Brain Fog real after all? New study on finasteride's neuro effects

[Boondock]

Perhaps not the biggest news in the world, or a 100% certainty, but slightly surprising and interesting (to me, anyway). I'd heard dutasteride had these effects, but not finasteride.

Bam:

Pharmacopsychiatry. 2010 May 18.

Finasteride Treatment Inhibits Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis in Male Mice.

INTRODUCTION: The 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor finasteride is used for the treatment of androgenic alopecia, benign prostate hyperplasia and prostate cancer. Besides inhibiting the conversion of testosterone to the biologically more active 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone, it also inhibits the production of neurosteroids. Decreased neurosteroid levels are postulated to be involved in the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neurosteroids metabolized by 5-alpha-reductase influence neural plasticity, we investigated whether finasteride treatment alters adult hippocampal neurogenesis, implicated in the pathophysiology of depression. METHODS: Male C57BL/6N mice were treated subchronically (7 days) with finasteride or vehicle. Adult neurogenesis was assessed at two different time points after treatment (day 1; day 35) using immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Finasteride treatment led to a significant decrease in brain 5alpha-dihydrotestosterone levels and induced a reversible reduction in the number of newborn cells and young neurons in the hippocampus. 35 days after the last finasteride injection, neurogenesis had returned to normal. DISCUSSION: These data indicate that inhibition of 5-alpha-reductase activity by finasteride treatment influences neuronal plasticity on a structural level. These changes might contribute to the pathophysiology of depressive episodes observed after finasteride treatment.

PMID: 20486040 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

 

[G k]

Yeah its nasty stuff. Its similar to the symptoms of "depersonalization disorder".

If I was cursed to feel like that permanently I would surely kill myself. It is the most awful feeling in the world.

 

[Timmysee]

You get used to it, G k
Especially if it's a trade off for hair.

 

[Timi]

i had never a Brain Fog with finasteride

but with minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

 

[TheGrayMan2001]

I think the brain fog side effect is mostly in people's heads or they wouldn't see it until years later.

Either that or they were going to be more sensitive to finasteride's effects in the long run anyway.

A lot more people have brain fog problems with minoxidil.

 

[Boondock]

i had never a Brain Fog with finasteride

but with minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

Sorry Timi, I'm not quite sure. Did you have problems with minoxidil or finasteride? I think you need to make your views on this clearer.

 

[Timi]

i had never a Brain Fog with finasteride

but with minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

Sorry Timi, I'm not quite sure. Did you have problems with minoxidil or finasteride? I think you need to make your views on this clearer.

with minoxidil Problems

i take 15Years finasteride No Problems

when i take minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

 

[Sebastien]

Ouch, this is pretty terrifying..

 

[Boondock]

i had never a Brain Fog with finasteride

but with minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

Sorry Timi, I'm not quite sure. Did you have problems with minoxidil or finasteride? I think you need to make your views on this clearer.

with minoxidil Problems

i take 15Years finasteride No Problems

when i take minoxidil Brain Fog

Timi

So would you recommend people trying out minoxidil? Is it worth trialling for hair loss?

 

[melvoin]

Brain fog on finasteride is very real, but like any side effect it's not going to happen to everyone. Just because it didn't happen while you were on it doesn't mean it's not real.

 

[mlb]

Guys, the real debate is not about brain fog. Yes, brain fog sucks but since some users get it right away it must be something hormonal. But neurogenesis is a big deal. The real debate is around whether long-term finasteride users are at higher risk for Alzheimer's, dementia, or general cognitive decline? To my knowledge this hasn't been studied but it does not seem that far-fetched given the studies showing significantly lower neurosteroid production.

There is no answer to that question, but I urge every finasteride user to truly consider the risk. These are new findings and the medical community has simply not considered the neurological implications of putting young men on 5AR inhibitors for life.

 

[G k]

Labotomy and castration all in one.....

 

[Hairforever]

I'm on finasteride for a second time after a 3 year gap, this time on a lower dose - 0.5mg EOD. However, I'm on the verge of quitting it again as the sides have returned. For me the sides are very real. Proof of this is I didn't even know this site existed the first time I was on finasteride so I was unaware of the side effects except for the few mentioned in the Merk instructions (which I took little notice of for the best part of 5 years). At that time I used to get home from work feeling incredibly tired - like being old before my time, but I didn't connect this with finasteride. I'm about to stop this time because finasteride is affecting the quality of my sleep. Even when I get a good night's sleep I wake unrested and walk around like a zombie all day. Everything is such an effort. finasteride is preventing my body repairing and recharging itself because I'm not going through all the levels/stages of sleep that is necessary for this to happen. Consequently I don't feel rested.

I'm thinking of switching to spironolactone. I've heard it's no where near as effective but if I can feel like my old self again and without the risk of gyno slowly creeping up on me, then that's the route I'll take :hump:

 

[bullitnut]

hey hairforever nice to hear from you again... my friend suffered from fatigue with proscar too ,cut his dose down to half and hes now fine so its worth a shot...not sure about the spironolactone though as its hard to try and track any solid info down regarding that.. hows your hair transplant coming on? ive not seen you update on the forums of late stay cool brother and hang in there it will come good for you re the meds i hope

warm wishes bullit

 

[Hairforever]

Hi Bullitnut

Thanks for the support re Propecia - I just seem to be very sensitive to it I guess. You're right about trying to find evidence of positive results from spironolactone. I was hoping others on this site would post their results. Anyone had results with Revivogen? It's coming up to a year since my transplant with Shapiro Medical Group and I am satisfied with the results - I would say a high percentage of the hairs have grown and my hair is thicker in the front with less see-through in places. The overall improvement is a subtle one as the hair was placed between existing transplated hairs. I really should take some photos but I'm not sure that the difference will be that discernible in a photograph. The best comparison would be to fly to SMG for after photos there but that's an expensive journey for a photoshoot! My main concern is my crown which is why I'm back on finasteride but I'm not sure I can continue. What are the alternative options. I've even thought about beard hair transplantation there but I have seen any pictures of this transplanted hair grown out.

I must say that your hair looks great! And that's before your second SMG hair transplant - happy days! :bravo:

 

[bullitnut]

thanks man im really happy with how things have gone .....we were talking about the london meet whilst i was over there in minny

, shame i couldnt have made it back then ....would have been good to meet everyone

warm wishes bn

 

[bigjohnson]

depressive episodes? ssounds alot like the symptoms i was feeling when i realized i was GOING BALD!! lol