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

This study explored the efficacy of dutasteride, a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, in reducing heavy drinking among 135 men over a 12-week period. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either dutasteride or a placebo, alongside biweekly counseling. Results showed that dutasteride significantly reduced heavy drinking days and total standard drinks per week compared to the placebo. Notably, 45% of the dutasteride group achieved a ≥60% reduction in standard drinks per week, and 25% had no hazardous drinking in the final month. The study suggests that dutasteride could be a promising treatment for alcohol use disorder, especially for those with high drinking to cope motives, despite some adverse effects like stomach discomfort and reduced libido.