Viagra Can Improve Sexual Function For Women Taking Antidepressants, Study Finds

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Sexual Health / STDs;  Depression
Article Date: 25 Jul 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Pfizer's erectile dysfunction medication Viagra can improve sexual function for some women who take antidepressants, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Baltimore Sun reports (Kohn, Baltimore Sun, 7/23). According to the AP/Denver Post, previous research has found that more than 50% of patients who take antidepressants develop side effects that include decreased sexual function (Johnson, AP/Denver Post, 7/22).

For the study, George Nurnberg, a University of New Mexico School of Medicine psychiatrist, and colleagues divided 98 women who took serotonin re-uptake inhibitors into two groups, one that took Viagra and one that took a placebo (Baltimore Sun, 7/23). Participants, who had an average age of 37, reported no problems with sexual function before they began to take antidepressants and had "controlled" their depression, USA Today reports (Szabo, USA Today, 7/23).

According to researchers, 28% of participants who took Viagra experienced no improvement in sexual function, compared with 73% of those who took a placebo (Wall Street Journal, 7/23). The study also found that Viagra did not increase sexual desire (Gellene, Los Angeles Times, 7/23). Some of the women who took Viagra experienced headaches, reddening of the skin and indigestion. Pfizer funded the study with a research grant, but company officials said that they have no plans to seek FDA approval for Viagra as a treatment for sexual dysfunction in women (Thomas, Chicago Sun-Times, 7/23).

Broadcast Coverage

Several broadcast programs recently reported on the study. Summaries appear below.

~ CBS' "Evening News": The segment includes comments from women who experienced sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants (LaPook, "Evening News," CBS, 7/22). Additional "Evening News" coverage on the issue is available online.

~ NBC's "Nightly News" on Tuesday reported on the study. The segment includes comments from Laura Berman of the Berman Center (Ellis, "Nightly News," NBC, 7/22).

~ NPR's "Morning Edition": The segment includes comments from Julia Heiman, director of the Kinsey Institute at Indiana University (Silberner, "Morning Edition," NPR, 7/23).

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