Viagra Boosts Sex for Women on Medication
United Press International
May 16, 2000
CHICAGO, May 16 (UPI) -- The anti-impotence drug Viagra improves sexual performance for women who suffer problems with sexual enjoyment because of side effects of anti-depression medications."Some of patients say, 'Where has this drug been all my life?'" said Dr. Albert Bayer, a psychiatrist and a member of the clinical faculty at Wayne State University, Detroit.
Nineteen of the 21 women prescribed the drug described a strong response, he said. "Some of the women said their sexual function on Viagra exceeded their enjoyment of sex and ability to reach orgasm before they began taking medication for depression," Bayer said.
In a report to the annual meeting of the American Psychiatric Association, Bayer said, "Sexual dysfunction is a common, and often underrecognized, adverse event associated with antidepressant medication use."
He said many strategies have been proposed for management of antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction, but scientific evidence supporting their use is relatively lacking. He decided to try sildenafil, the scientific name for Viagra, in 21 women who complained about sexual problems while being treated with antidepressants. Bayer said the women were using eight different antidepressants that appeared to be linked to problems in enjoying sex and reaching orgasm. He decided to prescribe sildenafil -- used for more than two years in men to combat erectile dysfunction or impotence.
"The drug was very well tolerated," Bayer said. "some of the women reported that they had some facial flushing with sildenafil but none of them wanted to stop using it." They were instructed to use the 50 milligram tablets of the drug about 60 to 90 minutes prior to engaging in sexual intercourse.
"Sexual dysfunction with antidepressants occurs much more than most psychiatrists are aware," said Dr. John Davis, professor of psychiatry at the University of Illinois-Chicago. "This is a very interesting study. People are beginning to study this issue. I happen to think that sex is important and it is important to the quality of life in people with depression."
Bayer said the women in the study showed a dramatic improvement in sexual functioning. On a standard rating scale before beginning Viagra the patients rated their sex-life at 21.5 on a scale that ranged from 0 -- great sex all the time-to 30, no sexual life at all. Bayer said the initial rating showed truly impaired sexual functioning. After four to six weeks, the patients average score had decreased to 15.5, a level that indicates adequate sexual functioning, he said.
The patients took Viagra in addition to their anti-depressive medication. Bayer said the patients taking Viagra continued to show reduction of symptoms of depression as well as an upbeat sexual life. Although he reported only on the patients' experiences in the first month or so after taking Viagra, he said the patients continue to do well on both antidepressants and Viagra as long as nine months later.
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This news story is not produced by the American Psychological Association and does not necessarily represent the opinions of the association.