Dihydrotestosterone and Finasteride Effects on Alcohol Cue-Elicited Brain Activity in Males With Heavy Episodic Drinking

January 2026 in “ Addiction Biology ”

Rafat Boroumand‐Jazi, Sabine Hoffmann, Iris Reinhard, P. Bach, W Sommer, Marlene Kundlacz, Christian P. Müller, Matthias Reichl, Haoye Tan, Leonard Wenger, Anne Marie Beck, Sabine Vollstädt‐Klein, Falk Kiefer, Christiane Mühle, Sarah Gerhardt, Bernd Lenz

finasteride dihydrotestosterone 5α-reductase inhibitor testosterone allopregnanolone Propecia

Studysummary This study found that, although finasteride reduced dihydrotestosterone levels in males with heavy episodic drinking, it did not significantly alter brain activation or craving but was linked to a stronger desire not to drink.

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research The Connection of 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors to the Development of Depression

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research The Steroidogenesis Inhibitor Finasteride Reduces the Response to Both Stressful and Rewarding Stimuli

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This study found that finasteride impaired stress reactivity and reduced exploratory and impulsive behaviors in rats, potentially by altering the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function.

research Prenatal and Adult Androgen Activities in Alcohol Dependence

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This study observed that higher prenatal androgen loads were associated with more severe alcohol dependence in male patients and linked to behaviors of pregnant women that may influence their children’s androgen exposure.

research Exploring the Neural Mechanisms of Finasteride: A Proteomic Analysis in the Nucleus Accumbens

14 citations , October 2016 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

This study identified significant changes in the expression of nine proteins in the nucleus accumbens of rats treated with finasteride, suggesting potential novel targets for its neuropsychiatric effects.

research The Neurosteroidogenic Enzyme 5α-Reductase Modulates the Role of D1 Dopamine Receptors in Rat Sensorimotor Gating

49 citations , September 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

This study suggests that the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride modulates sensorimotor gating in rats by affecting D1 and D3 receptors, but not D2 receptors, with varying effects based on genetic strain.

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 Inhibition Of 5α-Reductase Attenuates Behavioral Effects Of D1-, But Not D2-Like Receptor Agonists In C57BL/6 Mice

42 citations , August 2012 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

Finasteride reduces certain behaviors caused by D1-like receptor agonists but not by D2-like receptor agonists in mice.

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.

research Studies on Neurosteroids XXV: Influence of a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Finasteride, on Rat Brain Neurosteroid Levels and Metabolism

61 citations , January 2008 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin”

In this study, finasteride dose-dependently inhibited stress-induced increases in allopregnanolone in rats, while enhancing 20alpha-reduction of progesterone without affecting 3alpha-dihydroprogesterone or 11-deoxycorticosterone levels.

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 GABRA2 Alleles Moderate the Subjective Effects of Alcohol, Which Are Attenuated by Finasteride

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A Model for the Turnover of Dihydrotestosterone in the Presence of the Irreversible 5α-Reductase Inhibitors GI198745 and Finasteride

research A Model for the Turnover of Dihydrotestosterone in the Presence of the Irreversible 5α-Reductase Inhibitors GI198745 and Finasteride

60 citations , December 1998 in “Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics”

Both drugs lower DHT levels, with GI198745 being more effective.