[jannet.duff]

I notice going through some of the threads that some posters are taking finesteride, i was also taking it for @ 2 years. I found undocumented side effects that creeped up on me. I no longer take the finesteride and the effects ( Luckly ) have started to diminish.

I will post a few links in this thread so you can make up your own conclusions.


https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/side-...eride.html

https://www.foxnews.com/health/hair-loss...depression

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/th...fog.47743/

Also googling "finesteride and suicidal thoughts," " finesteride and brain fog" " finesteride and panic attacks" " finesteride and heart palpitations "

For the record, I was having severe heart palpitations, that radiated to my left arm ( RE: mimicked a heart attack ), severe panic attacks and rampant suicidal thoughts.  I have never had this issue before taking finesteride, as i slowly weaned myself down the above issues diminished accordingly.

[The First Aria]

I notice going through some of the threads that some posters are taking finesteride, i was also taking it for @ 2 years. I found undocumented side effects that creeped up on me. I no longer take the finesteride and the effects ( Luckly ) have started to diminish.

I will post a few links in this thread so you can make up your own conclusions.


https://onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/side-...eride.html

https://www.foxnews.com/health/hair-loss...depression

https://www.hairlosstalk.com/interact/th...fog.47743/

Also googling "finesteride and suicidal thoughts," " finesteride and brain fog" " finesteride and panic attacks" " finesteride and heart palpitations "

For the record, I was having severe heart palpitations, that radiated to my left arm ( RE: mimicked a heart attack ), severe panic attacks and rampant suicidal thoughts.  I have never had this issue before taking finesteride, as i slowly weaned myself down the above issues diminished accordingly.

I found out almost the same thing.  I've been on Fin for over 2 years.  I think at this time, it's a med I can/should get rid of.  I started taking it to slow or reverse balding, but I feel that since I have very little T in my system nowadays, it's a risk and money waster for me to continue.

[Katie]

I`v been on 5mg/day finasteride for nearly 3 years now and haven`t had any problems, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks stopped as soon as I came out and started trasition, the brain fog though... I`m really not sure about that?
I`d need a better definition of "fog" really, but I Do spend an incredible amount of time daydreaming since transition, and I`m really ditzy at times, something I was never like before.
I can lose Hours at a time just daydreaming, i sleep really well now so it isn`t that, I don`t drink or smoke or take any sort of meds other than my HRT, so it`s not that. my creativity has gone through the roof! but I have less interest in Technical stuff that I used to really love before, now it`s like I`ll design it for you, but you`ll have to build it yourself! whereas I used to do both before. Brain fog???

[PaulaJ]

Was thinking about trying this, I may take a second look.

PM +SP + minoxidil seem to be working, at least at keeping what I have. Maybe I'll just stick with that...

[Beverley50]

I`v been on 5mg/day finasteride for nearly 3 years now and haven`t had any problems, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks stopped as soon as I came out and started trasition, the brain fog though... I`m really not sure about that?
I`d need a better definition of "fog" really, but I Do spend an incredible amount of time daydreaming since transition, and I`m really ditzy at times, something I was never like before.
I can lose Hours at a time just daydreaming, i sleep really well now so it isn`t that, I don`t drink or smoke or take any sort of meds other than my HRT, so it`s not that. my creativity has gone through the roof! but I have less interest in Technical stuff that I used to really love before, now it`s like I`ll design it for you, but you`ll have to build it yourself! whereas I used to do both before. Brain fog???

Can you buy finasteride over the counter, or is it a prescription drug? Secondly, 5mg is a very small daily does. Does such a small dose warrant taking it at all?

[The First Aria]

I`v been on 5mg/day finasteride for nearly 3 years now and haven`t had any problems, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks stopped as soon as I came out and started trasition, the brain fog though... I`m really not sure about that?
I`d need a better definition of "fog" really, but I Do spend an incredible amount of time daydreaming since transition, and I`m really ditzy at times, something I was never like before.
I can lose Hours at a time just daydreaming, i sleep really well now so it isn`t that, I don`t drink or smoke or take any sort of meds other than my HRT, so it`s not that. my creativity has gone through the roof! but I have less interest in Technical stuff that I used to really love before, now it`s like I`ll design it for you, but you`ll have to build it yourself! whereas I used to do both before. Brain fog???

Can you buy finasteride over the counter, or is it a prescription drug? Secondly, 5mg is a very small daily does. Does such a small dose warrant taking it at all?

It's a Rx.  But I've heard peeps get it also from "Black Markets" as well.  It's a fairly potent drug and it should be used only under Doctor's knowledge.

[Jessica4581000]

I`v been on 5mg/day finasteride for nearly 3 years now and haven`t had any problems, suicidal thoughts and panic attacks stopped as soon as I came out and started trasition, the brain fog though... I`m really not sure about that?
I`d need a better definition of "fog" really, but I Do spend an incredible amount of time daydreaming since transition, and I`m really ditzy at times, something I was never like before.
I can lose Hours at a time just daydreaming, i sleep really well now so it isn`t that, I don`t drink or smoke or take any sort of meds other than my HRT, so it`s not that. my creativity has gone through the roof! but I have less interest in Technical stuff that I used to really love before, now it`s like I`ll design it for you, but you`ll have to build it yourself! whereas I used to do both before. Brain fog???

Can you buy finasteride over the counter, or is it a prescription drug? Secondly, 5mg is a very small daily does. Does such a small dose warrant taking it at all?

If you are in the states, you can try to go to forhims.com. There you will fill out a form and converse electronically with a Dr. If all goes well he will prescribe you minooxydil for hair loss and finasteride 30 x 1 mg per month, along with shampoo and vitamins. 44$ per month.

[Lotus]

Personally, i've found finasteride does in fact add depression from my experience. Add brain fog too, although i think of the blue fog, meaning feeling blue (depression) ...and it's a blue pill (i know silly right).   anyways lol, here's information about FIn & depression.

Here's some information from a blogger about Finasteride (btw, excellent work by the blogger, link is posted below). One important distinction about Finasteride is in the highlighted text, perhaps mediating GABA-A modulation is something worth looking into.

allopregnanolone (ALLO) and Tetrahidroteoxicorticosterone (THDOC)
(allosteric modulators) of GABA-A receptors,

The way finasteride causes post finasteride syndrome in certain individuals is unknown. Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT), but also causes changes in testosterone levels, LH and FSH. 1 Finasteride also blocks the biosynthesis of various neuro steroids such as allopregnanolone (ALLO) and Tetrahidroteoxicorticosterone (THDOC), which are isoforms of the enzyme 5 alpha reductase. ALLO and THDOC are positive modulators (allosteric modulators) of GABA-A receptors, which have the same mechanism of action of anxiolytic drugs such as benzodiazepines. 2, 3 Finasteride has been shown to inhibit the biosynthesis of these neuro steroids, which can be one of the causes for the emotional and sexual symptoms reported. 4 However, some symptoms, such as muscle wasting, loss of body hair and the continuation of symptoms long after the medication has been discontinued, have not been explained yet. Because some patients with SPF have normal or high levels of testosterone - but at the same time a complete clinical state of hypogonadism - it has been hypothesized that these individuals have developed a form of resistance to androgen hormones. 5

__

(More on GABA AND THE GABA-A RECEPTOR later) in the meantime I'll link this website which is using alternative methods (great site btw).
Anxiety attack symptoms
http://www.progesteronetherapy.com/anxie...z3bpcZFE2P
________________________________________

Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts Among Former Users of Finasteride With Persistent Sex
http://www.psychiatrist.com/JCP/article/...n0911.aspx

New research, published in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, finds that men who developed persistent sexual side effects while on finasteride (Propecia), a drug commonly used for male pattern hair loss, have a high prevalence of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts.

Conclusions: Clinicians and potential users of finasteride should be aware of the potential risk of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts. The preliminary findings of this study warrant further research with controlled studies.


Studies

"Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts Among Former Users of Finasteride With Persistent Sexual Side Effects. " 
Michael S. Irwig, MD. Journal of Clinical Psychiatry, 2012 DOI: 10.4088/JCP.12m07887
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/201...101330.htm

"A new look at the 5alpha reductase inhibitor Finasteride" (2006):
CNS Drug Rev. 2006 Spring;12(1):53-76.
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=202


"5alpha-reductase inhibitors and erectile dysfunction: Connection" (2008 study):
Erdemir F, Harbin A, Hellstrom WJ.
http :/ / www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=19090946


Finasteride induced depression:
In the study, a controlled group of 128 men, with a daily dose of 1mg per day, had clear and significant increase in depression, verified by BDI and HADS in patients taking finasteride.

Rahimi-Ardabili B, R Pourandarjani, Habibollahi P Mualeki A (2006).
"Finasteride induced depression: a prospective study"
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17026771

Finasteride robustly increases anxiety and depression in animals:
Römer B , Gass P (December 2010). "Finasteride-induced depression: new insights into possible pathomechanisms." Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21122055

Depression associated to the use of Finasteride
In this study, using 1mg dosage, Finasteride induced moderate to severe depression in 19 of the 23 participants, or 83%, including notably, all female subjects. University of Milan: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12433...t=Abstract

"Adverse Side Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors Therapy: Persistent Diminished Libido and Erectile Dysfunction and Depression in a Subset of Patients"
Published on December  2010 on The Journal of Sexual Medicine
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.11...x/abstract
Authors:
Abdulmaged M. Traish PhD
Dr. Andre T. Guay MD
Dr. D Michael Zitzmann, PhD
Dr. John Hassani MA.
Michael L. Hansen MD


"Finasteride and Neuroactive Steroids."
The study concluded that there was a drastic reduction of neuro active steroids after a period of four months, with controlled groups that used doses of Finasteride 1mg and 5 mg. Observe the decrease in allopregnanolone (-303.1%).


"Finasteride and Neuroactive Steroids."
Published in Prague Medical Report m 2009 (Vol. 110)

Study indicates finasteride inhibits the conversion of hormones into neurosteroids in the brain. These neurosteroids have antidepressant, antianxiety and anticonvulsive effects.

Among them Allopregnanolone and Tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone.
"A new vision on Finasteride"
 Department of veterans, Portland, USA.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov / pubmed/16834758? Dopt = Abstract

Male infertility associated with the use of finasteride.
Study of the human reproduction unit,  Albert Einstein Hospital, Sao Paulo -
http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0041-87812004000400009&tlng=es&lng=en&nrm=iso

Links of various studies relating finasteride use to infertility, sperm motility problems and fail in spermatogenesis:
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=245

Study with photographic evidence that the shrinkage of the prostate induced by finasteride is caused through cell death (apoptosis).
Dalhousie University, Halifax, Canada:
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/81/2/814.abstract

Study proves that finasteride alters levels of testosterone, DHT, hormone luteinizing, follicle stimulating hormone.
Uroclínica from the Health Ministry, Ankara, Turkey:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/95895...t=Abstract


Finasteride alters cholesterol levels after 6 months of treatment.
University of Parma,
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=10996351&dopt=Citation

Chemical castration effect related to the use of finasteride.
Chart of the American Environmental Agency EPA
http://www.epa.gov/comptox/bosc_review/2...Barton.pdf

Links to various studies about finasteride, both 1mg and 5mg:
http://www.propeciahelp.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=8&sid=511e2201fa63bd8c5ee8ad81f4ca7e4b

http://finasteridesyndrome.blogspot.com/p/studies.html