Just stopped Finasteride...

[Doigie84]

Have just stopped using finasteride after 3 years on and off usage. had to stop due to persistant mental and psychological symptoms (everything seems fine sexualy) which I have been experiencing almost every day the past month. This has included general brain fog, lack of focus, mood swings, tiredness, memory loss and generally feeling depressed and anxious. I knew of and experienced these symptoms before but tried to ride them out due to the successfull results in keeping my hair. More recently though I have been developing this horrible numbing sensation in what feels like the centre of my brain every day for past week or so.

I believe this recent bout of psychological problems has been triggered by the upheaval of moving to a new city and starting 2 new part time jobs. I am incredibly anxious and nervous and i’m struggling to operate within my new work environment and social circles. I knew I couldn’t go on like this so eventually brought myself around to researching into this and found this website (and many others) of peoples stories and the true dangers of taking this drug

I’m very worried that I have caused myself permament brain damage by taking this drug for almost 3 years… I had stopped before on 2 occasions and the side effects seemed to go away…I just hope I can do it again.

I’m so glad I have found this website and that i’m not alone in trying to beat this horrible affliction. If anyone has a simmilar story or can suggest anything to help me in the early stages of quitting the drug, then please dont hesitate to reply.

[Mew]

Have just stopped using finasteride after 3 years on and off usage.

Welcome to the forum.

had to stop due to persistant mental and psychological symptoms (everything seems fine sexualy) which I have been experiencing almost every day the past month. This has included general brain fog, lack of focus, mood swings, tiredness, memory loss and generally feeling depressed and anxious.

Yes, many of us have experienced exact same, for reasons outlined below. Review the MENTAL SIDE EFFECTS section for more stories and info on this.

I believe this recent bout of psychological problems has been triggered by the upheaval of moving to a new city and starting 2 new part time jobs. I am incredibly anxious and nervous and i’m struggling to operate within my new work environment and social circles.

As mentioned in your other post, while the above may be stressful life situations, you are probably looking to blame the wrong scapegoat.

Finasteride has been documented to directly affect mental health via its inhibition of 5AR-neurosteroid metabolism. The drug inhibits Allopregnanolone (low levels correlated with depression, cognitive dysfunction, mood disorders) and THDOC (low levels correlated with anxiety, seizures, panic attacks), both vital neurosteroids which normally act on the brain’s GABA-A receptors/GABAergic system. By inhibiting these neurosteroids’ synthesis, the drug affects cognitive function in a negative manner.

Review:

Dr. Alan Jacobs’ (Neuroendocrinologist) blog posts about Finasteride side effects:
blog.alanjacobsmd.com/alan-jacobs-mds-blog/2010/04/a-neuroendocrine-approach-to-finasteride-side-effects-in-men.html
blog.alanjacobsmd.com/alan-jacobs-mds-blog/2010/06/the-plot-thickens-along-with-the-hair-when-you-mess-with-dihydrotestosterone.html

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I know exactly the symptoms you are describing because I went through it all myself.

I had stopped before on 2 occasions and the side effects seemed to go away…I just hope I can do it again.

Since you have just stopped the medication, odds are likely in your favor your issues will resolve in the coming weeks/months. We here with ongoing problems are in the minority of men who get side effects, compared to the many others who do not or who quit and find they resolve.

If anyone has a simmilar story or can suggest anything to help me in the early stages of quitting the drug, then please dont hesitate to reply.

Eat healthy, don’t overly stress your body or mind, get plenty of sleep, supplement with omega 3s if you don’t eat fish. Basic health rules but still good to adhere to.

As each person’s genetics, hormonal profile and response to inhibition of 5AR/DHT/neurosteroids is different, your body will determine how it recovers after quitting the medication. The fact you have stopped 2x previously and your issues have resolved is encouraging. If you are concerned, get bloodtests as outlined in the site’s FAQ to see what effect the drug was having on your hormones, so you’ll have something to compare against should you have issues down the road.

[Doigie84]

Well its been roughly 10 days now since I have stopped taking finasteride. Mentally I feel a lot better, the brain fog has lifted and my general mood seems to be a lot better as well. However I seem to have had a swap in side effects now…whilst taking the drug I didn’t have any sexual side effects…strong Libeido, erection etc…just mental and psychological problems really. Now that I have stopped the drug I am fine mentally, however my Libeido has definitely lessened with weaker erections. Dont know if its related but past 2 nights have been struggling to go to sleep as well.

Is this possibly due to the shock to my system from stopping the drug so suddenly? I didn’t try to wean myself of it as I just didn’t want anything more to do with it. Has this swapping of symptoms ever happened with other people when stopping the drug, and what are the chances this is just a passing phase?

Also should I look to start weaning myself of the drug or would going back now do more damage than good?

[Mew]

Also should I look to start weaning myself of the drug or would going back now do more damage than good?

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