Sexual Dysfunction in Women Treatable with Viagra, Says New Study

It's not what you're thinking. Clinically depressed men and women are often treated with a class of anti-depressants called serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SRI). These SRI medications frequently are frequently associated with reports of sexual dysfunction side effects in both sexes. Although estimates vary as to the frequency of these side effects, a study recently published in the July 23/30 issue of JAMA (Nurnberg, et al, 2008) estimates that between 30 and 70 percent of patients taking these SRI anti-depressants may experience sexual dysfunction as a side effect.

One of the major problems with SRI anti-depressants is that as many as 70% of patients for whom they are prescribed, fail to maintain their treatments within the first few months. Dr. Nurnberg and the study's co-authors, postulate that the high incidence of sexual dysfunction as a side effect of the SRI class of anti-depressants is a strong contributing factor. Proper treatment of depression for these patients is highly dependent upon the patient's ability to maintain proper levels of prescribed medication in their system.

Pfizer abandoned Studies of Women and Viagra

While Pfizer, the maker of Viagra, has previously abandoned studies of Viagra on women citing poor results, this new study reports that Viagra helped reduce SRI anti-depressant related symptoms of sexual dysfunction in women. The study lasted eight weeks and included a control group whose sexual dysfunction symptoms were treated with a placebo. The group of women receiving Viagra showed a marked reduction in symptoms of sexual dysfunction when compared to the group receiving the placebo. Hormone levels were also used as a measure.

SRI Anti-Depressants Extremely Common

The study's authors say that over 150 million prescriptions for SRI class anti-depressants are filled each year in the United States. With sexual dysfunction side effects reported in 30-70% of patients, you can see that this problem affects very large numbers of people. Development of effective treatments for the sexual dysfunction side effects for these popular anti-depressants should, if the study authors' assumptions are correct, lead to much better adherence to prescribed depression medications and a much higher rate of positive outcomes from treatment of depression.

The results of this new test is not, as it might seem at first, inconsistent with Pfizer's own results. Pfizer's studies, as reported by the NY Times showed that Viagra did not improve sexual desire in women. Viagra did, however, produce the physical reactions associated with sexual arousal in women. If sexual dysfunction side effects of SRI anti-depressants are physical in nature, then Viagra would be expected to help.

Source:

Nurnberg, H.G., et al. SILDENAFIL AND SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION ASSOCIATED WITH ANTIDEPRESSANTS. JAMA, July 23/30, 2008-Vol 300, No. 4, retrieved July 21 from pubs.ama-assn.org/homepage/media/controlled/2008j/0722.dtl#1

Harris, Gardiner. Pfizer Gives up Testing Viagra on Women. New York Times. Retrieved on July 20th from www.nytimes.com/2004/02/28/business/28viagra.html?ex=1393390800&en=eccf3ce764e04dd3&ei=5007&partner=USERLAND