So I suggest you continue with Minoxidil and multivitamins. Finasteride use in young males is a potential risk for their sexual health. PFS isnt fun. In my clinical experience, the length of time on the medication does not correlate with the severity or duration of the side effects. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! (I got my hair transplant at 36). 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. Adding a warning to pharmaceutical preparations containing the medicinal substance finasteride: Administrative Circular No. Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) is a constellation of serious adverse side effects manifested in clinical symptoms that develop and persist in patients during and/or after discontinuing finasteride treatment in men with pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Finasteride is not only poorly effective, but it can lead to infertility. In 2017, the European Medical Agency recommended adding warnings of potential risk of suicidal ideation to product information for finasteride. Here are a few good ways to increase dopamine: For more a comprehensive guide on boosting dopamine, check out this article: If dopamine is low, then prolactin will most likely be high. We probably dont have the precise data wed need to answer that. Over time, it has been considered a safe and well-tolerated drug with rare and reversible side effects. Blocking 5 alpha-reductase to any degree in the brain is a crapshoot. BioBalance Healthcast: The Ugly Truth About Finasteride, June 7, 2021. It is essentially a masculinizing hormone and may have an effect on sexuality Women present low levels of Androstanediol glucoronide naturally, since they produce little testosterone. After 15 years of research i also believe mycotoxins are playing a big role in this, mycotoxins damage the grey matter in your brain which would cause dopamine issues, then a cascade of issues from hpa axis dysfunction, gut issues, hormone issues which wont go away under a complete mycotoxin detox is done. Finasteride is not one of my first recommendations due to its possible known side effects. Statement, via Twitter: November 22, 2022. Post-Finasteride Syndrome: An Underestimated Phenomenon: Urology and Andrology, September 2016. Yes, in general its safer with less sides, but some people have reported similar side effects as fin. Find support. Although nobody knows how many men it impacts, its effects are devastating. Should We Fear Hair-loss Medications? The effect of finasteride on dry eye disease, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science: June 2022. 2022 Mar;8(2):169-170. doi: 10.1159/000518750. Topical TRT will increase DHT even more. Chiriac G, Cauci S, Mazzon G, Trombetta C. Andrology. We wouldnt recommend that any man take the drug, especially not young men. Some say it's all in the mind, a made-up mythbut those who suffer from it surely know they're not just a hypochondriac. Post-Finasteride Syndrome: What is It? | hims How Avodart and Proscar Affect Libido: Prostate Cancer Research Institute, May 3, 2021. Thats a very common thing. Response (via Twitter) to Rachel S. Rubin, MD, vis-a-vis the clinical study titled Post-finasteride syndrome: An emerging clinical problem, January 2, 2020. Balding? Epub 2016 Jan 13. Indian J Plast Surg. "The presence of severe and persistent side effects caused by the treatment of an aesthetic problem raises great concern for the clinician. You wipe a drug off the earth mine is finasteride Go! Unfortunately, some of the side effects of finasteride are more serious and persistent than the original condition it is intended to treat [W]e encountered a surprising association between finasteride use and presence of optic neuropathy or retinopathy To worsen the situation, the neuropsychiatric impact of finasteridechanges in mood and behaviorcan alter practitioner perceptions about affected patients, resulting in a psychosomatic diagnosis. See? Pharmacological treatments, including finasteride and oral contraceptives, that inhibit 5-RI, which results in a blood and brain allopregnanolone decrease also affect subunit expression of GABAA receptor and are associated with mood symptoms and suicide and are part of post-finasteride syndrome. Finasteride is phasing out of my practice. It can be reversed yes. 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. NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. With a greater concentration of receptors, the organ becomes more sensitive to testosterone and at a certain point, paradoxically, that sensitivity may shut down. What Was the Cause? About Post-Finasteride Syndrome - The Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation [E]very day I receive more and more emails from young men whose lives have been changed by finasteride. So thats all gone in many men, just because of finasteride. Usually its ED. Epub 2016 Jan 13. I think its important to be educated about the potential side effects. 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. If you know of additional doctors, researchers and/or therapists who have published warnings of persistent side effects stemming from finasteride use, and/or if you would like to suggest adding a medical professional to our Medical Professionals list, please email pertinent links/names to proberts@pfsfoundation.org. Markthceck (SWR TV) Lifestyle Drug Finasteride: Dead pants instead of a bald head? Statement (via Twitter) in response to a study titled Sexual Dysfunction in Men Taking Systemic Dermatologic Medication: A systematic review, June 6, 2019. Only individuals who are born with intersex characteristics (hermaphrodites) have low levels of this hormone. Some men taking Propecia for [male pattern baldness] seem to have little to no side effects, whereas others suffer for years. (English version): 66 Minutes, Feb. 3, 2019, Persistent adverse effects development from finasteride in young men include erectile dysfunction, low libido, lack of orgasm and depression. Post-Finasteride Syndrome (PFS): A Surmountable Challenge for FOIA Avoid all environmental plastics and toxins, Cold and hot exposure, such as swimming in a cold river and doing sauna sessions. Accordingly, Health Canada and the UAE Ministry of Health recommend that companies that produce products containing [finasteride] add the above-mentioned warning to the internal leaflet of their products. I just want to make sure i dont make any mistakes. Androsterone worked wonders for me. A potentially new treatment for post-finasteride syndrome FOIA Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) has been claimed to occur in men who have taken oral finasteride to treat either hair loss or benign prostatic hyperplasia, independent of age, dosage, or indication. Organizations such as the Post-Finasteride Syndrome . Some say its all in the mind, a made-up mythbut those who suffer from it surely know theyre not just a hypochondriac. Adverse Sexual Effects of Treatment with Finasteride or Dutasteride for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Two papers in a short period of time showing higher rates of suicide with finasteride. Seen this far too often to doubt that its real. Punk?. Balding? Hair Loss Drug Propecia Carries Risk of Losing Something Else: NBC News, March 10, 2017. The Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation (www.pfsfoundation.org) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping fund research on the characterization, underlying biologic mechanisms, and treatments of the PFS while improving public awareness of the condition. Thank you so much for your time. Much of the medical community has yet to recognize [PFS] as a real clinical entity. [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. Finasteride blocks the glutathione production leading to mycotoxin build up if you were living or working near mould and not knowing it. I found some recovery stories with these compounds. 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 labelling changes in many regulatory jurisdictions.1234 Since 2008, at least 17 countries including the United Kingdom and the United States have warned prescribers of the potential for depression, sexual side effects, or both with finasteride.5, Post-finasteride syndrome is an ill defined and controversial syndrome associated with a constellation of sexual, physical, and psychological symptoms that develop during or after finasteride exposure and persist after discontinuation (box 1).35 The incidence of post-finasteride syndrome is unknown, as are the biological mechanisms, but we know that 5-reductase inhibitors reduce synthesis of brain neurosteroids, which affect mood, cognition, and libido.36. Propeciahelp.com - Discussion forum for Post-Finasteride Syndrome SperlingProstateCenter.com, Aug. 30, 2018. HCG and erectile dysfunction: can it cause or help ED? The site is secure. Post-finasteride syndrome is a serious state of permanent sexual, mental and physical side effects which do not resolve after quitting the drug It is also surmised by the few specialists in the medical field that a type of receptor or brain damage has occurred.Men suffering from PFS are plagued with many physical, mental, and emotional symptoms that have led to long-term depression, marital problems and divorce, and now several reported cases of suicide. 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. Sex Med. Proscar can hardly be categorized as safe because it can cause breast augmentation, reduced libido and, The Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation 2023, Support Program Connects PFS Patients Worldwide, Finasteride and Suicide: A Postmarketing Case Series, Penile vascular abnormalities in young men with persistent side effects after finasteride use for the treatment of androgenic alopecia, Global online interest in finasteride sexual side effects, Society for the Study of Male Reproduction, Propecia users claim drug causes memory loss, ED, suicidal thoughts, Ongoing Concerns Regarding Finasteride for the Treatment of Male-Pattern Androgenetic Alopecia, Side Effects of Finasteride Are Underestimated, 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, Diagnostic criteria for enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment with antidepressants, finasteride and isotretinoin, Medications Most Commonly Associated with Erectile Dysfunction, Adding a warning to pharmaceutical preparations containing the medicinal substance finasteride, Mens Health and Fertility Lifestyle Information, Association of 5-Reductase Inhibitors With Dementia, Depression, and Suicide, Post-Finasteride Syndrome: An Endocrinologists View, Response via Twitter to statements about the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial concluding that 5-ARIs can cause prostate cancer. There are currently no satisfactory treatment options for post-finasteride syndrome. Finasteride 1 mg in Alopecia: Sexual Dysfunction, Suicidal Ideation: Prescrire, October 2016, In this pilot study, we sought to characterize sexual and nonsexual adverse effects that men reported experiencing at least 3 months after stopping the medication.Responses from 131 generally healthy men (mean age, 24 years) who had taken finasteride for male pattern hair loss was included in the analysis. PMC Seems that almost half of urologists instruct their patients to stop finasteride! 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. Serious Side Effects: Post Finasteride Syndrome In the [long] term, if nothing works out, then go for a hair transplant rather than using Finasteride. Thanks in advance. You definitely want high dopamine and low serotonin to optimize cognition and mindset. BPH? Fun fact: castrated rats regain erections [with] testosterone supplementation, but LOSE it when co-administered with 5 alpha reductase inhibitor. HCG increased my anxiety. Taking Propecia or Proscar to Prevent Hair Loss is Associated with Depression, Anxiety, and Sexual Problems: National Center for Health Research website, 2021. This is how the National Institutes of Health refers to Post-Finasteride Syndrome, and there is a specific reaction type in FAERS which can be selected. Androsterone both allopregnanolone and androsterone are potent GABA agonists, so might substitute to a degree for each other. OK to keep taking: 17.5% 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. Prostatis Love the site. wow very helpful articular and explains my symptoms exactly. Every patient must be thoroughly informed about its side effects. Sant report on the suicide of PFS patient Romain Mathieu: France 5 News, Nov. 24, 2016. Allopregnanolone, the Neuromodulator Turned Therapeutic Agent: Thank You, Next? People kill themselves after taking [finasteride]I had a colleague who took his own life 15 years ago, so I know it happensand so many people with the same symptoms cant be wrong. Im wondering if that Has to do with gut health. Post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) is a constellation of serious adverse side effects manifested in clinical symptoms that develop and persist in patients during and/or after discontinuing finasteride treatment in men with pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia) or benign prostatic hyperplasia. Expanding (via Twitter) on a study published in JAMA Dermatology he co-authored, titled Investigation of Suicidality and Psychological Adverse Events in Patients Treated With Finasteride, December 7, 2020. I started losing hair about 18 yrs old if that helps, Hi I got post finasteride syndrome like side effects from saw palmettherbal blend of dht natural inhibitors from amazon https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B004PVLWW0/ref=acr_dp_hist_2?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=two_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar and i did blood work (rosch eclia methodology) but endos cant find anything that could cause all the side effects im dealing with. Finasteride is a 5-reductase enzyme inhibitor that has been approved for the treatment of male androgenic alopecia since 1997. So combining progesterone + DHEA and allopregnanolone + DHT can be is even better. Decreasing the dosage strength is unlikely to reduce the risk of PFS. He had stopped treatment 10 months earlier, but symptoms that affected his quality of life persisteddecreased libido, depression and disassociation between his brain and his genitals From December 2018 until now, I have treated about 50 young men from all over Spain who have been on finasteride for alopecia and whose symptoms persisted in the physical, sexual and psychological spheres. Diagnostic Criteria - The Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation Determining if You Suffer from PFS Finasteride, dutasteride and saw palmetto are 5-alpha reductase inhibitors that can trigger an enduring sexual dysfunction with a very similar profile to post-SSRI sexual dysfunction. 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. Finally, therapeutic strategies, [such as] neuroactive steroid treatment, able to relieve or to cure this condition are also urgently needed. Long-term-treatment follow-up revealed that (5 mg/day) effects on hair growth are sustained in most women. We aimed to determine the type and frequency of symptoms in men having long-term sexual and non-sexual side effects after finasteride treatment (a condition recently called post-finasteride syndrome, PFS) against androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Have you tried nearly everything, but nothing seems to move the needle? If you are unable to import citations, please contact Maksym et al., Post-finasteride . I think progesterone is high because its not converted further downstream possibly due to 5AR downregulation. Please enable it to take advantage of the complete set of features! However, the side effects of a medication usually go away when you stop taking it. In this episode, Dr. Vikram Jayaprakash and Dr. Russell Knudsen discuss the concept of post-finasteride syndrome. Often have low t. Make sure to check dht also! Their only crime in life is to take an FDA-approved drug. You do think that these hypothetical damages can be reversed ? We propose that the Dermatologist Society remove from their guidelines the utilization of finasteride for male pattern hair loss., Sexual and Nonsexual Problems after Finasteride Used for Hair Loss in Young Men: American Society for Mens Health, 2014. Post-finasteride syndrome is leaving behind a slew of victims in its trail. Im 3 weeks off cold turkey. Hence, it is mandatory to ask about patients histories of preexisting depression or sexual dysfunction before starting finasteride treatment. Its insane. Signs of post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) include mood swings, mental fog, depression, anxiety, erectile dysfunction, orgasm and ejaculation dysfunction. Accessibility Direct Healthcare Professional Communication letter, October 4, 2018. Are you sensitive to dietary fats and have greasy stool with fat floating on the surface of the water after pitching a loaf? 8600 Rockville Pike The treating clinician should have knowledge and awareness about the higher prevalence of depression and sexual dysfunction in the subset of men seeking treatment for AGA in comparison to the general population. What Was the Cause? 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. I have tried a few of the a above already alone with no improvement however I think a holistic combination may be the answer. Limited research exists exploring the psychological corollaries of post-finasteride syndrome and preexisting Axis I and Axis II mental health conditions. 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. Bookshelf cold penis Thanks for reaching out. Keeping it low, below 7ng/ml, is absolutely key to improving. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. [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. Would you like email updates of new search results? Even if you take just a little finasteride, it can actually drop your DHT so low that men become impotent. Response (via Twitter) to the top 20 adverse reactions to finasteride filed with the FDA: April 23, 2021. 8600 Rockville Pike For those who argue that there is no data to support thisAs the saying goes, the absence of evidence is not the evidence of absence. Hello. Finasteride: NOT a benign drug. Mens Health and Fertility Lifestyle Information: Weill Cornell Medicine Center. And the interesting thing is that the average age of this group was 32 to 34 years old This drug for young men must be taken off the market. 2023 Feb 2;12(3):653. doi: 10.3390/plants12030653. HTX Urology website, December 2019. If prolactin is high, dopamine is most likely low and serotonin elevated, so then it would be good to focus on lowering prolactin. 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? The FDA asked them to include a warning about side effects that can continue after stopping treatment. (2009) of 2017. MeSH I think androsterone and allopregnanolone, or topical DHEA and progesterone would be good options. What is the post-finasteride syndrome? - YouTube But Nobody Warned Me about Finasteride! An official website of the United States government. Aim: To determine whether (CAG)n-rs4045402 and (GGN)n-rs3138869 polymorphisms in the androgen receptor (AR) gene are implicated in PFS. 2020 Jan;113(1):21-50. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2019.11.030. Yes TRT does seem to help people, but dont solve everything. All healthcare providers should learn about these conditions as finasteride/SSRIs are commonly prescribed. The finasteride was a deal breaker for me, will not commit to that for life. Statement (via Twitter) to research colleague, Statement via Twitter to fellow clinicians. Utah Mens Health YouTube channel: July 11, 2019. Dopamine agonists, such as mucuna pruriens, huperzine A, Catuaba bark extract, etc. Hi Karl, Id do an organic acid test and a DUTCH test to see what specifically addressing. Here is how you focus specifically on increasing allopregnanolone: The optimal range for estrogen is around 20pg/ml and if yours is much higher, it would be best to make it a priority to lower it. A low estimated prevalence of PFS cannot be an excuse for nonvigilance since the drug is used by millions of relatively young and healthy individuals.". Patients treated for male pattern hair with finasteride show, after discontinuation of the drug, altered levels of neuroactive steroids in cerebrospinal fluid and plasma: Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, February 2015. Recovered from Post Finasteride Syndrome! : r/tressless - Reddit Dont risk your future children for a little hair. The .gov means its official. Ten years ago, I would have answered differently. I have done an analysis of reported neuropsychiatric adverse effect of finasteride to the FDA (based on FAERS data) which may be of interest to you. People take their own lives because of the effects of the drug, but also because they cant get through to anyone and they are not believed. These findings suggest that finasteride treatment may have broad consequences for brain function. 2016 Mar;4(2):245-50. doi: 10.1111/andr.12147. An official website of the United States government. 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. I have blood and hormones test results if u want. There is accumulating evidence that it negatively impacts male fertility. Cheers. We believe the warnings about finasteride are justified. A few of the best ways to lower prolactin include: For more a comprehensive guide on lowering prolactin, check out this article: Serotonin is most often high in all mental and physical disorders and there is always a serotonin receptor/s gone rogue. And thats huge. DHEA potently increases androsterone levels, and that is how its thought to lower anxiety. As a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, finasteride works by inhibiting the . Finasteride is a steroid 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, approved for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia and benign prostate hyperplasia. The Drug that Banishes Baldness Can Ruin a Mans Love Life: Daily Mail, July 22, 2019. It just means that you might have to implement certain strategies and use certain supplements for quite some time before the enzymes normalize. 5-reduced steroids are significantly increased in a hyperthyroid state. Finasteride blocks the metabolism of testosterone. Maybe you think Im exaggerating. 2020 Sep;204(3):602. doi: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001168.01. 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. Persistent erectile dysfunction in men exposed to the 5-reductase inhibitors, finasteride, or dutasteride: PeerJ, March 9, 2017. Did you check your estrogen before and after? 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. Kaplan-Marans E, Sandozi A, Martinez M, Lee J, Schulman A, Khurgin J. Segment on German network WDRs Tricks of the Beauty Industry, June 30, 2021. But I am actually not interested in you. Importantly, adverse effects associated with finasteride can persist even after discontinuing its use, leading to what has been termed post-finasteride syndrome, including sexual, physical, and psychiatric symptoms, including depression, anxiety, cognitive impairment, and suicidal ideation. Good hypothesis! A Comment on the Post-Finasteride Syndrome - PMC government site. Its Monday, which means its time for a poll! What is post-fin syndrome anyway? Before Post-finasteride syndrome: a surmountable challenge for clinicians Frontiers in Endocrinology, May 2020. Keywords: I find this amazing article. Effects of Subchronic Finasteride Treatment and Withdrawal on Neuroactive Steroid Levels and Their Receptors in the Male Rat Brain: Neuroendocrinology, Dec. 9, 2015. Can take a year to improve. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Response (via iCliniq) to the mother of a 23-year-old male whose dermatologist prescribed finasteride: May 13, 2022. Then, when people are coming back and saying they have libido issues, those are relevant. The Interplay between Finasteride-Induced Androgen Imbalance, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress, Oxidative Stress, and Liver Disorders in Paternal and Filial Generation. 2012 Nov;9(11):2927-32. doi: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02846.x. Post-Finasteride Syndrome: Current Views and Where do We Stand? To date there are no predictive factors for the risk of development of post-finasteride syndrome and no known treatment for the disorder. 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. Also its strange. Very high levels of finasteride might then also be able to block 5R, which will reduce bile flow. Post-finasteride syndrome wasnt reported in clinical studies, but it has been reported since the drug was approved. Androstanediol glucoronide is a hormone derived from DHT (the hormone inhibited by finasteride). Epub 2018 Oct 6. But always do blood tests first to see what is really going on. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited.