Can Finasteride actually cause anxiety?

[QuestioningEverything]

So I've had depression and anxiety for the past 2 years after figure out I was trans and have been on Finasteride for about a year now. I've heard that it can cause these issues but its too hard to determine if Fin had increased my anxiety since dealing with being trans can cause enough anxiety in itself. Anyways today I've been off Fin for 3 days now since I forgot to fill it in time and I Haven't felt too much depression or anxiety the past 3 days as well.  Has anyone else had depression/anxiety thats been linked to taking Finasteride? or is this just all in my head and I've just happened to have a few good days in a row?  Now I'm trying to decide if I should even start taking it again since I'm now on hrt anyways do I really need it?  I may try taking one every other day and if I notice anxiety coming back ill probably stop it all together.

[chuufk]

Whilst depression and anxiety are not listed as side effects on Finasteride's medication leaftlet, there are plenty of people who complain that it does cause anxiety and/or depression.

[Dena]

I am not a doctor but I  suspect your HRT contains a blocker so wouldn't think Finasteride would be needed. I would recommend checking with you Endo as that detail might have slipped through the cracks. It is possible if your T levels are still high you might want to remain on Finasteride but your Endo can give you better advice than we can.

[QuestioningEverything]

I am not a doctor but I  suspect your HRT contains a blocker so wouldn't think Finasteride would be needed. I would recommend checking with you Endo as that detail might have slipped through the cracks. It is possible if your T levels are still high you might want to remain on Finasteride but your Endo can give you better advice than we can.

Yea I'm on Spiro as well as Estradiol. My Spiro dose is a little lower then I wish it was so I am still kind of worried about hair loss, but it should probably still be high enough to stop any loss and im probably worrying over nothing. Im not sure if my endo even knows im on Fin since I started taking it before HRT.  Maybe I just just chop off these nuggets then I wont even have to worry about my T levels anymore. I just dont want to be taking Finasteride if its actually is increasing my anxiety levels. Guess I'll have to talk to my endo on my next appointment in Nov

[mfox]

Whilst depression and anxiety are not listed as side effects on Finasteride's medication leaftlet, there are plenty of people who complain that it does cause anxiety and/or depression.

I was on a max dose of Finasteride for a few months and I noticed my anxiety and depression did get a lot worse on it.  I cut it down by half and it helped A LOT.  Just my experience.

[HughE]

Finasteride blocks the production of allopregnanolone, which is an important neurosteroid (neurosteroids are hormones synthesised within the brain and that affect brain function). While the majority of people appear to be able to use finasteride without experiencing too many adverse side effects, there have been reports of it causing depression, and a whole bunch of other problems too! Do a search on post-finasteride syndrome to see some of the problems it can cause.

As others have said, if you're already on full trans HRT, finasteride is probably unnecessary anyway, as your HRT will already be suppressing your T production.

[chuufk]

As others have said, if you're already on full trans HRT, finasteride is probably unnecessary anyway, as your HRT will already be suppressing your T production.

But T is not really the problem is it? It is DHT and only a small amount of T gets converted. We do not take Fin. to suppress T

(Going off-topic)

I have never found a straight answer to the question "Do DHT levels vary in proportion to T levels?"

In other words, if 5% of my T gets converted to DHT and then my T levels drop to 1/10th of my original value, does DHT alsodrop by a factor of 10 or does half my remaining T get converted so I wind up with as much DHT as before?

[QuestioningEverything]

But T is not really the problem is it? It is DHT and only a small amount of T gets converted. We do not take Fin. to suppress T

(Going off-topic)

I have never found a straight answer to the question "Do DHT levels vary in proportion to T levels?"

In other words, if 5% of my T gets converted to DHT and then my T levels drop to 1/10th of my original value, does DHT alsodrop by a factor of 10 or does half my remaining T get converted so I wind up with as much DHT as before?

Thats what i assume happens the less T then therefor there must be less DHT. Thats why I'm not sure if I even need it I feel like my T is low enough that DHT shouldn't have too much of an impact on my hair. I dont know. I just don't want to take more meds then I need.

[HughE]

In other words, if 5% of my T gets converted to DHT and then my T levels drop to 1/10th of my original value, does DHT alsodrop by a factor of 10 or does half my remaining T get converted so I wind up with as much DHT as before?

If your T levels are reduced then your DHT levels will be too, since there will be less substrate available for alpha reductase to work on. It might not be a simple linear relationship though, especially since alpha reductase doesn't just use T as a substrate, it also converts progesterone to allopregnanolone, and I think does a couple of other hormone conversions too. That's why deactivating it isn't a good idea, it'll reduce DHT levels but will also affect levels of several other hormones, which probably explains why some people have some quite severe adverse side effects from it.

One thing you could do that should help reduce DHT without messing up your other hormone levels, is to take progesterone in addition to estradiol. Progesterone is the second female hormone, so it makes sense to supplement with it anyway. However, since it's also a substrate for alpha reductase, it'll compete with whatever remaining T you have for access to the enzyme, and should thus help to further reduce the amount of T converted to DHT.

[Amy Chislett]

Isnt spriro and fin doing the same job?  Your doctor should what totally your takig.  For me going off t blockers caused me anxiety. Fin is also killing my sex drive so it may go the way.  We'll see.

The AC is on.