Propecia Fog - does it get better?

[faust405245]

Ive been taking 1mg propecia for five days now and since yesterday I've noticed a change. I feel dull. I can't think, can't concentrate. Does this get better if I perservere or not? I'm thinking of giving up.

I want to keep my hair, course I do, but I'm a writer (trying to be anyway) and I can't be dull, I hate that feeling.

What does anyone think?

 

[Mew]

No, it will not get better if you continue on the medication.

5AR does more than inhibit Testosterone --> DHT, it also inhibits Doctor --> THDOC and Progesterone --> Allopregnanolone... both vital neurosteroids which act on GABA-A receptors in the brain.

The result of decreasing these neurosteroids via Finasteride: depression, anxiety, memory impairment, cognitive decline.

download/file.php?id=3544&mode=view

Do a search on Pubmed or Google Schoar if you don't believe me about finasteride's effects on neurosteroids. For example,

http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-6904/6/7

Either way, the longer you inhibit 5AR2, the more damage you are doing to your neurological health, besides everything else.

 

[Cassin]

As always.... see a doctor and don't self diagnose.

 

[Mew]

That is in fact an old paper.

Here is an updated one from 2010 correlating the drug's effects on neurosteroids and depression.


The influence of low dose finasteride, a type II 5?-reductase inhibitor, on circulating neuroactive steroids
http://www.reference-global.com/doi/abs ... I.2010.010


Background: Finasteride is a 5?-reductase inhibitor that has received clinical approval for the treatment of human benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia. The treatment is practically without side effects, although some occasional cases of depression syndrome have been reported. 5?-Reductase is an enzyme responsible for the reduction of testosterone, progesterone or deoxycorticosterone to their 5?-reduced derivatives possessing anticonvulsant, antidepressant, and anxiolytic activity. Therefore, the formation of GABAergic neuroactive steroids is likely to be impacted by finasteride.

Objective: The objective of the study was to show how the treatment of premature androgenetic alopecia with low doses (1 mg/day) of finasteride influences the broad spectrum of steroids with potential neuroactivity.

Methods: A group of 12 men with premature androgenetic alopecia participated in the present study. The steroid hormone profile was determined for all individuals. Finasteride was administered for 4 months at a daily dose of 1 mg. After the treatment, the same hormonal profile was determined again.

Results: 5?-Reduced steroids, e.g., 5?-dihydrotestosterone, androsterone, epiandrosterone, 5?-androstene-3?,17?-diol, allopregnanolone, isopregnaolone, and some 5-ene steroids, such as dehydroepiandrosterone and pregnenolone, decreased gradually during treatment.

Conclusions: The decrease of 5?-reduced steroids, especially of allopregnanediol, dihydrotestosterone, and pregnenolone, is probably one of the factors responsible for the increased occurrence of depression in men treated with finasteride, even at low doses.

 

[faust405245]

I just wanted to add, been taking propecia for over a week now and 'the fog' if indeed there ever was any has gone. No other side effects to report.

Fingers crossed it works.