Treatment of hypersexuality in people with intellectual disabilities – Use of finasteride

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To evaluate the indications of finasteride and other alternative therapies for the treatment of hypersexuality in patients with intellectual disabilities through the manufacturer’s recommendations and literature search. In Brazil, the United States and Europe, finasteride is licensed for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and androgenic alopecia, with satisfactory clinical evidence. Scientific evidence found demonstrate that sexual dysfunction is a side effect of finasteride, happening infrequently, including decreased libido, impotence, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory dysfunction. Study evaluating the use of finasteride for control of exacerbated sexual behavior in individuals with intellectual disabilities, dementia or men in general could not be found. In addition to not presenting support for this use, finasteride can be ineffective or poorly effective, in view of the unusual nature of sexuality adverse effects. The only medicine licensed in Brazil for the treatment of sexual impulse deviancy is cyproterone. The psychological and educational approaches, whenever possible, are important for the control of inappropriate sexual behavior in patients with intellectual disabilities.

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