Question for Avodart Users: Mood issues?

[TwoHairsLeft]

I'd been on propecia for around 7 years and found out about Avodart. Didn't have any sides with finasteride so I decided to go with Avodart after doing some research on it. I've seen great improvements (after just 3.5 months) on Avodart but am suspicious that I may be getting some sides.

I'd say I have an overall feeling of "blah" or "who cares". When I go out and have a conversation I'm listening and am not caring about the conversation very much. Things that would typically make me angry (car pulls out in front of me) don't really make me angry...I'm just like "oh well" to everything.

Anyone else experiencing this?

 

[Mew]

Seems to be a common anecdotal complaint (brain fog) from users of both finasteride and Avodart. Just FYI I also experienced the same "feelings" while taking finasteride for 11 months.

While Finasteride selectively blocks 5AR2, Avodart blocks 5AR1 and 5AR2... and 5AR1 is found predominantly in the brain.

Not only do both enzymes metabolize Testosterone --> DHT, they also metabolize the following in the brain and adrenal glands:

Progesterone --> Allopregnanolone (neurosteroid)
Doctor --> THDOC (neurosteroid)

Both of these neurosteroids act on GABA-A receptors in the brain and can mediate mood, anxiety, and behaviour. Loss of allopregnanolone has been implicated in depression and alzheimers, and loss of THDOC with anxiety and seizures.

I can point you to research, or you can look it up on PubMed or Google Scholar yourself.

Solution: Get off avodart, don't take any 5AR inhibitors, or go back to Finasteride as it is the lesser of two evils.

 

[TwoHairsLeft]

Seems to be a common anecdotal complaint (brain fog) from users of both finasteride and Avodart.

While Finasteride selectively blocks 5AR2, Avodart blocks 5AR1 and 5AR2... and 5AR1 is found predominantly in the brain.

Not only do both enzymes metabolize Testosterone --> DHT, they also metabolize the following in the brain and adrenal glands:

Progesterone --> Allopregnanolone (neurosteroid)
Doctor --> THDOC (neurosteroid)

Both of these neurosteroids act on GABA-A receptors in the brain and can mediate mood, anxiety, and behaviour. Loss of allopregnanolone has been implicated in depression and alzheimers, and loss of THDOC with anxiety and seizures.

I can point you to research, or you can look it up on PubMed or Google Scholar yourself.

Solution: Get off avodart, don't take any 5AR inhibitors, or go back to Finasteride as it is the lesser of two evils.

Thanks for the response.

After doing more research I've decided to stay on Avodart for awhile longer until I stop seeing gains, then I'll transition to Revivogen (claims to block DHT and Andro topically) and continue Nizoral along with Minoxidil 5% and hope to maintain the gains received from Avodart without the suspected side effects.

For the record I want to state that I am not positive this is caused by Avodart so this shouldn't be taken as anything more than a casual observation. If I can remember I'll come back and update this post with my results of getting off of Avodart for 6 months or so.