Finasteride sexual sides improved, but mental ones still linger?

[goodguybadhair]

If finasteride-related sexual side effects disappear as the body adapts to the drug with continued use, would mental side effects also go away in time?

The reason why I ask is because of the two times I tried finasteride at varying dosage schedules over the past 2 years, the initial sexual side effects improved as time passed, but my mental health seemed to be affected for as long as I was taking finasteride, even now that I've been taking .25mg every third day.

Any time I was off-finasteride for at least 2 weeks to see myself fully recover, I noticed:
1) Fantastic memory, mental clarity
2) Wit
3) Great sense of self, confidence, and a very calm, happy-go-lucky mood (despite my ****ty hair lol)

On finasteride, I noticed:
1) Brain fog
2) Slow to process things, I feel desensitized to put a label on it
3) Moody (despite seeing awesome improvement to my hair)

My guess would be testosterone can still cover for DHT in terms of your libido and sexual function, but not the other way around when it comes to your CNS and the DHT you are missing out on?


Thanks guys : )

 

[Quantum Cat]

I'd still like to know if there's any solid evidence that blocking DHT would have those kinds of mental consequences.

Women don't have nearly as much DHT as men (do they have any at all?) and they don't suffer from those side effects (except for the usual mood swings which are par for the course with women ).

Plus there are the examples of hermaphrodites who have no DHT and despite being born with under developed genitals, don't appear to be affected mentally or cognitively

 

[Valiant]

finasteride, by binding to the 5arII enzyme, has an impact on neurosteriods in the brain. So, DHT is the not the hormone that would be involved with the mental sides. e.g., http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/6/7