The 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride Reduces Opioid Self-Administration

The study investigated the potential of finasteride, a 5α-reductase inhibitor used for benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia, as a treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). Using an opioid self-administration assay in zebrafish, researchers found that finasteride reduced opioid self-administration without affecting locomotion or feeding behavior. These results were confirmed in rat models, where finasteride also did not interfere with the pain-relieving effects of opioids. Steroidomic analyses showed an increase in dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in the brains of finasteride-treated fish, and treatment with DHEAS precursors similarly reduced opioid self-administration. The findings suggested that steroidogenic pathways could be promising therapeutic targets for OUD, with finasteride as a potential new treatment option.