I Started low dose TRT in 2016 for mainly libido/erection issues but also had mood and concentration problems. Wasn't much successful and cortisol went too low so quit after 8 or 9 months. Then tried HCG which worked for about 2 months but then E got too high and it stopped working at all. From then onwards, I was just chasing symptoms by trying different stuff. Low dose TE, TP, AI's, Proviron and different herbs. I knew that DHT was crucial for libido but wasn't able to raise it in a balanced way with consistent results. Every time it would work for some days and go too high with low estrogen symptoms (teary eyes, low mood, libido crash etc.) To get out of that (androgenic) state I had to take progesterone and I could then take TE without above symptoms, but, in this (estrogenic) state, I still had very little desire plus erection problems. Then again, I would try an AI or zinc or Proviron with T or HCG for the next round.
My heart was fine with all of this until the fall of 2019. I had injected low dose TE and also taken Proviron. Then I also ingested some astragalus root powder. I later found on the net that this lowers progesterone and estrogen. Any way at around midnight I woke up with my heart really struggling. It felt like it was pumping oil or something. I rushed up to my room and took a 100 mg progesterone pill and in minutes heart spasms went away and I was able to sleep. Next morning I went to the hospital for ECG and it was fine although I felt tired the whole day. Even though I became very careful I nevertheless had more cardiovascular events a few months later (heart palps, shortness of breath, nausea etc.) and to my horror, the progesterone did not help but made it worse (by supposedly blocking E I think). I went to the hospital the ECG was again fine and they gave me a date for stress test. I was feeling fine on that day and the stress test was also ok. Later I also had an Echocardiogram (ultrasound of heart) and that was fine too except the doctor said my heart walls were slightly thicker but he didn't seem concerned at all. I never told any doctor of steroids or anything I had taken.
I have stopped all steroids/AI etc. It has become clear that anything that raises DHT causes an immediate cardiovascular event. Also anything that lowers E is bad, even heart healthy stuff like Pomegranate juice. If I drink it for 3 or 4 days I get pain in my chest. AI's are totally out of question. Even Boron has started to cause heart pain. Not sure why that is. May be because it lowers SHBG and frees up T/DHT?
Any thing that blocks DHT (without blocking E also) relieves my heart of the pain like Finasteride, Astaxanthin, Rosemary oil, Lavender oil etc. Estrogenic and Anti androgenic stuff is what my heart is screaming for and it is not because my DHT is high. I just cannot seem to tolerate even normal range. I am really stuck with apparently no way without sacrificing one (sex) for the other (heart) .
This is just a warning to anyone who is on AI's or is trying to raise his DHT. If you can, please get off it before your heart stops tolerating androgens. Google DHT and heart and you will find links. Testosterones beneficial effects on heart are caused by its conversion to Estrogen while its deleterious effects are caused by its conversion to DHT. Of course this will not be true for everyone but there is a good chance you will screw your heart like me. Look it up.
I am looking for an objective analysis of my timeline and what happened to me. I am not looking for someone to simply confirm or deny post-finasteride syndrome. I want an honest assessment of what best fits the sequence of events.
I am currently 28 years old. At age 26, in August 2024, I started TRT and hCG. I felt amazing during this time. My libido, energy, mood, and overall quality of life were excellent.
My bloodwork showed a very high total testosterone level of 81 nmol/L and a DHT level of approximately 1850 pmol/L. At the time, I questioned why my testosterone was extremely high while my DHT appeared more mid-range, but I had no symptoms and felt completely normal.
After several months, I stopped hCG because of cost and continued TRT alone. My testosterone doses were generally around 120-160 mg per week. I also briefly increased to 250 mg per week for a mini-cycle, but stopped after accidentally lowering my estrogen too much with Aromasin.
During this period, I experimented with microdose topical finasteride and minoxidil at 0.02%. I experienced no significant side effects and eventually stopped because I realized I did not need it.
On March 28, 2025, I started a topical hair-loss formula containing minoxidil, retinoic acid, azelaic acid, and caffeine because I wanted to be preventative with hair loss.
On April 13, 2025, I added topical finasteride at 0.01%. I also became more focused on hair loss prevention and experimented with RU58841 and topical spironolactone.
During this time, I noticed some mild anxiety and some minor sleep disturbances, but nothing severe. I was still fully functioning. I was working, traveling, dating, socializing, and enjoying my life.
On May 10, 2025, I experienced my first-ever panic attack. I immediately stopped all topical products because I believed they were the cause.
At that point, I was only using testosterone, hCG, and Proviron. Over the following week, I improved significantly. By approximately May 20, I felt around 90% back to myself. I was functioning normally, making plans, socializing, and felt like I was returning to baseline.
However, after researching online and seeing content about post-finasteride syndrome, I became convinced that I had PFS. I began believing that low DHT was the problem and that increasing DHT would fix my symptoms.
At the end of June 2025, I started using a DHT gel. The product contained 100 mg/mL, and I applied approximately 2 mL per day, totaling around 200 mg of DHT daily.
Within approximately three days, I developed severe anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, brain fog, racing thoughts, and heart palpitations. I also developed a rash from the product.
On July 4, I went to the emergency department due to the severity of these symptoms.
Despite getting worse, I continued using the DHT because I believed it was the solution to what I thought was PFS.
On July 11, my mother noticed that I seemed emotionally flat and unlike myself.
On July 21, I woke up with severe panic, shortness of breath, heart palpitations, and what felt like a complete mental breakdown. I was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
During the hospital investigation, an arachnoid cyst was discovered on my brain. However, after follow-up with neurologists and neurosurgeons, I was told that the cyst was incidental and was not responsible for my symptoms.
Despite this, I remained convinced that PFS was the cause.
In September 2025, I continued experimenting because I believed I needed to correct a hormonal or neurosteroid problem. I used a product containing DHT, DHEA, and pregnenolone. I also continued TRT with daily injections and used a nasal spray that I believed contained allopregnanolone.
From September through October, my mental health deteriorated significantly. I developed severe anxiety, depression, racing thoughts, panic attacks, obsessive thoughts, and suicidal ideation.
On November 1, 2025, I was taken to the emergency department during a severe psychiatric episode. I was extremely agitated, panicked, crying, and felt completely unlike myself.
In January 2026, I entered a treatment program and was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder. I was started on Lexapro and have since reduced the dose.
The main question I am trying to answer is:
Does this timeline fit post-finasteride syndrome, considering that I improved significantly within one to two weeks after stopping the topical products?
Or does the timeline suggest that the later deterioration was more likely related to high-dose DHT, DHEA, pregnenolone, neurosteroid experimentation, severe anxiety, obsessive health focus, sleep disruption, or a combination of factors?
I would appreciate an objective assessment based on the timeline rather than a predetermined conclusion.
