This is my first post so apologies in advance if I get something wrong. I want to make clear that I have no agenda - I genuinely want to hear your thoughts and experiences. I am concerned but, by no means, panicked. I am trying to decide whether to continue my current treatment for hair loss, or to stop altogether.
I am 44 years of age and have been on Propecia 1mg for about 24 months. I started treatment because I had early, but aggressive hairloss - NW2 but quickly progressing towards NW3. Since starting treatment, my hairline has stablised and, possibly, there has been some regrowth too. Following my early scepticism, I do believe that Propecia is effective at arresting hair loss and promoting regrowth.
I have not had many obvious side effects. In the early days, I would feel very bloated but this soon settled. Sometimes, I think have breast tenderness but, again, this is infrequent and, quite possibly, psychosomatic rather than physical.
However, over the last 6 months or so, I have increasingly become conscious of brain fog. The individual episodes are infrequent (say 3 or 4 times a week) but they trouble me because I have always had a good intellect and memory (both short and long-term). I am noticing a cognitive decline.
Let me give specific examples. I was talking with my sister the other day and wanted to enquire after one of her friends and I said a name. My sister looked at me blankly for several seconds as I repeated the name a few times. I then proceeded to explain what this friend of hers did and my sister remembered and said, it's so-and-so you're actually talking about. I was quite shocked that my mind had gone completely blank. A similar episode happened to me at work. During the course of a conversation, while a friend and I were discussing a mutual friend, I suddenly forgot who we were talking about and struggled to participate in the conversation. I told my friend, I'd forgotten who we were discussing - we both laughed it off but the episode scared me. Finally, more recently I was musing on my plans for the rest of the year and, momentarily, struggled to recall what season it was and what month we were in. I had to work to recall the information albeit this all happened over a few seconds.
The best way to describe is sometimes I feel I am trying to wade my way through treacle to reach a memory be it a name, place or event. Sometimes my recall of simple memories feels laboured. I try to remember things by association more often in order that I don't forget them.
There are several possibilities; first, I am suffering hypochondria and merely imagining that my memory has declined. Second, that my memory has declined but that some decline is to be expected at my age. Third, that I have early signs of dementia linked to heredity or some other factor. Or fourth, that my "brain fog" is linked to the use of Propecia. Of course, a combination of these factors may apply.
So to my questions? Do any of you using Propecia recognise my symptoms? Could this be a side-effect from Propecia? Is there any evidence that Propecia can cause or accelerate long-term cognitive decline (including causing or expediting forms of dementia)? Could Propecia permanently damage the brain? Any advice or thoughts gratefully received. Thank you in advance.
