So anxiety hit me very hard during the two years that I took finasteride. As I didn’t realize the finasteride was probably causing the anxiety, I got somewhat hooked on a benzo (that I would take at night to relax and get to bed) towards the end of my stint on Propecia. I have stopped taking it, and haven’t used them regularly for about a year, but I’m wondering what sort of bad combination finasteride + Lorazepam (1 mg) might have been. Anyone here have a similar experience? My brain fog, depression, and listlessness are still the killer symptoms for me a year and a half off the drug. It’s very hard being around friends and family and being empty-headed and bummed out. I know sleep is a big factor, but I’m wondering if I can try and tackle the depression and at least make things seem a little better. Depression runs in my family, so it has always been there, but maybe it has just gotten a lot worse. And honestly I feel like things are getting worse for me as time wears on. I’m wondering if an anti-depressant that might help with sleep could be my only possible band-aid, as I am not getting better. I know everyone here (including myself) is very anti prescription drugs after this fucking mess that we’ve been put in, but I could afford to lose the rest of my minimal sex drive if I could kind of feel other parts of life again. Suggestions? Thanks.
Keep in mind that epigenetic change (damage) is accumulative. Taking an SSRI or anything which lowers the cellular level of androgens will almost definately makes matters worse epigenetically.
I definately understand the depression problem. In my opinion big pharma created a market for these drugs. There are studies that show raising your levels of niacin is equally as effective as any SSRI and if you’re able to mix in some exercise (if possible) all the better. Should probably add Omega 3’s daily if not already doing so. Try to steer clear of stimulants that will amp up your anxiety.
My suggestion - Get off benzo’s asap. They cause the very symptoms people (and M.D.'s stupidly) use them to treat. Unless one gets ever increasing dosages they produce ferocious sleeplessness and/or anxiety. I knew Ativan could be problematic but 30 tablets over 60 days and I was hooked. On discontinuation, I didn’t sleep for 3 days (and I mean not one second of sleep). I don’t know the interaction between Benzo and Finasteride and I don’t think ANY M.D. has a concrete answer (there isn’t one definitive), but my impression is they don’t interact well even post Finasteride. Search for ‘benzo tolerance withdrawal’ and you’ll find the relevant insights.
I took for a few days Zolpidemtartrat (not a real benzo) This realy cured my sleep, I´m able to have a deep sleep now and this is persistent. First night I went off, I could not fall asleep. the next day was horror. But I tryed to bring my sleep back to a normal pattern and its working.
Good you were able to get off it in a couple days. The manufacturer markets that med Ambien as a ‘non benzo’ but it has essentially the same properties and dynamics as a benzo, affecting the GABA receptors.