When you send us your Patient Support form, include a note in your email letting us know youd specifically like to connect with fellow PFS patients who are willing to share their coping strategies. Feel free to reach out to any of them with questions you might have, including appointment requests. I am 29 now and started at 22. Optimize thyroid. Although vitamins dont play a role in preventing male pattern baldness, many vitamins are vital for proper hair growth. To help with sleep I am also I use Magnesium , Lemon Balm, Taurine, Theanine and other sleep-aid herbs . But always do blood tests first to see what is really going on. For example, the rate of erectile dysfunction increases from just over eight percent for men in their 40s to more than 77 percent for men aged 75 or older. In other words, the biological The PFS Foundation is not a medical organization and, as such, cant offer health or medical advice. By blocking the conversion of testosterone to DHT, finasteride drastically reduces DHT levels in the body. I haven't tried Fens, but relate to the brainfog and depression and no morning wood or it getting spontaneously glorious. Thanks for reaching out. Q10: When I sought treatment for PFS from my doctor, all he did was prescribe antidepressants. My total t is 650 ng/dl. I havent seen any reports of hcg triggering cell growth. My goal is to get off Trazodone as quickly as possible, any recomendationsto further aid with insomnia ? 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. A small subset of patients claims hormonal, psychological, and neurological symptoms that persisted despite stopping taking the medication. Experts believe that the symptoms commonly described as post-finasteride syndrome could be caused by several different factors. Q20: Im a PFS patient and Id like to do my part for PFS research by participating in a clinical study on the condition. If you have a northern European haplotype with a bad SNP profile and you get no or limited sunlight = no sulfated vitamin D3 = altered estradiol = altered testosterone = no progesterone = dehydration due to poor mitochondrial flux = no sex drive = no sex = no oxytocin = Tensegrity 7 blog. Additionally, although the drug is eliminated from the blood relatively quickly (half-life 4.8 to 6 hours), it remains active for much longer because it irreversibly binds to (and blocks the normal functioning of) the target enzyme 5-alpha-reductase (half-life 30 days). Q7: Are there any cases of PFS patients whove gotten 100% better? Finasteride is known to deplete Allopregnanolone and this supplement should help you increase it which may provide relief to brain fog, depression, or insomnia. A: At the moment, theres no known test for determining whether any finasteride patient will develop PFS. Avoid all environmental plastics and toxins, Cold and hot exposure, such as swimming in a cold river and doing sauna sessions. Hey Peterson, While this may sound unusual, research backs it up, and even shows that its a specific problem for men who use finasteride. Are antidepressants safe for PFS patients? I will start Progesterone cream with tongkat ali soon. Unfortunately, there have also been no published medical studies that report on the effectiveness of other antidepressants in the treatment of depression associated with PFS. FDA In 2017, the Post-Finasteride Syndrome Foundation (PFSF) submitted a petition to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asking the agency to remove the popular hair loss drug, Propecia, from the market due to evidence of serious risk of patient injury, including depression and suicidal ideation. Chiriac G, Cauci S, Mazzon G, Trombetta C. Andrology. I suffered PFS till 4 years with many problems: Let me help you fine-tune your diet for maximal results. I wish you could share more research about how you chose to do it. Both are inconsistent. I am investigating other solutions. They include sexual, neurological, physical and psychological adverse reactions in patients whove taken finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase type II enzyme inhibitor used to treat hair loss (Propecia, finasteride 1 mg) or enlarged prostate (Proscar, finasteride 5 mg). How do you explain that? However, many men who were treated with a placebo medication also reported the same side effects: 1.3 percent of men who received the placebo reported decreased libido, 0.7 percent of men who received the placebo reported erectile dysfunction, 0.7 percent of men who received the placebo reported ejaculation disorder. 2015 Sep;16(3):177-98. doi: 10.1007/s11154-015-9319-y. Adverse Sexual Effects of Treatment with Finasteride or Dutasteride for Male Androgenetic Alopecia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Post-finasteride syndrome is leaving behind a slew of victims in its trail. Among the men who used the placebo, 5.1 percent also reported experiencing erectile dysfunction. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the Is your diet scattered all over the place? PMC Love the site. Generic for Rogaine, this FDA-approved over-the-counter version of topical minoxidil is used for regrowth on the crown of the head. Sexual dysfunction; depression; erectile dysfunction; loss of libido; suicidal ideation. I have had PFS for 15 years, just came across your article, would you be interested in looking at my labs for comment? To date, there are no evidence-based effective treatments for PFS. 2022 Oct;10(5):100543. doi: 10.1016/j.esxm.2022.100543. So thankful to have found this article. All my symptoms have subsided and improved with this The site is secure. (It is not known if PED in that subset ever subsided, or persisted.) This is a difficult question to answer as there is a small minority of PFS patients who have reported anecdotally that they have developed PFS only after quitting finasteride. WebPost-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) or enlarged prostate (Proscar or generics). 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. I think androsterone and allopregnanolone, or topical DHEA and progesterone would be good options. The treatment consists of taking large doses of B6 and Zinc, along with a few antioxidants. Punk?. The study also showed that the longer men are on finasteride, the more likely they are to develop PED. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. I think he would suggest you "train" your skin to absorb more UV buy doing that yeah. Thanks in advance. Copyright 2019 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Weve explained this process and its effects on your hair in our guide to DHT and male hair loss. Like all medications, finasteride can cause side effects. Before My hair keeps growing thicker, fuller, and at a fast rate., I noticed a huge change in the overall health and fullness of my hairline., Now after 5 months Im able to style waves first time in 10 years!, I decided to jump right in and I'm so glad I did. Back then, providing support to those afflicted by the condition never crossed our mind. March 2, 2022 Post-finasteride Syndrome. 2023 Feb 2;12(3):653. doi: 10.3390/plants12030653. 2020 May-Jun;95(3):271-277. doi: 10.1016/j.abd.2020.02.001. Any idea why that may be? Finasteride binds to 5-R type 2 with high affinity and dissociates very slowly with a half-life of 31 days. Furthermore, finasteride inhibits CYP3A4 (which is the enzymes that detox finasteride) and that can cause a significant buildup of finasteride in the body over time. Other patients report that they become more stable and learn to better cope with the condition over a period of one to three years, rather than return to full health. Many websites that discuss post-finasteride syndrome describe it as a lifelong condition with no treatments or cures. Furthermore, we have reports from many patients who used topical finasteride solutions only and still developed PFS symptoms. press@forhims.com goes to a third party never send personal, medical, or health information to this address. So combining progesterone + DHEA and allopregnanolone + DHT can be is even better. Should I stop taking the drug cold turkey, or gradually taper off it? The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 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. I definitely feel ten years younger!, In just as little over two and half months, I can really see the difference in thickness and in color., 4-months strong and my confidence boosted back up to 100% using Hims, future me really does thank me., Im a 34 year old father of two and have been using Hims for over a year now. This improvement was blocked by finasteride, which blocks the synthesis of allopregnanolone. official website and that any information you provide is encrypted Why is anxiety more common in women with PCOS? In the meantime, we are working hard to publish as much medical literature and other news about the condition as possible on our website. Sure I can do that for you. Bile also acts as an anti-bacterial and anti-microbial substance which keeps the gut clean and prevents SIBO and SIFO. Press J to jump to the feed. I think its a combination of low energy production due to cellular damage and excess ROS production. shrink penis. Also, increased depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation in a subset of men treated with these drugs were commonly reported in a number of studies. If you come across such a doctor and are depending on him/her to treat your PFS, you would probably benefit from finding a doctor who is more knowledgeable about the condition. Finasteride was the first on the market and is currently the most widely used inhibitor. Neurosteroids such as 5-DHP and allopregnanolone stimulate neurogenesis, neuronal survival, neuronal differentiation, synaptogenesis, glial differentiation, myelin formation, synaptic function, and synaptic plasticity (, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), How to interpret your testosterone blood results, How to interpret your cortisol test results, How to interpret your thyroid test results, Top 12 must-eat foods to increase testosterone, How to Optimize Sleep for better Life Performance, https://www.amazon.com/product-reviews/B004PVLWW0/ref=acr_dp_hist_2?ie=UTF8&filterByStar=two_star&reviewerType=all_reviews#reviews-filter-bar, From frail and hypogonadal, to gaining 60lbs of muscle, boosting testosterone over 1,000ng/dl and becoming a successful entrepreneur, Testosterone-boosting breakfast: top 5 recipes, 9 Powerful ways coffee can boost libido and sex. Also do you recommend an androsterone supplement, I havent heard of that option so far. The researchers found that the men who were informed about sexual side effects were around three times more likely to report experiencing ED, decreased libido or ejaculation disorders. Do you sleep in a tent? More and more, doctors who do so wind up contacting the foundation directly to inquire further about the condition. Do explosive exercises, such as uphill sprints, muscle-ups, jump squats, burpees, etc. THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE . Epub 2020 Mar 25. Currently, finasteride is the most effective option available for treating hair loss. Book Full Body Checkups. Its sold under the brand names Propecia and Proscar. I took and i am taking many of the supplements listed with no real improvements. It is known that post-finasteride syndrome (PFS) patients suffer from treatment-resistant depression and anxiety. Doses have ranged between 1200mg and 3600mg per day without significant side effects. Id love to help you out. J Endocrinol Invest. But check your bilirubin just in case. By the mid-1990s PEAs mechanism of action was discovered and linked to its ability to induce the brain biosynthesis of neuroactive steroid hormones, including allopregnanolone. Hi Karl, Id do an organic acid test and a DUTCH test to see what specifically addressing. Below, weve shared methods that you can use to treat and prevent male pattern baldness while minimizing your risk of post-finasteride surgery. MeSH Fertil Steril. If I do, could I develop PFS after stopping? The PubMed wordmark and PubMed logo are registered trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Several studies over the past decade, for example, from Dokras,[], Illustration by Marta Pucci. Best, Dr. Emer. Im not beholden to trT. Any other advice that would help is greatly appreciated. Physical improvements down below as well. Post-finasteride syndrome is a controversial condition. There are no known scientific reports of PFS patients returning to full health. A third factor is that a lot of the problems commonly described as symptoms of post-finasteride syndrome are common in middle-aged and older men, particularly men in the age group that is most likely to develop noticeable male pattern baldness. Co-use is likely to be common by patients, but the effects of co-use are not known. Will start vitamin K soon. 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. Now two months after stopping Dudasteride, my twitches and brain zaps are now greatly diminshed, insomnia is still a problem though. If you have any problems completing this registration, please email support@jackkruse.com and we will assist you. The other side effects, such as ejaculation disorder, breast enlargement and breast tenderness, were only reported by 0.1 percent of men who received the non-therapeutic placebo. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Weve explained what post-finasteride syndrome is, the symptoms that are associated with PFS, as well as the potential treatment options for men who have issues after using finasteride. What few people know is that there are 5-R and 3 types of 5-R enzymes and that theyre not only involved in the conversion of testosterone to DHT, but also in the: Many of the benefits of testosterone, such as enhanced insulin sensitivity, reduced catabolism, higher dopamine, increased thyroid hormone production, are mediated by DHT, and blocking DHT production prevents those effects/benefits. National Library of Medicine This is a psychological phenomenon in which a persons negative expectations about a specific medication or procedure may cause them to experience a negative symptom. So lets discuss what the drug, finasteride, does in the first place. I tried an illegal drug that increases dopamine and all of my issues went away briefly, so i think dopamine is a big piece of the puzzle here, especially with penis sensitivity. These constellations of symptoms constitute the basis for PFS in individuals predisposed to epigenetic susceptibility. I took a topical of Fin/Minoxidil for less than 3 months and just recently have experience whole body weakness, stiffness, joint pain, brain fog and a lower feeling of well-being/happiness. Still, anyone interested in absolute numbers of reported PFS symptoms should review the World Health Organizations VigiBase database of adverse drug reactions (ADRs), which currently contains more than 18,000 finasteride ADRs. Q4: Is there any way to know if Im susceptible to PFS? An official website of the United States government. However, only a very small percentage of men who used finasteride at the 1mg daily dose thats used to treat hair loss experienced any of these side effects. Cannibus is my only vice, so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Most of the research used to support the idea of post-finasteride syndrome is low quality, with issues such as selection bias believed to affect results. All these factors would indicate that tapering off finasteride offers no advantage compared to abruptly stopping the drug. According to the National Institutes of Health, scientific research is underway to better understand the effects of 5-alpha reductase inhibitor drugs like finasteride. An Bras Dermatol. Many men begin to develop sexual performance issues in middle age. Memory, libido, focus, drive, and sociability have all dramatically improved. Considering the amount of stress in our daily lives and the constant negative feedbacks from exogenous estrogens leading to GNRH suppression, HCG is probably the best drug there is on the market right now. Some might be upregulated and some downregulated, so you might experience heightened serotonin responses. Customers were given free product.. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513329/, https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/prostate-problems/prostate-enlargement-benign-prostatic-hyperplasia, https://www.pfsfoundation.org/about-pfs-post-finasteride-syndrome/, https://www.pfsfoundation.org/frequently-asked-questions/, https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/020788s028lbl.pdf, https://www.karger.com/Article/Fulltext/497362, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401955/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17655657/, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27662439/, https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/condition/androgenetic-alopecia/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5540144/, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482378/, https://www.scitcentral.com/article/19/60/Randomized-Comparative-Research-Study-of-Topical-and-Oral-Finasteride-with-Minoxidil-for-Male-Pattern-Androgenetic-Alopecia-in-Indian-Patients, https://www.ijord.com/index.php/ijord/article/view/394, https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/12407/adverse-events-of-5-alpha-reductase-inhibitors, many vitamins are vital for proper hair growth. there is a big thread about the Aussie donut hole - where JK gave us tons of info. This type of procedure involves removing DHT-resistant hair follicles from a donor area, such as the back of your scalp, then transplanting the grafted hairs to your hairline, crown or other areas affected by male pattern baldness. Unauthorized use of these marks is strictly prohibited. on average a 10% increase in hair count over balding areas). Hair transplant surgery provides permanent results, but it can be costly. Clinicians should be alert for any unusual effects if patients ingest saw palmetto supplements while taking 5-alpha reductase inhibitors. Overall, although there are lots of incidental reports of post-finasteride syndrome online and in popular media, there isnt very much in the way of high quality scientific evidence to support its existence, at least not like there is for other medical conditions. Can you help me? The best way to connect with these patients is to participate in our Patient Support program. You can argue with the theoretician but you cant argue with the anecdotal stories of successful recovery. An official website of the United States government. You might thus benefit from things that stimulate bile flow such as taurine and TUDCA. Finasteride blocks the glutathione production leading to mycotoxin build up if you were living or working near mould and not knowing it. 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? What do you think about proviron and other DHT derived steroids? You also may want to look into using topical finasteride to treat your hair loss. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. Finasteride; adverse events; alopecia; benign prostate hyperplasia; dutasteride; erectile disorder; libido; post-finasteride syndrome. I have blood and hormones test results if u want. Additionally, the PFS Foundation has been contacted by at least 30 patients who took saw palmetto only, as a hair-loss treatment, and developed symptoms strikingly similar to those experienced by PFS patients. HCG monotherapy, when properly run (up to 1000iu per week) is the best treatment bar none, unless one is primary hypogonadal. WebBased on patterns in firsthand experiences, the course may be understood in terms of three phases: post-withdrawal, adaptation and stabilization: This figure shows three outcomes: recovery, partial recovery and no recovery: Figure. - PubMed - NCBI, Penile Growth in Response to Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) Treatment in Patients with Idiopathic Hypogonadotrophic Hypogonadism, Low-Dose Human Chorionic Gonadotropin Maintains Intratesticular Testosterone in Normal Men with Testosterone-Induced Gonadotropin Suppression, Elevated ESR and hCG levels are strong predictors of impending cancer diagnosis To Extract Knowledge from Matter, Thoughts On 5ar And Post Finasteride Syndrome, Post Finasteride Syndrome And Low Insuline, Post Finasteride Sydrome - Neuropathic Pain, Low-Dose HCG Maintains Intratesticular T In Normal Men With T-Induced Gonadotropin Suppression, DHT And Reversing Androgen-receptor Deficiency, Elevated ESR And HCG Levels Are Strong Predictors Of Impending Cancer Diagnosis, Post Finasteride Sydnrome, And The 5ar1 And 2 Isoenzymes, Post Finasteride/ High Cortisol/ Low Gaba. I have tried a few of the a above already alone with no improvement however I think a holistic combination may be the answer. This action is similar to the action of 5-alpha reductase inhibitors, such as dutasteride and finasteride. Common adverse events of treatment consist of sexual disorders and a negative affect balance. Unable to load your collection due to an error, Unable to load your delegates due to an error. Learn how your comment data is processed. No libido Huh? HCG increased my anxiety. The first of these is the nocebo effect. It is a severely underrated and misunderstood drug. If a pill feels like an overwhelming way to treat male pattern hair loss, this spray with finasteride & minoxidil could be for you. Some people actually report dramatic improvements in their symptoms after starting a certain SSRI. The men in the other group were not told that they would use finasteride and did not receive a briefing on potential side effects. 2019 Jan 1;99(1):12-17. doi: 10.2340/00015555-3035. 5-reduced steroids are significantly increased in a hyperthyroid state. is a recovery really possible? Although, they would like you to believe testosterone replacement is the only solution to make a full recovery. CT really seems to help my symptoms, the colder the better! It appears promising that treatment with PEA, by increasing allopregnanolone levels in PFS patients brains, could improve mood and reduce anxiety. For doctors. Brain fog For diagnostic criteria of the condition, see our PFS Diagnostic Criteria page.). WebWhen we established the PFS Foundation in 2012, our mission was simple: to facilitate research on the characterization, the underlying biologic mechanisms, and potential treatments of post-finasteride syndrome.