My first post - Long term Finasteride user with new symptoms

[skewzme]

I started taking generic Finasteride about 8 or 9 years ago. I am 53 years old now.
About a year ago I began having anxiety attacks and mood problems, but never made the association with Finasteride because I’d been taking it so long without any issues. Most discussion is about sexual side effects, but I’ve never had that problem so I figured I was ok with the drug. I did experience some very minor testicular pain a few times but it was mild and didn’t last.

With respect to mood disorder - Looking back, I remember having periods where I was overwhelming happy and positive about everything, but over the last year, maybe two, I’ve had increasing moods of depression and anxiety attacks, even suicidal thoughts ( don’t panic, I’m not ready to do that). Brain fog also. Recently very bad brain fog. Getting confused very easily, not understanding the flow of a conversation. I am a musician, and I forget songs that I’ve recently learned. I don’t forget how to play them, but I forget the melodies and patterns and have to go back and listen again to be able to perform the songs. Inability to make decisions is also something I fight. The brain fog and anxiety is the worst.

I attributed the brain fog to reaching my 50’s, but now I’m not so sure. A couple of questions -

• is there any way to determine whether the Finasteride is the reason for my mood swings and brain fog?
• Why would these symptoms not have occurred sooner? This long makes me wonder if these symptoms are related to other things
• I stopped taking the drug about a week ago. Should I reduce my intake slowly instead of going cold turkey?
• What about Minoxidill? Have any previous Finasteride users here switched to that with good results?
  I look forward to any feedback.

Thanks

[Mew]

• is there any way to determine whether the Finasteride is the reason for my mood swings and brain fog?

The drug inhibits neurosteroids in the brain which have been associated with cognitive function, memory, anxiety, depression and other areas.

Review the main page of propeciahelp.com – note the articles which discuss depression and anxiety as a result of Finasteride’s neurosteroid inhibiting effects:

• DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND SUICIDAL THOUGHTS AMONG FORMER USERS OF FINASTERIDE WITH PERSISTENT SEXUAL SIDE EFFECTS
• 5α-REDUCTASES IN HUMAN PHYSIOLOGY: AN UNFOLDING STORY
• AN OLD PROBLEM WITH A NEW CAUSE - 5 ALPHA REDUCTASE INHBITORS AND PERSISTENT SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION

Further, the drug manufacturer also added DEPRESSION as a possible side effect to the product labeling. I’d say this should provide plenty of proof for you.

• Why would these symptoms not have occurred sooner? This long makes me wonder if these symptoms are related to other things

Could be genetic predisposition, hormone metabolism or some other differentiating factor, or it could just be that it took this long for your body to start feeling the effects. There’s really no way to know but some men can tolerate the drug’s effects better than others.

That said, since you stopped taking the drug 1 week ago, you should notice a difference over coming months in your mental state which should give you an indication of how it was affecting you.

• I stopped taking the drug about a week ago. Should I reduce my intake slowly instead of going cold turkey?

It’s not really possible to ween off due to drug’s near flat dose response such that nearly all dosages inhibit 5AR2/DHT at same rate. Most physicians simply advise to stop taking the drug, however anecdotally we do not know if stopping or trying to ween makes any difference regardless.

• What about Minoxidill? Have any previous Finasteride users here switched to that with good results?

This isn’t a hair loss forum. If you are still concerned about your hair, post on hair loss sites with these types of questions. Thanks.