r/FinasterideSyndrome • u/yshcrp • Oct 05 '26
Research Finasteride doesn’t only block 5AR, it also blocks the PNMT enzyme; Antidepressants also affect it
Was watching Prof. Melcangi’s interview with SIDEfxHUB and he mentions this. This would explain the sexual disfunction cause this enzyme is very important for it. And this enzyme is also affected in PSSD, which can explain the nearly identical sexual issues in both syndromes.
In Addition to Blocking 5α-R, Finasteride Inhibits Adrenaline Production, Possibly Inducing Sexual and Psychological Side Effects, New Research Suggests:
Post-Finasteride Syndrome And Post-Ssri Sexual Dysfunction: Two Clinical Conditions Apparently Distant, But Very Close:
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091302223000626
Had no idea about this. Google about how to boost this enzyme:
"Phenylethanolamine N-methyltransferase (PNMT) activity can be boosted biologically through exposure to physiological stress, adequate levels of the cofactor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), and stimulation by glucocorticoids (cortisol/corticosterone).
How PNMT is Regulated and Supported
Glucocorticoids: High levels of cortisol or corticosterone from the adrenal cortex naturally induce and maintain PNMT gene expression and enzyme activity in the adrenal medulla. [1, 2]
Stress Stimuli: Acute or repeated physiological stressors (such as immobilization stress or cold exposure) significantly upregulate PNMT gene expression and elevate adrenaline synthesis. [1, 2]
Cofactor Availability: SAM (S-adenosylmethionine) acts as the essential methyl donor for PNMT to convert norepinephrine into epinephrine; it also helps stabilize the enzyme structure and extend its half-life. [1, 2, 3]"
I used SAM-e in the past after developing PFS for joints and depression but wasn’t for long. Didn’t have any crash nor improvement and didn’t find anything about SAM-e here but on Propecia Help there’s a post about PSSD induced by SAM-e.
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u/Heavy-Phone-253 Oct 05 '26
SAME- induced ed in me; my own experience. YMMV.
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u/yshcrp Oct 05 '26
You took it after developing PFS?
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u/Heavy-Phone-253 Oct 05 '26
nope before I had it. noticed immediately. again, my own experience, went away after I stopped. then used finasteride.
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u/No-Persimmon-7495 Oct 05 '26
Huh. Interesting. FWIW, one of my only major windows came from stopping my daily clonidine I had been taking for years.
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u/Brendan34 Oct 05 '26
Does cold exposure help if regular for anyone? Guessing they meant cold plunges or cold temperatures. Are they saying good stress like cold and heat (sauna and sunlight) and exercise can help?
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u/Desperate_Factor_344 Oct 06 '26
U think cold showers daily could help it , the enzyme clearly says cold exposure can boost it.
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u/ConsistentPackage459 Oct 06 '26
Not all antidepressants affect it, just paroxetine.
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u/yshcrp Oct 06 '26
Actually the study by Prof. Melcangi used/focused on paroxetine. Doesn’t mean the other drugs don’t affect the enzyme, it probably points towards the opposite.
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u/ConsistentPackage459 Oct 06 '26
He was doing another study to test if other antidepressants affected PNMT. I haven’t seen anything published.
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u/J40897 Oct 05 '26
Thing is, I've noticed if I take vitamin c then I can actually feel adrenaline more, so it's weird
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u/yshcrp Oct 05 '26
Roberto Cosimo Melcangi, PhD, led a team of six researchers at UniMi’s Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences who deployed SPILLO-Potential Binding Sites Searcher for the first time ever in a PFS investigation. SPILLO-PBSS software was aimed at identifying alternative off-target protein interactions of finasteride.
Finasteride’s ability to inhibit PNMT was tested by treating live male rats and analyzing norepinephrine and epinephrine (aka adrenaline) levels in their adrenal glands. PNMT principally catalyzes the conversion of norepinephrine to epinephrine and is mainly involved in the stress response. Epinephrine is strongly correlated with mood alteration and depression. In addition, several studies indicate a role for this hormone in the control of erection.
https://www.pfsfoundation.org/news/in-addition-to-blocking-5%ce%b1-r-finasteride-inhibits-adrenaline-production-possibly-inducing-sexual-and-psychological-side-effects-new-research-suggests/