---
title: Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders? | Niyora
description: The review suggests neurosteroids might help with anxiety, epilepsy, and depression, but clinical evidence is limited.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/neurosteroids-endogenous-role-in-the-human-brain-and-therapeutic-potentials-2010/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders?

Review, 2010

# Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders?

The review suggests neurosteroids might help with anxiety, epilepsy, and depression, but clinical evidence is limited.

 Moderate study design

Not applicable; this is a review of research on neurosteroids.

## What they did

Review article examining how neurosteroids work in the brain and their potential as treatments for various conditions.

## What they found

Neurosteroids are made in the brain and control brain cell activity. Allopregnanolone has powerful anti-seizure activity. Different types regulate anxiety, stress, and memory. Some synthetic versions may help anxiety and depression without benzodiazepine side effects. Clinical trials with ganaxolone for epilepsy were encouraging.

## What it means for you

Synthetic neurosteroids might become treatments for anxiety and depression in the future. However, this review mainly covers basic science and early clinical research. Larger clinical trials are still needed.

## About the study

Original title Neurosteroids: endogenous role in the human brain and therapeutic potentials Authors Reddy DS Journal Progress in brain research Year 2010 Study design Review What was tested None - this is a review article Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-53630-3.00008-7](https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-444-53630-3.00008-7)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)[Neurosteroids (allopregnanolone)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-neurosteroids/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Pregnancy and postpartum](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-postpartum/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Review, 2003

How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does a smartphone app for heart rate variability biofeedback reduce premenstrual and depressive symptoms?

Survey study, 2018

How do women respond differently to psychiatric medications and why do we need sex-specific treatments?

Lab study, 2013

Could antidepressants help prevent PMS by keeping brain chemicals stable?

Randomised trial, 2009

Does a hormone called allopregnanolone calm the body's startle reaction in PMDD?

Lab study, 2006

Can a hormone that usually reduces anxiety instead cause anxiety after your body adapts to its being blocked?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗
