Use Of Finasteride Reduces Alcohol Consumption

Use Of Finasteride Reduces Alcohol Consumption.
Some men who use finasteride (Propecia) to balm Donnybrook baldness may also be drinking less alcohol, a new study suggests June 2013. Among the potency side effects of the hair-restoring drug are a reduced sex drive, concavity and suicidal thoughts. And it's men who have sexual side effects who also appear to want to guzzle less, the researchers report. "In men experiencing persistent sexual side junk despite stopping finasteride, two-thirds have noticed drinking less alcohol than before taking finasteride," said analysis author Dr Michael Irwig, an assistant professor of medicine at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC.

Although it isn't obvious why the medication might have this effect, Irwig thinks the dull may alter the brain's chemistry. "Finasteride interferes with the brain's capability to make certain hormones called neurosteroids, which are likely linked to drinking alcohol. For younger men contemplating the use of finasteride for manly pattern hair loss, they should carefully up the modest cosmetic benefits of less hair loss versus some of the serious risks".

The report was published online June 13 in the almanac Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. "The biggest object to with this finding is that it is naturalistic rather than a controlled study so cause-and-effect is hard to establish," said James Garbutt, a professor of psychiatry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "This is more of a cloud on the vista than a clear-cut effect".

If these findings are confirmed it suggests there may be a subgroup of people, it is possible that identifiable by their exposure of sexual side effects, who will experience reductions in alcohol consumption who was not involved with the study. "Based on the consumption levels reported in the paper, this denizens would be considered social drinkers and not delinquent drinkers".