Enduring Sexual Dysfunction After Treatment With Antidepressants, 5α-Reductase Inhibitors, and Isotretinoin: 300 Cases

Androsterone may help with sexual and affective dysfunction from finasteride by replacing disrupted neurosteroids without increasing androgenic side effects. Controlled testing is needed to confirm its effectiveness and safety.

Finasteride can reduce neuroactive steroids, causing side effects like depression, anxiety, and sexual dysfunction. Some users experience persistent symptoms after stopping finasteride, while others use alternative treatments like topical solutions.

A user experienced a loss of libido and anhedonia after severe dietary restriction while on Finasteride and Minoxidil for hair loss. They are considering reducing the Finasteride dose or taking a break to see if symptoms improve.

Saw palmetto, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, caused unexpected side effects like breast changes and altered semen consistency, which resolved after stopping its use. Concerns about similar side effects with finasteride or dutasteride were expressed, and another user reported low libido and depression from saw palmetto.

Finasteride affects libido differently in individuals due to hormonal changes, increasing testosterone and potentially estrogen, which can either boost or reduce sexual desire. Other treatments mentioned include dutasteride and topical applications, with some users experiencing increased libido and others experiencing a decrease.

FCE 28260 (PNU 156765), an under-explored 5α-reductase inhibitor, showcases promising results in research by Giudici et al., outperforming well-known treatments like Finasteride in reducing the conversion of testosterone to DHT. Its superior efficacy, demonstrated through lower IC50 values in both natural and human recombinant enzyme studies, suggests it could offer more effective management of DHT-related conditions. Additionally, its lower molecular weight hints at better potential for topical application, potentially offering advantages in treating conditions such as androgenic alopecia. Despite its potential, it has not advanced in development, possibly due to financial limitations, leaving its therapeutic prospects and side effect profile largely unexplored.