61 citations,
September 2008 in “Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin” Finasteride almost fully depletes allopregnanolone in rat brains and enhances 20α-DHP, but doesn't change 3α-DHP levels.
11 citations,
August 2019 in “BMJ” Post-finasteride syndrome causes sexual, physical, and psychological symptoms, but more research is needed to understand its causes and connection to finasteride.
35 citations,
November 2019 in “Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology” Men and women have different levels and production of brain steroids, which may affect their risk for certain brain disorders.
34 citations,
May 2007 in “Neuroscience” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal severity in male mice but increases it in female mice.
3 citations,
January 2022 in “Journal of neuroendocrinology” Sex hormones affect brain cells differently in males and females.
54 citations,
August 2005 in “Alcohol” Finasteride affects alcohol intake in male mice, possibly due to neurosteroids.
19 citations,
December 2019 in “Steroids” Finasteride and dutasteride reduce neurosteroid production, possibly helping treat glioblastoma.
March 2014 in “Human Physiology” DHEA improved brain function and behavior in old monkeys and had additional health benefits.
10 citations,
February 2017 in “European journal of neuroscience/EJN. European journal of neuroscience” The availability of certain hormones and specific stimulation patterns affect long-term synaptic changes in the male rat brain.
59 citations,
November 2018 in “Psychoneuroendocrinology” Lower levels of certain brain chemicals are linked to worse PTSD symptoms in men.
26 citations,
September 2012 in “Epilepsy & Behavior” Finasteride worsens seizures in epilepsy rats and speeds up epileptogenesis in mice.
33 citations,
December 2017 in “Journal of neuroendocrinology” Sex and stress steroids quickly change brain cell structures in the hippocampus.
10 citations,
May 2018 in “Neuropharmacology” Drugs for hormone-related conditions might help treat mental disorders but could have serious side effects.
40 citations,
December 2019 in “Neurobiology of Stress” Neuroactive steroids show promise for treating mental and neurological disorders by targeting GABA_A receptors.
2 citations,
March 2023 in “Experimental neurology” Pregnenolone might help manage movement issues caused by Parkinson's disease treatment without reducing the medicine's effectiveness.
4 citations,
May 2019 in “Physiology & Behavior” Cocaine impairs male sexual behavior and alters testosterone metabolism in the brain.
5 citations,
May 2018 in “Therapeutic advances in drug safety” Androgen use may increase the risk of stroke, but more research is needed.
April 2015 in “Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature” January 2016 in “Medicinski Podmladak” 
3 citations,
October 2015 in “Human Psychopharmacology-clinical and Experimental” Finasteride doesn't affect sleep spindles in men.
29 citations,
July 2004 in “Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal effects, especially in female mice.
April 2021 in “IntechOpen eBooks” Androgens, male hormones, affect physical and mental functions, with a decrease leading to health issues like muscle loss, bone disease, and depression, and more research is needed on long-term effects and treatments.
25 citations,
June 2017 in “Neuropharmacology” Increasing TSPO in the brain reduces anxiety and depression.
5 citations,
October 2020 in “Brain Research Bulletin” Etifoxine, an anxiety drug, can lessen brain inflammation and cognitive issues in mice, partly by increasing production of protective brain steroids.
1 citations,
March 2016 in “Neurotoxicity Research” Finasteride may protect brain and improve behavior in rats with liver failure.
24 citations,
December 2013 in “Sexual medicine reviews” Finasteride can cause sexual problems and depression in young men.
31 citations,
March 2015 in “The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology” Neuroactive steroids could become safe, effective treatments with more understanding of their complex brain actions and metabolism.
21 citations,
June 2005 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” Finasteride reduces alcohol withdrawal severity and anxiety in mice, but may increase withdrawal severity in some cases.
34 citations,
November 2011 in “Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research” Three drugs change mice's alcohol drinking patterns by affecting GABAA receptors.