Treatment of Tourette’s Syndrome With Finasteride

The authors of this letter to the editor suggest that androgens may play a key role in the pathophysiology of Tourette's syndrome, and that inhibitors of 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR), the main rate-limiting enzyme in androgen metabolism, may be a valid alternative to reduce androgen brain signaling. They tested the efficacy of finasteride, a 5-AR inhibitor, in a Tourette's syndrome patient who was unresponsive to traditional therapy. Finasteride gradually reduced both motor and phonic tics, and after 28 weeks of treatment, led to a dramatic reduction in Yale Global Tic Severity Scale and Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale scores. The patient also reported a normalized sex drive, enhanced mood and life quality, and no untoward effects.