Some men who take finasteride (Propecia), the hair-loss prevention drug, find that it reduces their interest in consuming alcohol, according to a new study published in the journal, Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
Researchers at George Washington University School of Medicine tested 63 men, who consumed at least one drink a week before using finasteride. The study showed that 41 men (65 percent) cut back alcohol consumption after using finasteride, while 20 men (32 percent) reported no change and 2 men (3 percent) reported an increase in alcohol consumption.
"Finasteride interferes with the brain's ability to make certain hormones called neurosteroids, which are likely linked to drinking alcohol," said study author Dr. Michael Irwig.
"Because this is a preliminary report, further research is needed on the effects of finasteride in the human brain. This is an important step towards better understanding the breadth of side effects in humans from the drug finasteride," he added.
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