Decreased Alcohol Consumption Among Former Male Users of Finasteride with Persistent Sexual Side Effects: A Preliminary Report

Background There is a robust literature in rodents, but not in humans, on the interaction between finasteride and alcohol, particularly as it relates to neurosteroids. Finasteride has been shown to reduce alcohol intake and suppress alcohol preference in male mice. This study examines the role of fi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Alcoholism, clinical and experimental research clinical and experimental research, 2013-11, Vol.37 (11), p.1823-1826
Main Author: Irwig, Michael S.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
5-alpha Reductase Inhibitors - adverse effects
Adult
Alcohol
Alcohol Drinking
Allopregnanolone
Central Nervous System Depressants - administration & dosage
Drinking Behavior - drug effects
Ethanol - administration & dosage
Finasteride
Finasteride - adverse effects
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Neurosteroid
Neurotransmitter Agents - antagonists & inhibitors
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - chemically induced
Young Adult
γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor
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Summary:Background There is a robust literature in rodents, but not in humans, on the interaction between finasteride and alcohol, particularly as it relates to neurosteroids. Finasteride has been shown to reduce alcohol intake and suppress alcohol preference in male mice. This study examines the role of finasteride in alcohol consumption in humans with male pattern hair loss. Methods The subjects were 83 otherwise healthy men who developed persistent sexual side effects associated with finasteride, despite the cessation of this medication for at least 3 months. Information from standardized interviews was collected regarding medical histories, sexual function, and alcohol consumption before and after finasteride use. Results Of the 63 men who consumed at least 1 alcoholic beverage/wk prior to starting finasteride, 41 (65%) noted a decrease in their alcohol consumption after stopping finasteride. This reduction typically began before discontinuing finasteride. Twenty men (32%) reported no change in their alcohol consumption, and 2 men (3%) reported an increase in their alcohol consumption. For the 63 consumers of alcohol, the mean number (±SE) of alcoholic beverages/wk declined from 5.2 ± 0.7 before finasteride to 2.0 ± 0.3 after finasteride (p 
ISSN:0145-6008
1530-0277
DOI:10.1111/acer.12177