However, it can affect general appearance. There is accumulating evidence that it negatively impacts male fertility. Even if you take just a little finasteride, it can actually drop your DHT so low that men become impotent. Over time, it has been considered a safe and well-tolerated drug with rare and reversible side effects. Swiss TV network SRF, May 7, 2018. Organizations such as the Post-Finasteride Syndrome . Post-finasteride syndrome is now a recognized condition, affecting as many as 20 per cent of those taking finasteride.The persistent sexual side-effects of finasteride may manifest after varying periods of taking the drug, or not until the drug is discontinued. But that warning isnt prominently featured. Based on data of this study, I will strong[ly] recommend to my patients [that] using finasteride has the probability of suicidehigher than 22% than no use. There are serious side effects that need to be considered! A few top supplements to lower estrogen include: For more a comprehensive guides on lowering estrogen, check out this article: Dopamine, testosterone and DHT go hand in hand with improving cognitive function, creativity, determination, positivity, problem-solving, euphoria, etc. Yes After nearly 4 years of suffering, I have finally & fully recovered from Post Finasteride Syndrome All my symptoms have subsided and improved with this method which takes a while but I am fully functional It's H.C.G (HCG) dosed at 250IU Monday, Wednesday and Friday only. And can we talk about the real risks of cognitive decline with them??? Diviccaro S, Giatti S, Cioffi L, Falvo E, Herian M, Caruso D, Melcangi RC. Id love to help you out. Finasteride Reviews & Ratings - Drugs.com What Was the Cause? Balding? MeSH 2016 Mar;4(2):245-50. doi: 10.1111/andr.12147. Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS): A Surmountable Challenge for FDA response to Merck & Co.s citizen petition requesting that finasteride be added to the List of Approved Drugs for Which Additional Pediatric Information May Produce Health Benefits in the Pediatric Population: May 2000, A greatly under-recognised and often devastating condition: Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin., Referring, via Twitter, to Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin: Sept. 7, 2022. Self-reports provide much of our understanding of post-finasteride . In this episode, Dr. Vikram Jayaprakash and Dr. Russell Knudsen discuss the concept of post-finasteride syndrome. Thanks for helping people with this truly debilitating syndrome, in my case I was an othewise healthy active 66 year old that was prescribed Dudasteride for an enlarged prostate 3 months ago , after 7 weeks I stopped taking the drug and within several days I came down with a host of symptoms. [W]e also need to stop prescribing finasteride. Im in PFS from February 2018. You can download a PDF version for your personal record. (I got my hair transplant at 36). Yuck. Finasteride is a 5-reductase enzyme inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of male androgenic alopecia since 1997. shrink penis. If you have a subscription to The BMJ, log in: Subscribe and get access to all BMJ articles, and much more. National Library of Medicine Post-finasteride syndrome: An emerging clinical problem: Neurobiology of Stress, May 2020. 2022 Oct 27;10(11):2725. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines10112725. Clipboard, Search History, and several other advanced features are temporarily unavailable. wow very helpful articular and explains my symptoms exactly. Before Finasteride and Suicide: A Postmarketing Case Series: Dermatology, January 14, 2020. [Y]ou need to understand that hair[-loss] is not a life-threatening condition. Prolonged use of finasteride-induced gonadal sex steroids alterations, DNA damage and menstrual bleeding in women, Post-finasteride syndrome: a surmountable challenge for clinicians, Direct Healthcare Professional Communication letter, BioBalance Healthcast: The Ugly Truth About Finasteride. We recommend patients who have already submitted a report submit a new one using this reaction type. They have low libido. Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) describes serious neurological, physical and sexual side effects that persist - and commonly develop - after discontinuation of the 5alpha reductase inhibitor finasteride (Propecia, Proscar, generics). A Clinical Overview of Finasteride and Its Potential Causative Links to Long-term Side-effects: The Medical Independent, Jan. 22, 2015. Statement, via Twitter: November 22, 2022. I will start Progesterone cream with tongkat ali soon. eCollection 2021 Oct. Treb RM, Gavazzoni Dias MFR, Dutra Rezende H. Skin Appendage Disord. Disclaimer. Published reports of clinical trials provide insufficient information to establish the safety profile for finasteride in the treatment of AGA. Brian fog See? You can send me an email at menelite101@gmail.com with your labs (and any addition info you might deem relevant) so I can take a look. If topical finasteride causes severe neurocognitive problems, shouldnt we be quite worried about the millions getting the pill form? There are some nice recovery stories on TR. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. If cortisol is low in blood tests, then you can focus on increasing that, but if cortisol is low in saliva tests but high in blood tests, focus on calming the adrenals. Sure man. Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) describes persistent sexual, neurological, physical, and mental adverse reactions in patients who have taken finasteride, a 5-alpha reductase type II enzyme inhibitor used to treat hair loss (under the brand name Propecia or generics) and/or enlarged prostate (Proscar or generics). Copyright 2023 BMJ Publishing Group Ltd, Brent Area Medical Centre: Salaried GP - Brent Area Medical Centre, Minehead Medical Centre: GP Consultant - Minehead Medical Centre, Meadows Surgery: GP Opportunity (up to 8 sessions) - The Meadows Surgery, Ilminster, Beckington Family Practice: Salaried GP - Beckington Family Practice, Millbrook Surgery: Salaried GP - Millbrook Surgery, Womens, childrens & adolescents health. As a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, finasteride works by inhibiting the . Keep me posted if you like. The result of the blood test hormone in these patients is generally below the scale or a very low result. We probably dont have the precise data wed need to answer that. I train a lot, heavy resistance, HIIT, play sport, drink very little. A pharmacogenetic survey of androgen receptor (CAG)n and (GGN)n polymorphisms in patients experiencing long term side effects after finasteride discontinuation: International Journal of Biological Markers, Dec. 9, 2014. I wanted to take a minute to talk to you about post-finasteride syndrome since more and more men are coming in with complaints after taking finasteride. Definitely see this. Post-finasteride syndrome is leaving behind a slew of victims in its trail. It's real alright. Its awful when a patient doesnt know whats happening, and takes a medication for a specific purpose, but then develops side effects that may be more damaging than its positive effects. Heres how to prevent it, Super T Performix review: Ineffective because, BPC-157: a super peptide for erectile dysfunction, Does weed make you horny? I want to try a combination of what you have listed above mainly to try and increase dopamine. I have hundreds of [PFS] patients. Increasing carbon dioxide production. Here we evaluate the scientific and clinical evidence in the contemporary medical literature to address the very fundamental question: Is PFS a real clinical condition caused by finasteride use or are the reported symptoms only incidentally associated with but not caused by finasteride use? Sant report on the suicide of PFS patient Romain Mathieu: France 5 News, Nov. 24, 2016. To date, there are no evidence-based effective treatments for PFS. Usually its ED. Depression and suicidal behavior are all very serious side effects caused by finasteride, and this is absolutely unacceptable for a lifestyle drug Rationally, one cannot advocate for this medicine or justify the fact its still on the market. You can argue with the theoretician but you cant argue with the anecdotal stories of successful recovery. The Bottom Line: It is important to know that those who experience hair loss are more likely to report depression, so clinical trials are needed to conclusively determine whether finasteride causes depression and anxiety. Thanks for citing our work [Dr. Faysal]. The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) was queried to identify medications with the highest frequency of ED adverse event reports from 2010-2020 The top 20 medications with the highest frequency of ED were included in the disproportionality analysis Of these 20 medications, there were 6,142 reports of ED and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5-ARIs) accounted for 2,823 (46%) of these reports Seven medications showed significant levels of disproportionate reporting but finasteride and dutasteride had the highest PRRs: 110.03 (103.14-117.39) and 9.40 (7.83-11.05) respectively Physicians and patients should be familiar with medications that are associated with ED. [T]hese data indicate the urgent need for high-quality clinical trials, with long-term follow up, specifically addressing sexual function and mood disorders. is a recovery really possible? Signs of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) include mood swings, mental fog, depression, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, orgasm and ejaculation dysfunction. Regulatory Effects of Thai Rice By-Product Extracts from. At the same time, a recent study demonstrated changes in the levels of certain steroids in cerebrospinal fluid of men taking finasteride for hair loss. My biggest issue is low/no libido. J Urol. A Letter Regarding Finasteride: SouthBayRetina.com, May 2021. PFS is real. Indeed, delineating the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying PFS will be of paramount importance to the understanding of this syndrome and to development of potential novel therapeutic modalities. Just wanna ask advice from a casual weed smoker as in vaping on weekends what would be a good supplement/nutritional addition to counter any negative effects? Some men taking Propecia for [male pattern baldness] seem to have little to no side effects, whereas others suffer for years. progesterone -dihydroprogesterone (a very important neuroactive steroid and precursor to allopregnanolone), deoxycorticosterone dihydrodeoxycorticosterone (DHDOC), cortisol 5-dihydrocortisol (for the deactivation of cortisol), aldosterone 5-dihydroaldosterone, which increases the excretion of salt, the opposite of aldosterone, dry skin or thinning of the skin, weight gain, elevated glucose and lipids and worsening of insulin sensitivity(, diminished libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory complaints, penile discomfort, loss of scrotal sensitivity, scrotal discomfort, loss of pubic hair, increased sperm density and, Alcohol (not a long term or good strategy really). Post-finasteride syndrome: a surmountable challenge for clinicians. Im wondering if that Has to do with gut health. By reducing DHT so drastically, effects can occur in the genital tissues and in the brain. My sides are: Hey Peterson, Low levels of these hormones increase glutamate and may account for the appearance of behavioural disorders such as anxiety, aggression, and cognitive dysfunction. I am doing a High sensativity blood panel soon, would you be able to also look at my blood work to see what could be the problem with everything i am experiencing?Thanks. 3 5 The incidence of post-finasteride syndrome is unknown, as are the biological mechanisms, but we . [O]ur results showed that [finasteride] treatment affected the expression of a number of accumbal proteins involved in key functional processes, such as regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission, as well as steroid and pyrimidine metabolism. Treatment with finasteride and dutasteride is thought to potentially improve male pattern baldness. Stopping finasteride treatment can cause post-finasteride syndrome. HCG will most likely increase progesterone, but hopefully, it can stimulate 5AR which will increase allopregnanolone. Propeciahelp.com - Discussion forum for Post-Finasteride Syndrome Decreasing the dosage strength is unlikely to reduce the risk of PFS. Shockwave therapy for ED. I would appreciate some specific help if you could get back to me. Frequently asked questions about Post-Finasteride Syndrome - PFSNetwork.org Differential Gene Expression in Post-Finasteride Syndrome Patients But unfortunately, in some men, the damage is hardwired. Cannibus is my only vice, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (my prostate is checked and fine), Statement (via Twitter) to medical colleague: January 19, 2022. Post-Finasteride Syndrome: An Underestimated Phenomenon: Urology and Andrology, September 2016. Bone pain PFS can start shortly after starting the medication and can possibly last months to years after stopping. Finasteride is phasing out of my practice. Chronic insomnia , I am now taking Trazodone which helps me get to sleep, I also have myoclonic twitches and brain zaps while trying to fall asleep and my auditory system is super sensitive any small noise at night makes my me jump even when wearing ear plugs. I suffered PFS till 4 years with many problems: Altered methylation pattern of the SRD5A2 gene in cerebrospinal fluid of post-finasteride patients: a pilot study: Endocrine Connections, July, 2019. Finally, therapeutic strategies, [such as] neuroactive steroid treatment, able to relieve or to cure this condition are also urgently needed. Whats happening to the progesterone if I try HCG? In addition, many doctors dont understand or even recognize PFS as a real disease and these patients will suffer alone. It shows a much higher signal in comparison with other drugs used for alopecia or suspected to affect mood Im surprised the FDA has not done these simple comparisons to explore safety signals for finasteride. (PFS) Post finasteride syndrome is real and affects millions of people worldwide. Challenge to fellow health professionals via Twitter: October 26, 2021. And I have to use huge amounts of testosterone to overcome this drug. Concern regarding adverse effects of finasteride is increasing. Bookshelf Hi David, Markthceck (SWR TV) Lifestyle Drug Finasteride: Dead pants instead of a bald head? Finasteride-induced Infertility (English translation): Der Arzneimittelbrief (The Drug Letter), November 2013. Do you have any digestive issues? 2021 Nov;7(6):524-526. doi: 10.1159/000514365. been putting it off, but this convinced me to see a doctor and gives me hope. Limited research exists exploring the psychological corollaries of post-finasteride syndrome and preexisting Axis I and Axis II mental health conditions. However, PFS is now so prevalent that it has its own foundation, the Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation, where you can acquire a great deal of sobering information, enough to make you wonder why anyone would take the drug to begin with. In addition, there is a recognized conglomerate of sexual side effects accompanied by neuropsychiatric effects including depression that have been grouped into a term known as post-finasteride syndrome. Exploring the neural mechanisms of finasteride: a proteomic analysis in the nucleus accumbens, Psychoneuroendocrinology, October 2016. In addition, it is imperative to study in detail the molecular mechanisms that cause this condition, trying to identify a possible genetic predisposition, in order to limit the burden of PFS. Post-finasteride syndrome is leaving behind a slew of victims in its trail. Androstanediol glucoronide is a hormone derived from DHT (the hormone inhibited by finasteride). Epub 2019 Jan 16. You dont have to be a genius to realize that, when youre taking away the most potent form of testosterone, and youre affecting, for example, ejaculate volume, clearly something is changing around the prostate area. I think we need to put the [PCPT] trial concerns to rest. Recovered from Post Finasteride Syndrome! : r/tressless - Reddit In some patients the treatment is associated with adverse side effects that could become persistent after therapy discontinuation, resulting in the so-called post-finasteride syndrome (PFS). MeSH You definitely want high dopamine and low serotonin to optimize cognition and mindset. Although some of these side effects may go away with time, others may be permanent. He Became Depressed and His Sex Drive Disappeared. Skin Appendage Disord. It's when you lose the regrown hair when you stop taking fin or something? @MariaUloko discusses #postfinasteridesyndrome and #pssd. I found some recovery stories with these compounds. Additional information on the Post-finasteride Syndrome as well as ongoing information about treatment options can be obtained at the PFS Foundation: https://www.pfsfoundation.org. I have blood and hormones test results if u want. I think progesterone is high because its not converted further downstream possibly due to 5AR downregulation. The aim of this study was to explore how having a preexisting personal and/or familial history of a psychiatric diagnosis and certain personality traits may influence anxiety and depression . Statement (via Twitter) to research colleague, Statement via Twitter to fellow clinicians. Then they have no ejaculate. Also, increased depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in a subset of men treated with these drugs were commonly reported in a number of studies. 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Literally a drug looking for any reason to still exist. Then, when people are coming back and saying they have libido issues, those are relevant. Alteration of Gut Microbes in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Model and Finasteride Treatment Model. Observations performed in a subset of patients treated for male pattern hair loss indicate that persistent sexual side effects as well as anxious/depressive symptomatology have been reported even after discontinuation of finasteride treatment. So thats all gone in many men, just because of finasteride. Hi Gary, [Propecia] is a scary drug and we have no idea who might be affected worse by it. 2023 Mar 21;24(6):5904. doi: 10.3390/ijms24065904. In a key investigation undertaken at Baylor College of Medicine under Dr Mohit Khera, Howell et al. The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Androgen Receptor (AR) Gene (CAG)n and (GGN)n Length Polymorphisms and Symptoms in Young Males With Long-Lasting Adverse Effects After Finasteride Use Against Androgenic Alopecia: Journal of Sexual Medicine, November 2016. I am 29 now and started at 22. I am on the transcrotal cream. I have had retraction of penis and man boobs. A few good ways to lower serotonin include: For a more comprehensive guide on lowering serotonin, check out this article: Apart from just focusing on hormones and neurotransmitters, you can also focus on diet and lifestyle. Finasteride is not only poorly effective, but it can lead to infertility. It depends: 36.8%, Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (via Twitter): October 11, 2022, Sobering @nypost story on Propecia users experiencing memory loss, ED, suicidal thoughts after using the drug; illustrates the challenge in postmarket Rx safety surveillance and in getting good evidence on [adverse events] from [Randomized controlled trials] [on hormone therapy], Referring, via Twitter, to Propecia users claim drug causes memory loss, ED, suicidal thoughts: August 31, 2022. Men exposed to finasteride or dutasteride are also at risk of developing post-finasteride syndrome, which is characterized by a constellation of symptoms, including some that are sexual (reduced . And thats huge. really have been feeling like an empty husk like described lately, almost like a part of me was ripped out, but maybe one day i can find it again. Int J Mol Sci. 5 Common Medications That Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction: MedShadow, June 9, 2019. Letter to the PFS Foundation, March 2, 2022. I got Post Accutane Syndrom, which is related to PFS, there is a down regulation of 5 alpha reductase 1. Post-Finasteride Syndrome: What is It? | hims Yep, the medical system doesnt care about what happens to you. [Finasteride therapy] is a modification of the hormonal mechanism, which raises the question of reversibility. . Case report: a study of the clinical characteristics and genetic variants of post-finasteride syndrome patients. Yes, in general its safer with less sides, but some people have reported similar side effects as fin. Doctors & Researchers Speaking Out - The Post-Finasteride Syndrome Post-finasteride syndrome wasnt reported in clinical studies, but it has been reported since the drug was approved. It is frequently marketed as androgen deprivation therapy for treatment for male pattern baldness. Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics: November 2021. thank you, i will try to update in the future. But Nobody Warned Me about Finasteride! 2019 Apr;7(2):277-282. doi: 10.1016/j.sxmr.2018.07.003. Have you tried NGF boosting supplements such as lions mane or even Cerebrolysin? 2016 Mar;4(2):245-50. doi: 10.1111/andr.12147. A Pill the Doctor Gave Me Destroyed My Life. Some people actually report dramatic improvements in their symptoms after starting a certain SSRI. Now two months after stopping Dudasteride, my twitches and brain zaps are now greatly diminshed, insomnia is still a problem though. Effects of Subchronic Finasteride Treatment and Withdrawal on Neuroactive Steroid Levels and Their Receptors in the Male Rat Brain: Neuroendocrinology, Dec. 9, 2015. and transmitted securely. BPH? Reaction to French medical journal Prescrires annual update of drugs to avoid, March 18, 2021. Its not to be used without medical supervision. I have a good friend who, with the best of intentions, told me about his positive hair plug experience and wanted to make [sure] I didnt miss my window of opportunity for treatment. One key indisputable clinical evidence noted in all reported studies with finasteride and dutasteride was that use of these drugs is associated with development of sexual dysfunction, which may persist in a subset of men, irrespective of age, drug dose or duration of study. Propeciadiminishes dihydrotestosterone levels and suppresses libido in about 10 percent of men but is much more profound in younger guys Try stopping and using minoxidil instead for hair preservation. Successful Finasteride Treatment Can Lead to Permanent Problems: Deutsche Apotheker Zeitung, April 2018. When prescribing antidepressants, the advantages and disadvantages must be carefully weighed, as some antidepressants may improve the symptoms of depression but have an unfavorable effect on sexual function. Its unnatural for adult men to have low levels of this molecule. Post finasteride syndrome is so real! Epub 2016 Jan 13. Ive made a 80% recovery so far and I keep improving however your hypothesis is quite scary. Maybe not atypical, but anxiety/panic due to finasteride. It scrambles your hormones, libido and cognition all over the place, right into the gutters, and leaves you feeling like an empty dysfunctional husk. If you are unable to import citations, please contact J Sex Med. Epub 2021 Oct 21. Efforts to explain persistent symptoms are undermined by poor long term data on harms, Finasteride, a 5-reductase inhibitor, was approved in 1992 for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia; a lower dose (1 mg) was approved in 1997 for male pattern baldness. Post-finasteride syndrome is a rare condition that some men may experience after taking finasteride (Proscar, Propecia). Some say its all in the mind, a made-up mythbut those who suffer from it surely know theyre not just a hypochondriac. 2022 Oct;10(5):100543. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2022.100543. They also have problems with sex drive. New Information about Post Finasteride Syndrome (PFS) With proper testing you know where to focus on. National Library of Medicine Eggs vs Whey protein: just stick to this one, Ashwagandha vs Shilajit: the best one for testosterone is, Maca vs tongkat ali: this one is better for libido. Proscar can hardly be categorized as safe because it can cause breast augmentation, reduced libido andimpotence. BioBalance Healthcast: The Ugly Truth About Finasteride, June 7, 2021. Are you sensitive to dietary fats and have greasy stool with fat floating on the surface of the water after pitching a loaf? I took and i am taking many of the supplements listed with no real improvements. Have you tried nearly everything, but nothing seems to move the needle? 2022 Oct;11(10):1452-1457. doi: 10.21037/tau-22-92. Did you check your estrogen before and after? Until the actual pathophysiology of PFS is determined and effective therapies are discovered, we all have to think twice before prescribing a 5ARIs for our patients with either BPH and/or AGA. I strong[ly] agree with you, using p=0.06 to [say] that no association between suicide and finasteride is a very careless decision. Insomnia and fatigue/tiredness were some of the most debilitating symptoms Men under 40 years of age who use finasteride for alopecia are at risk of suicide if they develop persistent sexual adverse effects and insomnia. In my own practice, I see probably a half-dozen patients a year who come in with the observationHey, I was feeling fine, I went on [Propecia], and after that, I noticed these changes in my sexual health. In a cohort of men prescribed finasteride for routine treatment of AGA, most would have been excluded from the pivotal studies that supported US Food and Drug Administration approval for AGA. A Comment on the Post-Finasteride Syndrome - PMC What happens if you get side ef. Yuck. Sex Med. 2022 Oct 26;12(11):1567. doi: 10.3390/biom12111567. Epub 2022 Jan 10. Emerging post-marketing reports of persistent depression and sexual side effects have led to growing concerns about the safety of 5-reductase inhibitors and prompted product labeling changes in many regulatory jurisdictions. Side effects thought to be caused by post-finasteride syndrome can be mild or serious. A second 5-reductase inhibitor, dutasteride, was approved in 2001 for benign prostatic hyperplasia. [T]his represents the largest demographic study over 15 years of [dry eye disease] patients on finasteride, demonstrating an association with finasteride usage and [meibomian gland dysfunction], conjunctival, and corneal abnormalities. In 2012, the FDA asked pharmaceutical manufacturers to update finasterides package insert.