November 2023 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” This study suggests that post-finasteride syndrome and post-SSRI sexual dysfunction share potential etiopathogenetic mechanisms involving brain modulators, neurotransmitters, and gut microbiota, although more research is needed to understand these conditions fully.
2 citations
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March 2023 in “Experimental neurology” In this study, pregnenolone was found to dose-dependently reduce L-DOPA-induced dyskinesias in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for these dyskinesias.
December 2022 in “JAMA network open” This study found that men using 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors showed an increased risk for dementia shortly after starting treatment, which diminished over time, and a consistent association with depression, but no link to suicide.
1 citations
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February 2022 in “Brain Research Bulletin” This study found that finasteride reduced impulsivity in a rat model of pramipexole-induced probability discounting, possibly by normalizing D3 receptor expression in the nucleus accumbens.
8 citations
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April 2021 in “Journal of Clinical Investigation” Finasteride reduces opioid use and withdrawal symptoms in animals.
17 citations
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January 2020 in “The World Journal of Men's Health” This article discusses the potential health risks associated with long-term use of finasteride and dutasteride for prostate and hair loss treatments, suggesting risks may include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic issues.
20 citations
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November 2019 in “Biomolecules” This study found that finasteride impaired stress reactivity and reduced exploratory and impulsive behaviors in rats, potentially by altering the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis function.
15 citations
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June 2019 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” This study found that isoallopregnanolone reduced stress-induced tic-like behaviors and sensorimotor gating deficits in a mouse model of Tourette syndrome, suggesting potential therapeutic properties comparable to existing treatments like haloperidol and finasteride.
26 citations
,
September 2018 in “Neurobiology of Disease” This study found that both finasteride and dutasteride significantly reduced L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, with dutasteride showing greater effectiveness at lower doses.
10 citations
,
May 2018 in “Neuropharmacology” This study suggests that inhibitors of steroidogenic enzymes may have therapeutic potential for certain behavioral disorders linked to dopaminergic hyperfunction, despite concerns about their endocrine impacts.
25 citations
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June 2017 in “Scientific reports” This study suggests that stress may worsen Tourette syndrome symptoms in mice by increasing allopregnanolone synthesis, with findings supporting finasteride as a potential treatment to manage symptom fluctuations.
15 citations
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January 2017 in “Experimental Neurology” This study found that finasteride significantly reduced levodopa-induced dyskinesia in both male and female rats without diminishing l-DOPA's motor benefits, indicating potential for clinical trials in Parkinson's patients.
123 citations
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December 2015 in “Journal of Neuroendocrinology” This review discusses recent strategies targeting the neuroactive steroid biosynthetic pathway to enhance neurosteroidogenesis, highlighting their potential benefits for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases, but reports no new clinical findings.
49 citations
,
September 2015 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” This study suggests that the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride modulates sensorimotor gating in rats by affecting D1 and D3 receptors, but not D2 receptors, with varying effects based on genetic strain.
111 citations
,
August 2015 in “Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders” 5α-reductase inhibitors may cause persistent sexual dysfunction and depression, needing more research on long-term effects.
20 citations
,
June 2015 in “Hormone Molecular Biology and Clinical Investigation” This study found that long-term finasteride therapy in men with BPH worsened erectile dysfunction and reduced testosterone levels, while these effects were not observed with tamsulosin.
24 citations
,
May 2015 in “Schizophrenia Research” This study found that inhibiting the enzyme 5α-reductase with finasteride counteracted stress-induced prepulse inhibition deficits in socially isolated rats by altering neuroactive steroid concentrations in the brain.
75 citations
,
January 2014 in “Korean Journal of Urology” This review discusses the adverse effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors, finasteride and dutasteride, on sexual, psychological, and vascular health, emphasizing the need for physicians to inform patients of these risks.
19 citations
,
September 2013 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Blocking CYP17A1 enzyme may help improve certain brain function issues related to dopamine.
24 citations
,
June 2013 in “Journal of neuroendocrinology” This research observed that 5α-reductase inhibitors showed significant tic-suppressing effects in Tourette's syndrome, suggesting a key role for this enzyme in the disorder's pathogenesis.
42 citations
,
August 2012 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride reduces certain behaviors caused by D1-like receptor agonists but not by D2-like receptor agonists in mice.
134 citations
,
August 2012 in “The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry” This study found that former finasteride users with persistent sexual side effects reported significantly higher rates of depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts compared to controls.
35 citations
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April 2012 in “Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology” Finasteride reduces gambling symptoms in Parkinson's patients.
53 citations
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October 2011 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Finasteride may help improve certain brain function issues linked to dopamine.
46 citations
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May 2011 in “Movement Disorders” This article contains additional supporting information available online but presents no new research findings.
48 citations
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January 2011 in “Neuropharmacology” Isolation stress in rats reduces brain enzyme levels, affecting dopamine function.
17 citations
,
May 2008 in “Pharmacopsychiatry” Finasteride improved symptoms in a schizophrenia patient.
64 citations
,
March 2008 in “Neuropsychopharmacology” 
42 citations
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December 2007 in “American Journal of Psychiatry” This study examined finasteride, a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, for treating a Tourette’s syndrome patient unresponsive to traditional therapy, noting its limited side effects.
20 citations
,
January 2004 in “PubMed” This review discusses the pharmacologic effects, safety, and efficacy of dutasteride and finasteride for BPH, finding similar clinical benefits but greater DHT reduction with dutasteride and reports no new trial results.
100 citations
,
May 2003 in “Journal of Neuroscience” This study found that neuroactive steroids like DHEA and pregnenolone influence cocaine-induced appetence in mice through their interaction with the ς1 receptor, suggesting a role in individual vulnerability to addiction.
52 citations
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April 2002 in “Brain Research” This study found that in rats, finasteride significantly reduced allopregnanolone in the cortex and increased both the rise and duration of dopamine levels in the prefrontal cortex in response to stress and anxiogenic stimuli.
