything and stomach swelled and weight went up..After stoping it's only gotten worse..I feel bad physically and mentally..My hair appears sort of alien like and even the texture and density of the hair itself has changed..Weight gain, deppression lack of energy and change in hair mainly what I have noticed..I also developed quite an ache on my left side or abdomen region due to this crap....

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WENT To Dr today. GOT CBC and physical..She's gonna call back and has referred me to some hormone dr..Weight is getting worse and worse..

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