Mood swings and propecia

[bipecia]

This last year I've been having mood swings, the moods being stable over a decent number of weeks each time. I started Propecia about 6 months ago and since then I've been both suicidal and over the moon happy. Do you think propecia could have something to do with this?

[Ted]

Yes.
I took proscar for two years och felt the same as you, almost manic depressive. It went away a few weeks after I quit procsar.

A theory for this is that the decrease in DHT makes estrogen increase (since DHT is an estrogen inhibitor). The increased estrogen decreases the dopamine release which in turn makes prolactin levels raise. This can make you feel bad. Since the dopamine levels are low the dopamine receptors get up regulated. Thus when you do something that stimulate dopamine release you get really happy. For me these "highs" could come from things like music, porn, sex or drinking. These were among the best nights out I have ever had, but the days after were among the worst days I have ever had. My well being have increased a lot since I quit proscar.

[fitnessisgood4u]

A very common side effect unfortunately .....moody and bald not a good combination.

[Illusion]

moody and bald not a good combination.

Truer words were never spoken.

[bipecia]

Thus when you do something that stimulate dopamine release you get really happy. For me these "highs" could come from things like music, porn, sex or drinking. These were among the best nights out I have ever had, but the days after were among the worst days I have ever had. My well being have increased a lot since I quit proscar.

That makes sense. My pattern is more nearly manic depressive, with depressive weeks and hyper weeks relatively randomly. There is some history of mental illness in my family, so I don't know what to make of it.
For now I think I'm going off the propecia and see how it goes.
I was on 0.2 mg EOD, what dosage were you on?

moody and bald not a good combination.

Pretty true, let's hope I can just be bald from now on.

[fitnessisgood4u]

I wish I could but being bald makes me moody!