Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Dutasteride for Reducing Heavy Drinking in Men

April 2024 in “ Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology ”

Jonathan Covault, Howard Tennen, Richard Feinn

Studysummary In this study, dutasteride 1 mg daily reduced heavy drinking days and drinks per week among treatment-seeking men, particularly benefiting those with high baseline drinking to cope motives.

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Research cited in this study

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research Dutasteride Reduces Alcohol’s Sedative Effects in Men in a Human Laboratory Setting and Reduces Drinking in the Natural Environment

32 citations , February 2014 in “Psychopharmacology”

This study found that dutasteride pretreatment reduced certain sedative effects of alcohol and may decrease drinking behavior in adult men, likely by impacting neuroactive steroid levels.

research Alteration of Ethanol Drinking in Mice via Modulation of the GABAA Receptor with Ganaxolone, Finasteride, and Gaboxadol

34 citations , June 2011 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research”

This study suggests that neurosteroids and compounds acting on GABA(A) receptors, like THIP, may modulate ethanol intake by influencing drinking patterns.

research Inhibition of 5α-Reduced Steroid Biosynthesis Impedes Acquisition of Ethanol Drinking in Male C57BL/6J Mice

49 citations , July 2008 in “Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research”

This study found that finasteride dose-dependently blocked the acquisition of ethanol drinking in mice and maintained reduced consumption even after treatment ended.

Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

research Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

54 citations , August 2005 in “Alcohol”

This study found that acute finasteride treatment decreased ethanol intake in male C57BL/6J mice, whereas chronic treatment showed diminished effects, implying compensatory changes in neurosteroid modulation.

research Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

408 citations , May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

This study found that dutasteride more effectively reduced serum dihydrotestosterone levels than finasteride in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia.

research Comparison of Finasteride Versus Flutamide in the Treatment of Hirsutism

75 citations , October 1999 in “European journal of endocrinology”

This study found that both finasteride and flutamide effectively reduce hirsutism in women with polycystic ovary syndrome or idiopathic hirsutism, but flutamide was more effective.

research A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Finasteride to Spironolactone in the Treatment of Hirsute Women

52 citations , January 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

This study observed that finasteride and spironolactone both led to a similar significant, but limited, improvement in hirsutism despite their differing effects on androgen levels.