What are the worst side-effects from taking finasteride -- the treatment pill for male baldness? 

Going bald is definitely the worst experience a guy can go through in life. It can deplete your confidence and completely turn your life upside-down. 

Some men start going bald in their mid twenties, which is younger than the average age. Some start noticing hair loss particularly around the crown of the head, and others notice a receding hairline.  In many cases, men can experience both.

It is very common for a man to decide to see a doctor about his hair loss, and in most cases, the doctor will prescribe a medically approved pill called finasteride -- labelled as Propecia. The doctor will warn the patient of potential risks and negative side-effects from using the pill.

In many cases, men do not experience initial side-effects from taking finasteride. But in many other cases, men can experience some quite horrific side-effects from using the treatment. We often get asked about the potential side-effects from using finasteride. In fact, the most common question we get asked is: Will finasteride give me side-effects, and if so, what?

It's near impossible to answer such a question accurately, because results vary from person to person, and while some men might not notice anything untoward, there are other men who may experience the complete opposite.

So, here, we go through real life cases of the negative side-effects some men have experienced from taking finasteride. This is the worst case scenario, so don't be too alarmed -- however, the risks are there, and the consequences can be quite damaging.

Enlarged Breasts (Man Boobs)

I took finasteride for the most part of a year, and apart from the odd minor headache, there didn't seem to be much going on in the way of side-effects. That's until I hit the six month mark, and that's when I started noticing my chest changing shape. Man boobs started to appear, which absolutely devastated me, and after seeing a doctor, I was told that is was due to the finasteride messing with my hormones.  I came off it immediately, but my chest still hasn't gone back to what it was before I started taking the pills.
- Trevor, 32. 

The cause: Anti-hair loss drugs cause a decrease in the conversion of testosterone to a really powerful form of testosterone, called dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. So it's an anti-testosterone effect, which can lead to the enlargement of breasts.

Low Sex Drive

I always had a decent sex drive in my early twenties, but that all changed when I started taking finasteride. My sex drive declined more and more to the point where I just wasn't interested in sex any more. It worried me, because I was still a young man, with plenty to offer.  Anyway, I did stop taking finasteride when got into a relationship.  The sex drive has picked up somewhat since, but it's still not quite what it was before I started taking the drug.
- David, 28.

Erectile Dysfunction 

I was fully aware of the risks involved with finasteride, but that didn't stop me taking it.  I guess I was just too worried about my hair to really care about anything else. I took the finasteride for a good few months, and during that time I was noticing things that were clearly the result of taking the pills.  My erections were weaker, my penis looked smaller, and my semen looked very watery - sort of diluted.  It got to a point where it left me with no other option than to stop taking the drug.  My penis seems to have recovered since, but my semen still appears to be watery, somewhat. 
- Paul, 35.

The cause: Numerous studies suggest that the hair-restoration drug can have damaging effects on a man's sexual health, including decreased sex drive, erectile problems and a decreased volume of ejaculation. The most frequently reported adverse reactions to Propecia (finasteride) affect men's sexual health. This is due to the alternation of hormones and lowering of testosterone.

Depression

I began my finasteride journey at the age of 30. I noticed my hair thinning, so I decided to take the drug on the advice of my doctor.  I was always a happy, upbeat kind of guy, but having used finasteride for eight months, that all changed.  I began to get depressed, with negative thoughts swirling around  my head constantly.  I started getting paranoid, and my vision used to get foggy at times. It was something that built up gradually, getting worse and worse, and that's when I decided to stop using it, because my health is far more important than my hair.
- Alan, 32 

Skin Rash

I went from hair loss problems to outbreaks of spots within just a few weeks! I've never had any sort of skin problem, not even as a teenager. My skin was always flawless, but then, after using Propecia for just a few weeks, I started getting spots on my cheeks, and the outbreak just kept getting worse, quickly. I couldn't tell if the pills were doing anything for my hair, because I was so mortified about my skin. So, I dropped Propecia straight away.  I hadn't even used it for a month!

What are the safe alternatives to finasteride? 

Multi-vitamin hair supplements offer a safe and natural alternative to finasteride. It is unlikely that such supplements will regrow lost hair, but they can help slow down and prevent hair fall, particularly in men suffering from early stages of baldness and thinning hair.

Results will vary from person to person, but multi-vitamin hair supplements are considered to be absolutely safe, and free from any negative side-effects.