GABRA2 Alleles Moderate the Subjective Effects of Alcohol, Which Are Attenuated by Finasteride

June 2005 in “ Neuropsychopharmacology ”

Amira Pierucci-Lagha, Jonathan Covault, Richard Feinn, Maggie Nellissery, Carlos A. Hernandez-Avila, Cheryl Oncken, A. Leslie Morrow, Henry R. Kranzler

finasteride neuroactive steroids Propecia

TLDR GABRA2 gene variations impact alcohol response, and hair loss medication finasteride reduces some effects.

This study found that genetic variation in the GABRA2 gene affects the subjective response to alcohol, with individuals homozygous for the A-allele reporting greater effects than those with one or more G-alleles. Finasteride, a medication used to treat hair loss, was found to attenuate some alcohol effects, particularly among A-allele homozygotes. The study suggests that neuroactive steroids mediate a number of the effects of alcohol. The study had limitations, including a small sample size and the lack of a placebo alcohol condition.

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Research cited in this study

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research In Vivo Time-Dependent Inhibition of Human Steroid 5α-Reductase by Finasteride

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research Neonatal Finasteride Administration Alters Hippocampal α4 and δ GABAAR Subunits Expression and Behavioral Responses to Progesterone in Adult Rats

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research GABRA2 Alleles Moderate the Subjective Effects of Alcohol, Which Are Attenuated by Finasteride

134 citations, June 2005 in “Neuropsychopharmacology”

GABRA2 gene variations impact alcohol response, and hair loss medication finasteride reduces some effects.