Dutasteride reduces alcohol's sedative effects in men in a human laboratory setting and reduces drinking in the natural environment.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Preclinical studies support the hypothesis that endogenous neuroactive steroids mediate some effects of alcohol.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of dutasteride inhibition of 5α-reduced neuroactive steroid production on subjective responses to alcohol in adult men.

Methods

Using a within-subject factorial design, 70 men completed four randomly ordered monthly sessions in which pretreatment with 4 mg dutasteride or placebo was paired with a moderate dose of alcohol (0.8 g/kg) or placebo beverage. The pharmacologic effect of dutasteride was measured by an assay of serum androstanediol glucuronide. Self-reports of alcohol effects were obtained at 40-min intervals following alcohol administration using the Biphasic Alcohol Effects Scale

SUBMITTER: Covault J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4181572 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature