Viagra Works for Women

(Ivanhoe Newswire) -- It seems men aren't the only ones who can benefit by taking Viagra (sildenafil). According to a new study, women with sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressant use experienced a reduction in adverse sexual effects with Viagra.

Sexual dysfunction is a frequent side effect of antidepressant use – particularly with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants -- and a major influence for early discontinuation of treatment. Doctors report this can often lead to treatment failure.

In a controlled clinical trial, women taking SRI antidepressants were instructed to take between 50 milligrams and 100 milligrams of Viagra or a placebo approximately one to two hours before anticipated sexual activity for eight weeks. Researchers say women in the Viagra group showed greater improvement in sexual function than women in the placebo group.

"These findings are important not only because women experience major depressive disorder at nearly double the rate of men and because they experience greater resulting sexual dysfunction than men, but also because it establishes that [drugs like Viagra] are effective in both sexes for this purpose and improve depression disease management outcomes," study authors write.

SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 2008;300:395-404

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