Brain fog - for real
- Thread starter Thickandthin
- Start date
Yeah, in theory.
There have been a lot of studies on mice confirming finasteride´s effect on neurosteroid formation. There have also been several studies confirming behavioral changes (increased latency in tail- flick test) in rats. If reduced tail- flick is likeable to human depression (or brain fog) is another debate, but my guess is unlikely.
Also, the dosages in these studies was much higher than any human being would possibly take. (i.e, a 70kg human being would have to take a daily dose of 350mg finasteride in order to match the mg/kg dosage in those studies).
On the other hand; studies on humans have reported decrease in neurosteroid precursors and neurosteroids after a 14 day trial with 5 mg finasteride. Behavioral changes were not studied though.
Apart from a few case studies, there have been one attempt to measure finasterides (1mg/day) effect on mood on a large group of people. The study was conducted in Iran and consisted of 120 or so participants.
Based on a questionaire, the participants evaluated their psyche on day one, and then again after 2 months. Results showed an increase in depression, but not in anxiety.
The study cannot be completely trusted, though, because:
1. participants were informed beforehand as to the purpose of the study (that is, they knew they were supposed to be depressed)
2. there was no placebo group, so there is no telling whether or not the mean increased score in depression was due to expectation (placebo) or finasteride.
3. For a clinical diagnosis of depression, the symptoms have had to be present for longer than 6 months; this is to exlude other variables such as natural mood swings, or SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a very common phenomenon. The study only lasted 2 months, thus SAD cannot be excluded as a variable .
4. The study mean score shifted towards depression in terms of numbers the scale, but the mean number itself wasn´t high enough to be considered depressed by the scale.
This is important, because if the participants had scored the second score- value in beginning, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EVALUATED AS A DEPRESSIVE GROUP.
All the study showed was an increase in mean score, shifting TOWARDS depression, but not so high as to shift INTO depression. Again, this can be explained by a number of factors: increased stress among participants (they were students, exams are increasingly closing up after 2months), seasonal swings (summer to autumn), placebo (they know they are supposed to be depressed, etc...
5. two months is a little short time for finasteride to work. We know that transitent loss of libido is a side effect for a minority of people, but this usually resolves itself upon continued usage (longer than 2 months). This could also be the case for other side- effects (i.e mood swings), therefore continued usage might resolve these side- effects too. a 12 months study, with a placebo group doing the same questionnaire would make for a better study.
There have been a lot of studies on mice confirming finasteride´s effect on neurosteroid formation. There have also been several studies confirming behavioral changes (increased latency in tail- flick test) in rats. If reduced tail- flick is likeable to human depression (or brain fog) is another debate, but my guess is unlikely.
Also, the dosages in these studies was much higher than any human being would possibly take. (i.e, a 70kg human being would have to take a daily dose of 350mg finasteride in order to match the mg/kg dosage in those studies).
On the other hand; studies on humans have reported decrease in neurosteroid precursors and neurosteroids after a 14 day trial with 5 mg finasteride. Behavioral changes were not studied though.
Apart from a few case studies, there have been one attempt to measure finasterides (1mg/day) effect on mood on a large group of people. The study was conducted in Iran and consisted of 120 or so participants.
Based on a questionaire, the participants evaluated their psyche on day one, and then again after 2 months. Results showed an increase in depression, but not in anxiety.
The study cannot be completely trusted, though, because:
1. participants were informed beforehand as to the purpose of the study (that is, they knew they were supposed to be depressed)
2. there was no placebo group, so there is no telling whether or not the mean increased score in depression was due to expectation (placebo) or finasteride.
3. For a clinical diagnosis of depression, the symptoms have had to be present for longer than 6 months; this is to exlude other variables such as natural mood swings, or SAD (seasonal affective disorder), a very common phenomenon. The study only lasted 2 months, thus SAD cannot be excluded as a variable .
4. The study mean score shifted towards depression in terms of numbers the scale, but the mean number itself wasn´t high enough to be considered depressed by the scale.
This is important, because if the participants had scored the second score- value in beginning, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EVALUATED AS A DEPRESSIVE GROUP.
All the study showed was an increase in mean score, shifting TOWARDS depression, but not so high as to shift INTO depression. Again, this can be explained by a number of factors: increased stress among participants (they were students, exams are increasingly closing up after 2months), seasonal swings (summer to autumn), placebo (they know they are supposed to be depressed, etc...
5. two months is a little short time for finasteride to work. We know that transitent loss of libido is a side effect for a minority of people, but this usually resolves itself upon continued usage (longer than 2 months). This could also be the case for other side- effects (i.e mood swings), therefore continued usage might resolve these side- effects too. a 12 months study, with a placebo group doing the same questionnaire would make for a better study.
GeminiX
Senior Member
- Reaction score
- 5
Todd said:
You make an interesting post...
I had always pretty much put "brain fog" in the "stuff that does not really happen, and is psychosomatic" category, but the symptoms do have a more than passing similarity to some of the symptoms of depression now I think about it.
Considering the mental state many users of Finasteride are going to be in to begin with and the changes in body chemistry which Finasteride can trigger, then I could certainly believe that the brain fog many people claim to experience is a form of depression.
I'm curious now, there could actually be something in brain fog after all
