Propecia seemed to have caused me Depersonalization Disorder like symptoms (the onset of all these symptoms correlated with beginning Propecia, and became worse on Dutasteride). How many people here have the symptoms listed below? If so, perhaps the following pharmaceutical treatments might help. I know everyone is hesitant to try more drugs but it might be the only option.
"Naloxone was used in a pilot study in 11 patients with chronic DPD. Of the 11 patients, three experienced complete remission, and seven had marked improvement of depersonalization symptoms.[18] … Naltrexone was used in a preliminary study in 14 individuals with DPD.[19] Participants were treated for 6-10 weeks, at a fairly high average dose of 120 milligrams per day. Three individuals were very much improved, another one was much improved, and on average a 30% decrease in depersonalization symptoms were reported. In another study in borderline personality disorder, doses of 200 milligrams per day of naltrexone was reported to decrease general dissociative symptoms over a 2-week period of treatment.[20]
In a retrospective report of 117 subjects with DPD, 18 of 35 benzodiazepine trials were reported to have led to slight or definite improvement.[4] Some individuals anecdotally appear to benefit from clonazepam in particular.[citation needed] These drugs are not known to affect the symptoms of dissociation at all, however they do target the often co-morbid anxiety and stress experienced by those with DPD."
List of symptoms
The following list are symptoms of Depersonalization disorder that have been put together from those who suffer from it. Note those who suffer from Depersonalization disorder might not have all of these symptoms:
• Flavor of meals no longer gives a feeling of pleasure or distaste
• Smell of things no longer gives feeling of pleasure or dislike
• Being able to stare into space much more easily
• No emotions felt when weeping or laughing
• Unable to feel affection towards family and friends
• Feeling detached from bodily pain
• Feeling of being a detached observer of oneself
• Feeling of not having any thoughts at all
• Feeling of being outside the body
• Feeling mechanical and ‘robotic’ when moving
• Own voice sounds remote and unreal
• Unable to feel properly things touched with hands
• Urge to touch oneself to be reassured of bodily existence
• Body feels very light, as if it were floating on air
• See oneself outside, as if looking in a mirror
• Surroundings feel detached or unreal
• Things look flat, as if looking at a picture
• When in a new situation, feeling as if it had happened before
• Recently done things feel as if they took place a long time ago
• Unable to picture things in mind
• Personal memories feel as if one had not been involved in them
• Feeling unreal or cutoff from the world
• Body feels as if it didn’t belong to oneself
• Not feeling frightened in normally frightening situations
• Favorite activities no longer enjoyable
• Feeling as though objects look smaller or further away
• Previously familiar places look unfamiliar