Sildenafil improved antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction in women

Sildenafil may reduce adverse sexual effects in women who have sexual dysfunction caused by antidepressants.

Antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction occurs in 30% to 70% of men and women treated for major depression, according to researchers from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and other U.S. institutions.

The researchers compared the efficacy of sildenafil (Viagra or Revatio, Pfizer) vs. placebo for treatment of sexual dysfunction, such as orgasm delay and lack of arousal. Sildenafil is most commonly known as a treatment for erectile dysfunction. Forty-nine women were randomly assigned to sildenafil and 49 to placebo, at a flexible dose starting at 50 mg, adjustable to 100 mg, two hours before sexual activity for eight weeks.

Just 28% of the women reported no improvement in sexual dysfunction with sildenafil compared with 73% of women taking placebo. Compared with placebo sildenafil was also associated with greater improvements in sexual function on a clinician-rated severity improvement scale.

Headache, flushing and indigestion were the most commonly reported adverse events with sildenafil.

These findings suggest that sildenafil and other selective phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors are effective in both men and women, according to the researchers.

JAMA. 2008;300:395-404.