Finasteride and mental side effects. AKA Brain Fog.

[El Nino]

Source. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...06.00053.x/pdf

Allopregnanolone levels are reduced in temporal cortex in patients with Alzheimer's disease compared to cognitively intact control subjects

Source. http://www.sciencedirect.com/science...88198110000971

[ThinningB420]

I have a very mentally draining accounting job and I was worried about brain fog before taking finasteride. I've been on the drug for four months and have noticed no difference in my cognitive abilities to work and solve problems. That's not to say there won't be long term side effects. Then again, my grandfather has dementia and so did his mother. So if I develop side effects when I'm old it could just be genetic anyway.

[El Nino]

I have a very mentally draining accounting job and I was worried about brain fog before taking finasteride. I've been on the drug for four months and have noticed no difference in my cognitive abilities to work and solve problems. That's not to say there won't be long term side effects. Then again, my grandfather has dementia and so did his mother. So if I develop side effects when I'm old it could just be genetic anyway.

So you already have a genetic disposition to a Neurodegenerative disease, and you are ingesting a drug which is known to have the ability to alter brain chemistry negatively?

[ThinningB420]

Yep, who cares if I have dimentia when I'm 80? I probably won't live long enough to have it happen since cancer runs in my family.

Btw, I have a great memory and I did know this was a side effect and waited 7 months before taking finasteride because of that. I decided I would try it out. I weighed the risks and I feel the benefits outweigh the risks based on probability. It might not work out for me but at least I am making an informed and logical decision.

[Shan]

glad its working for you bro

[Aames]

On duta and Alzheimer's runs in my family #YOLO #SWAG





But, in all seriousness. Pardon my ignorance on brain chemistry, but your chart does not indicate any PERMANENT changes. If one began to suffer symptoms associated with 5ar inhibition, why wouldn't quitting fin/duta return things back to normal, even if it took a bit of time? I really do not buy that these drugs can cause permanent changes. However, I really should do more research on this topic as someone who is taking duta. I don't want my brain to turn to mush or anything but I am very reluctant to ever quit taking it.

[akai]

On duta and Alzheimer's runs in my family #YOLO #SWAG





But, in all seriousness. Pardon my ignorance on brain chemistry, but your chart does not indicate any PERMANENT changes. If one began to suffer symptoms associated with 5ar inhibition, why wouldn't quitting fin/duta return things back to normal, even if it took a bit of time? I really do not buy that these drugs can cause permanent changes. However, I really should do more research on this topic as someone who is taking duta. I don't want my brain to turn to mush or anything but I am very reluctant to ever quit taking it.

Come at me family genetics.

[El Nino]

Yep, who cares if I have dimentia when I'm 80? I probably won't live long enough to have it happen since cancer runs in my family.

Btw, I have a great memory and I did know this was a side effect and waited 7 months before taking finasteride because of that. I decided I would try it out. I weighed the risks and I feel the benefits outweigh the risks based on probability. It might not work out for me but at least I am making an informed and logical decision.

If you are happy taking it then that is all that matters.

I made this thread to raise more awareness about the mental sides effects on this website, not persuade guys already taking it to stop.

[El Nino]

But, in all seriousness. Pardon my ignorance on brain chemistry, but your chart does not indicate any PERMANENT changes. If one began to suffer symptoms associated with 5ar inhibition, why wouldn't quitting fin/duta return things back to normal, even if it took a bit of time? I really do not buy that these drugs can cause permanent changes. However, I really should do more research on this topic as someone who is taking duta. I don't want my brain to turn to mush or anything but I am very reluctant to ever quit taking it.

Yah..bro it don't indicate permanent damage, maybe da new studies will find out more...booyakasha.

Also maybe age, how long you take it for and whether you had a genetic disposition to a Neurodegenerative disease before, are factors in whether you permanently damage your Brain or not.

But the Brain is very good at repairing itself with time so the odds are it wouldn't be permanent.

[SoothSayer]

Yah..bro it don't indicate permanent damage, maybe da new studies will find out more...booyakasha.

But the Brain is very good at repairing itself with time so the odds are it wouldn't be permanent.

http://www.pfsfoundation.org/news/abstracts-from-february-2013-pfs-roundtable-research-discussion-in-italy/

Here you are... a deeper understanding is coming sooner than you think

[El Nino]

http://www.pfsfoundation.org/news/ab...sion-in-italy/

Here you are... a deeper understanding is coming sooner than you think

Yeah I have seen that link before but thanks for posting it here.

No doubt the ignorant members will ignore it but it may make some think twice.

Have you suffered from the mental sides soothsayer?

[Bacon]

Though this isn't directly relevant to the topic, I've suffered from anxiety and depression on and off since my teens, yet I haven't had any issues since I started taking finasteride 3 months ago. I value my mental health though so I will keep an eye on it in the coming months and will stop the treatment if need be. However I would assume (perhaps wrongly?) that any negative psychological effects would have presented themselves by now.

[El Nino]

Though this isn't directly relevant to the topic, I've suffered from anxiety and depression on and off since my teens, yet I haven't had any issues since I started taking finasteride 3 months ago. I value my mental health though so I will keep an eye on it in the coming months and will stop the treatment if need be. However I would assume (perhaps wrongly?) that any negative psychological effects would have presented themselves by now.

That's a good attitude mate.

I think 3 months is still very early to evaluate it. I started taking it in July 2007 and it wasn't until sometime in 2010 that I noticed something was going on. But looking back I am sure it started earlier, the thing is the mental sides creep up on you so slowly that you can forget what you felt like before you started.

I didn't suffer from anxiety either, it was more brain fog like I couldn't think clearly.

However, everyone reacts differently to this drug and I wish you all the best.

[BigThinker]

Though this isn't directly relevant to the topic, I've suffered from anxiety and depression on and off since my teens, yet I haven't had any issues since I started taking finasteride 3 months ago. I value my mental health though so I will keep an eye on it in the coming months and will stop the treatment if need be. However I would assume (perhaps wrongly?) that any negative psychological effects would have presented themselves by now.

This is an interesting point. I've had episodes of anxiety/depression throughout my life. I occasionally get a little shook up about my hair, so it would be difficult for me to discern me being bummed about hair loss (which hasn't improved since started fin) versus finasteride induced depression.

Getting serious about my nutrition and physical activity has boosted my mental state quite a bit. This hair loss shit is just such an unneeded barrier to happiness.

[SoothSayer]

However I would assume (perhaps wrongly?) that any negative psychological effects would have presented themselves by now.

This isn't necessarily true and given it isn't a fully research topic (or even close) nobody can say for sure how quickly they are likely to onset. I think its smart you are being cautious, but just remember that it isn't a foolproof plan to just monitor your health closely. I would strongly urge you to make a fully rational decision as to whether you think it is the worth the risk (uncertainty) or something that can end up being quite tragic, even if the outcome is rare.