Prozac and allopregnanolone

General Discussion
#1

Now here’s something interesting…

pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl … e=abstract

Apparently, social isolation (in mice) causes downregulation of allopregnanolone synthesis. This is just the information I’ve been looking for…it indicates that downregulation of allo really can happen. Obviously allo levels will fluctuate, but I take the term “downregulation” to mean something a little more irreversible. Social isolation (and perhaps Finasteride usage as well) alters the equilibrium level of allo.

According to this research, “FLX stereospecifically reduces brain Allo down-regulation.” I suppose this means it increases the equilibrium, it shifts the balance between synthesis and metabolism in favor of higher levels of allo.

Another article, referenced in the above:

pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articl … e=abstract

“We recently reported that fluoxetine or paroxetine, two selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), when administered to rats, increase the brain content of the neurosteroid 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnane-20-one (3α5α-ALLO) without altering the brain content of other neurosteroids.”

“In vitro experiments, in which the effect of fluoxetine on ALLO biosynthesis or degradation was studied in C6 glioma cells (a cell-line presumably incapable of synthesizing 5HT), suggest that fluoxetine alters ALLO levels by reducing its metabolism rate (7).”

So Prozac increases level of allo, which probably largely accounts for the improvement of depression symtoms attributable to the drug. They also indicate the mechanism: it reduces allo’s rate of metabolism.

#2

Did some research on Proazac, supposely it does increase allporegnanolone levels…Has anyone tried prozac with any success?

#3

Prozac is an SSRI, known for causing many of the same side effects we are already experiencing.

#4

Some guy on the yahoo forum took prozac and claimed it helped rid him of brain fog. I might try this. When on my last fatal round of fin I was somewhat isolated and fear this made my condition and susceptility to the crash worse. Actually before that my doc wanted to put me on an anti-d after I had a fin related (though didn’t know it was at the time) panic attack. Wish I’d done it.

#5

books.google.com/books?id=9rgVnI … &q&f=false

Read Pg. 28.

#6

I still have brain fog, and a couple of weeks ago I took a 50mg pregnenolone supplement, and after a couple of days I felt more clear headed and focused. I thought it was me recovering, but it was the rise in allopregnanolone. Needless to say, I had to stop the supplement because I started getting the deep depreciation just like when I was on fin and my dick started to get hard and rigged while shirking again, just like on fin. I stopped and after a week it cleared up, and the brain fog came back.
Now this was a pregnenolone supplement and I believe, but not sure, perhaps some of the more knowledgeable members can help out here, that the metabolic pathway is pregnenolone  progesterone  allopregnanolone. I believe that 5AR converts the progesterone to dihydroprogesterone then 3α-hydroxysteroid converts to allopregnanolone then allopregnanolone regulates GABA – not sure but I think it’s like that. It looks like the entire process starts from 5AR, though if 5AR is not working properly or insufficient in amount or both, then we never synthesize allopregnanolone resulting in all sorts of unbalances and ultimately brain fog.
I believe the side effects came into play because the excess progesterone converted into estrogen because 5AR is not active enough to convert the majority of it to allopregnanolone.
I’m getting blood work done this Friday the 28th, and I added progesterone. I’m willing to bet that progesterone is elevated due to low intercellular 5AR activity.
Now, does anyone know of a supplement/drug that can convert to allopregnanolone without also being converted into estrogen?
Perhaps Prozac as this ability…

#7

Yes my friend, that is exactly my thinking…Been staying up very late last few months doing research trying to figure out what we can do to get better.

Taking arimidex will alleviate the excess estrogen from progesterone.

Personally, I have above normal progesterone levels, which indicates I believe that it’s not being converted to allepregnolne.

If we could Upregulate 3a-hsd with thyroxine treatment(if we are hypothyroid), take pregnonolne supplement and arimidex to block estrogen conversion.

Reevaluate after a month or so, take blood tests, if conversion has not approved(meaning allopreg levels are low) throw in prozac, reevaluate after a month or so and see if allopregnolne levels are higher;)

I’m not a doctor, just my though process…

-anonnn

#8

I think so too, but I believe, and like you I’m far from a doctor, I think pregnenolone must first convert into progesterone then progesterone to allopregnanolone.

What I’m not sure is if progesterone converts to estrogen via aromatase. Arimidex will inhibit aromatase, but aromatase normally creates estrogen from T, so I’m not sure Arimidex will stop the progesterone conversion to estrogen.

I can say this. I’m on 1mg of Arimidex daily and when I took the pregnenolone supplement I felt strong estrogenic effects. I became depressed, dick shriveled up, etc. Also, I keep reading the progesterone might inhibit 5ar. I’m not sure if this is truly accurate as 5ar type 1 is used to convert progesterone to allopregnanolone. What might be the case is progesterone “occupies” 5AR for a time until this conversion is completed, and then 5ar is freed up to convert more progesterone or more T to DHT – I’m not sure. One thing I am sure of is when I used it I felt better mentally but then all the similar sides came back. When I stopped the supplement the sides went away and brain fog came back.

1 Like
#9

I can say this. I’m on 1mg of Arimidex daily

Is not 1mg Arimidex/day very high? Usually people r taking just 1/4 mg once or twice a week. Have you check your Estrogen lately? I am afraid you will suppress your Estrogen too much.
i
I will start arimidex soon provided I buy from some source who can ship to Canada. clomid and Nolvadex r hard on liver and eyes, and most of us already have screwedup liver values so I am trying to control my estrogen with minimum sides.

sps

#10

I thought the same thing too, but I was on Propecia and Avodart, not at the same time of course. I’m doing new blood work tomorrow, but back in March my estradiol was 34 on a scale of 0-54. I also have Novla and Clomid and might stack Novla with Arimidex pending on these upcoming blood tests. Perhaps since pregnenolone can raise estrogen and I think bypass aromatase, then maybe Nolva or Clomid can help at least prevent the estrogen from attaching to the receptor…just an idea.

#11

I was thinking the same. first raise LH and T-level and then lock it there with the help of Arimidex for at least 6 months.Just my theory of course our body has it’s own chemistry.