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

November 2019 in “ Biomolecules ”

Sean C. Godar, Roberto Cadeddu, Gabriele Floris, Laura J. Mosher, Zhen Mi, David P. Jarmolowicz, Simona Scheggi, Alicia A. Walf, Carolyn J. Koonce, Cheryl A. Frye, Nancy A. Muma, Marco Bortolato

finasteride steroidogenesis inhibitor corticotropin release hormone CRH adrenocorticotropic hormone ACTH hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis HPA axis Propecia

TLDR Finasteride reduces response to stress and rewards, affecting behavior and mental health.

The steroidogenesis inhibitor finasteride, commonly used to treat hair loss and benign prostatic hyperplasia, has been found to reduce the response to both stressful and rewarding stimuli in rats. The drug was found to reduce exploratory, incentive, prosocial, and risk-taking behavior, as well as stress coping, in rats. The effects of finasteride on stress reactivity were associated with a decrease in corticotropin release hormone (CRH) mRNA and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) levels, suggesting that finasteride impairs stress reactivity and reduces behavioral activation and impulsive behavior by altering the function of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The study suggests that finasteride may have effects beyond its intended use and highlights the potential impact of finasteride on mental health.

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research Post-Finasteride Syndrome

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Post-finasteride syndrome causes sexual, physical, and psychological symptoms, but more research is needed to understand its causes and connection to finasteride.

research Repeated Finasteride Administration Induces Depression-Like Behavior in Adult Male Rats

19 citations , June 2019 in “Behavioural Brain Research”

Finasteride use can cause depression-like behavior in male rats.

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Finasteride treatment in male rats causes long-lasting effects on depression-like behavior, brain cell growth, inflammation, and gut bacteria composition.

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9 citations , January 2018 in “American Journal of Men's Health”

Finasteride use can cause lasting negative effects like sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, and cognitive issues.

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31 citations , January 2018 in “American Journal of Men's Health”

Finasteride can cause serious emotional side effects; doctors should check patients' mental health history before prescribing.

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27 citations , January 2017 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

The enzyme 5α-reductase is key in causing psychotic-like effects from sleep deprivation.

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14 citations , December 2016 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology”

Finasteride affects brain processes related to neurotransmission and metabolism, potentially helping with neuropsychiatric conditions.

research Persistent Sexual, Emotional, and Cognitive Impairment Post-Finasteride

81 citations , May 2015 in “American Journal of Men's Health”

Finasteride can cause lasting sexual, emotional, and cognitive issues, with varying severity.

research Neuroactive Steroid Levels Are Modified in Cerebrospinal Fluid and Plasma of Post-Finasteride Patients Showing Persistent Sexual Side Effects and Anxious/Depressive Symptomatology

73 citations , October 2013 in “The Journal of Sexual Medicine”

Finasteride use changes brain chemicals, causing lasting sexual issues and anxiety/depression.

research Depressive Symptoms and Suicidal Thoughts Among Former Users of Finasteride With Persistent Sexual Side Effects

134 citations , August 2012 in “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry”

Former finasteride users with persistent sexual side effects have higher rates of depression and suicidal thoughts.

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35 citations , June 2012 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology”

Finasteride reduces gambling symptoms in Parkinson's patients.

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218 citations , January 2012 in “Advances in Urology”

The document concludes that the 5 alpha-reductase enzymes are important in steroid metabolism and related to various human diseases, with inhibitors used to treat conditions like male pattern baldness and prostate issues.

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46 citations , September 2011 in “Movement Disorders”

Finasteride reduces Tourette syndrome symptoms, but results may be limited due to potential biases.

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72 citations , January 2011 in “Current Pharmaceutical Design”

S5αR inhibitors might help treat schizophrenia and other mental disorders but need more research.

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9 citations , January 2009 in “PubMed”

Finasteride treatment can decrease certain steroids and increase others, possibly leading to depression symptoms in some cases.

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

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

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

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42 citations , December 2007 in “American Journal of Psychiatry”

Finasteride may effectively reduce Tourette's syndrome symptoms and improve life quality.

research Finasteride Induced Depression: A Prospective Study

99 citations , October 2006 in “BMC clinical pharmacology”

Finasteride may cause slight depression and anxiety.

research Finasteride Treatment of Female Pattern Hair Loss

108 citations , March 2006 in “Archives of Dermatology”

Finasteride with oral contraceptive helps improve hair loss in premenopausal women.

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.

research Clinical and Endocrine Effects of Finasteride, a 5α-Reductase Inhibitor, in Women with Idiopathic Hirsutism

70 citations , August 1995 in “Fertility and Sterility”

Finasteride reduces hairiness and androgen levels in women with unexplained excessive hair growth.

research Four-Amino Acid Segment in Steroid 5 Alpha-Reductase 1 Confers Sensitivity to Finasteride, a Competitive Inhibitor

83 citations , April 1992 in “Journal of Biological Chemistry”

Four-amino acid part makes enzyme sensitive to finasteride.

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

20 citations , November 2019 in “Biomolecules”

Finasteride reduces response to stress and rewards, affecting behavior and mental health.