The 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride reduces opioid self-administration in animal models of opioid use disorder.

ABSTRACT: Opioid use disorder (OUD) has become a leading cause of death in the United States, yet current therapeutic strategies remain highly inadequate. To identify potential treatments for OUD, we screened a targeted selection of over 100 drugs using a recently developed opioid self-administration assay in zebrafish. This paradigm showed that finasteride, a steroidogenesis inhibitor approved for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenetic alopecia, reduced self-administration of multiple opioids without affecting locomotion or feeding behavior. These findings were confirmed in rats; furthermore, finasteride reduced the physical signs associated with opioid withdrawal. In rat models of neuropathic pain, finasteride did not alter the antinociceptive effect of opioids and reduced

SUBMITTER: Bosse GD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8121512 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature