TLDR Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal severity and anxiety in mice, but may increase withdrawal severity in some cases.
The study examined the effect of finasteride on chronic and acute ethanol withdrawal severity in selectively bred Withdrawal Seizure-Prone (WSP) and Withdrawal Seizure-Resistant (WSR) mice. The results showed that finasteride pretreatment reduced EtOH withdrawal severity and anxiety-related behavior in both chronic EtOH studies in WSP and WSR mice, but only in the WSP selected line for acute EtOH withdrawal severity. However, finasteride pretreatment produced a significant enhancement of acute ethanol withdrawal severity in one of the selected lines of mice. Overall, these findings suggest that minimizing any effect of finasteride on ethanol pharmacokinetics might produce an increase in ethanol withdrawal severity.
29 citations
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June 2004 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal effects, especially in female mice.
83 citations
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January 2004 in “Pharmacology & Therapeutics” Adjusting neurosteroid levels may help reduce alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
47 citations
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November 2002 in “Journal of Neurochemistry” Progesterone boosts alcohol's effect on brain, finasteride counters it.
93 citations
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January 1996 in “Clinical Pharmacokinectics” Finasteride helps regrow hair and shrink prostate by reducing DHT, with some sexual side effects.
19 citations
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April 2017 in “Synapse” Blocking allopregnanolone production in mice makes them more anxious after stress, but this can be reversed with a drug that mimics allopregnanolone.
January 2016 in “Medicinski Podmladak” Finasteride may increase anxiety in bright spaces.
27 citations
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May 2008 in “Neuroscience” Finasteride given to baby rats causes anxiety-like behavior and worsens learning from punishment in adult rats.
66 citations
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January 2008 in “Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior” AC-5216 reduces anxiety in mice through neurosteroids affecting GABAA receptors.
27 citations
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April 2007 in “European Journal of Pharmacology” 
26 citations
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November 2006 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Pregnancy reduces anxiety in rats, but finasteride reverses this effect.
151 citations
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December 2004 in “Neuropharmacology” Progesterone reduces anxiety without needing progesterone receptors.
