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

September 2020 in “ bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) ”

Gabriel D. Bossé, Roberto Cadeddu, Gabriele Floris, Ryan D. Farero, Eva Vigato, Janet S. Lee, Tejia Zhang, Nilesh W. Gaikwad, Kristen A. Keefe, Paul S Phillips, Marco Bortolato, Randall T. Peterson

finasteride 5α-reductase inhibitor androgenetic alopecia dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate DHEAS steroidogenic pathways Propecia

TLDR Finasteride may help reduce opioid use.

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.

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Research cited in this study

14 / 14 results

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

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Human Type 3 5α-Reductase Is Expressed in Peripheral Tissues at Higher Levels Than Types 1 and 2 and Its Activity Is Potently Inhibited by Finasteride and Dutasteride

research Human Type 3 5α-Reductase Is Expressed in Peripheral Tissues at Higher Levels Than Types 1 and 2 and Its Activity Is Potently Inhibited by Finasteride and Dutasteride

45 citations, August 2010 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation”

Type 3 5α-reductase is more common and finasteride and dutasteride strongly inhibit it.

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

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Finasteride almost fully depletes allopregnanolone in rat brains and enhances 20α-DHP, but doesn't change 3α-DHP levels.

Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, Potentiates Antinociceptive Effects of Morphine, Prevents the Development of Morphine Tolerance and Attenuates Abstinence Behavior in the Rat

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research The Effects of Finasteride on Scalp Skin and Serum Androgen Levels in Men with Androgenetic Alopecia

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Finasteride effectively reduces hair loss by decreasing androgen levels.

Effects of the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride on Serum Levels of Gonadal, Adrenal, and Hypophyseal Hormones and Its Clinical Significance: A Prospective Clinical Study

research Effects of the 5α-Reductase Inhibitor Finasteride on Serum Levels of Gonadal, Adrenal, and Hypophyseal Hormones and Its Clinical Significance: A Prospective Clinical Study

56 citations, April 1998 in “Steroids”

Finasteride reduces hair loss and treats BPH without major hormone changes, but may cause sexual dysfunction.

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community New and Interesting HairLoss Studies/Papers/Reviews

in Treatment 42 upvotes 5 years ago

Hair loss treatments discussed include Dutasteride with Ketoconazole, tissue engineering strategies, and androgenetic alopecia therapies. Massage doubles follicular retention, improving treatment effectiveness.

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