Randomized Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial of Dutasteride for Reducing Heavy Drinking in Men

April 2024 in “ Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology ”

Jonathan Covault, Howard Tennen, Richard Feinn

TLDR Dutasteride helps reduce heavy drinking, especially for those who drink to cope.

Dutasteride 1 mg daily was found to be effective in reducing the number of heavy drinking days and the overall drinks per week among treatment-seeking men. The study highlighted that the benefits of dutasteride were most pronounced in participants who had elevated baseline drinking to cope motives, indicating that the medication may be particularly beneficial for individuals who drink as a coping mechanism.

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Research cited in this study

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research Dutasteride Reduces Alcohol’s Sedative Effects in Men in a Human Laboratory Setting and Reduces Drinking in the Natural Environment

32 citations , February 2014 in “Psychopharmacology”

Dutasteride makes alcohol less sedating and may lead to less drinking in men.

research Alteration of Ethanol Drinking in Mice via Modulation of the GABAA Receptor with Ganaxolone, Finasteride, and Gaboxadol

34 citations , June 2011 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research”

Three drugs change mice's alcohol drinking patterns by affecting GABAA receptors.

research Inhibition of 5α-Reduced Steroid Biosynthesis Impedes Acquisition of Ethanol Drinking in Male C57BL/6J Mice

49 citations , July 2008 in “Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research”

Finasteride reduces alcohol consumption in mice by affecting brain chemicals.

Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

research Treatment With and Withdrawal From Finasteride Alter Ethanol Intake Patterns in Male C57BL/6J Mice: Potential Role of Endogenous Neurosteroids

54 citations , August 2005 in “Alcohol”

Finasteride affects alcohol intake in male mice, possibly due to neurosteroids.

research Marked Suppression of Dihydrotestosterone in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia by Dutasteride, a Dual 5α-Reductase Inhibitor

408 citations , May 2004 in “The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Journal of clinical endocrinology & metabolism”

Dutasteride more effectively lowers DHT levels in men with enlarged prostates than finasteride.

research Comparison of Finasteride Versus Flutamide in the Treatment of Hirsutism

75 citations , October 1999 in “European journal of endocrinology”

Finasteride is a safe, effective treatment for hirsutism with fewer side effects.

research A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing Finasteride to Spironolactone in the Treatment of Hirsute Women

52 citations , January 1995 in “The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism”

Finasteride and spironolactone both reduce hirsutism, but finasteride lowers androgen levels more.

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