Sexual Dysfunction in Women Treatable with Viagra, Says New Study

Sexual Dysfunction is a Common Side Effect of SRI Anti-Depressants

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