News di Alcologia

Meno calvo e meno alcolizzato
di Annalisa Lista

Un farmaco che cura la calvizie riduce anche la dipendenza dall'alcol. È la conclusione di un recente studio condotto dalla George Washington University e pubblicato su Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. Il noto farmaco Finasteride, che tra gli effetti collaterali registra il calo della libido e la disfunzione erettile, pare avere un effetto inibitorio anche sul desiderio di assumere alcolici. La ricerca, che ha testato 63 consumatori di finasteride e di alcol con difficoltà sessuali, ha provato che il 65% ha ridotto sensibilmente l'assunzione di bevande alcoliche, passando da circa 5 drink a settimana a 2. Effetto dovuto probabilmente all'azione inibitrice del farmaco sui neurosteroidi, gli ormoni responsabili della stimolazione delle emozioni e di alcune funzioni cognitive. Generalmente in iper produzione quando ci si concede un bicchierino di troppo.

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

Michael S. Irwig

Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Article first published online: 13 JUN 2013

Abstract

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 < 0.0001). A major study limitation is the lack of a comparison group.

Conclusions
In former male users of finasteride who developed persistent sexual side effects, 65% noticed a decline in their alcohol consumption as compared to baseline. This finding is consistent with finasteride's ability to modulate alcohol intake in rodents. Further research is needed on the central nervous system effects of finasteride in humans.

(Articolo pubblicato dal CUFRAD sul sito www.alcolnews.it)