Emerging Roles for Neurosteroids in Sexual Behavior and Function
http://www.andrologyjournal.org/cgi/con ... l/29/5/524
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"Notably, preliminary studies indicate that, as in the rodent, finasteride may increase depression in men as a result of the loss of allopregnanolone (eg, Altomare et al, 2002; Rahimi-Ardabili et al, 2006).
This raises the possibility that lowered levels of the neurosteroid contribute to the reduced sexual desire reported for some patients.
Treatment strategies that take into account effects on neurosteroids and the development of drugs that singularly target neurosteroid biosynthesis may therefore provide superior therapies for patients. "
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Treatment options:
"... An alternative approach is to use drugs that specifically increase neurosteroid concentrations. The antipsychotic agents clozapine and olanzapine may improve schizophrenia by increasing brain allopregnanolone synthesis (Marx et al, 2006).
Similarly, the reduction in aggression induced by fluoxetine may be directly caused by increased allopregnanolone levels in the CNS, because the drug is effective at levels 10-fold lower than those that block serotonin reuptake (Pinna et al, 2003). "
http://www.andrologyjournal.org/cgi/con ... l/29/5/524
-------
"Notably, preliminary studies indicate that, as in the rodent, finasteride may increase depression in men as a result of the loss of allopregnanolone (eg, Altomare et al, 2002; Rahimi-Ardabili et al, 2006).
This raises the possibility that lowered levels of the neurosteroid contribute to the reduced sexual desire reported for some patients.
Treatment strategies that take into account effects on neurosteroids and the development of drugs that singularly target neurosteroid biosynthesis may therefore provide superior therapies for patients. "
----------
Treatment options:
"... An alternative approach is to use drugs that specifically increase neurosteroid concentrations. The antipsychotic agents clozapine and olanzapine may improve schizophrenia by increasing brain allopregnanolone synthesis (Marx et al, 2006).
Similarly, the reduction in aggression induced by fluoxetine may be directly caused by increased allopregnanolone levels in the CNS, because the drug is effective at levels 10-fold lower than those that block serotonin reuptake (Pinna et al, 2003). "
