Anti depressant could be 'Female Viagra'

'Anti depressant could be female viagra' so claim Sprout Pharmaceuticals, a bioscience company based in North Carolina, which has completed several clinical trials involving pre and post-menopausal women.

They were investigating a drug called Flibanserin which is a novel serotonin agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist, and has been shown to increase sexual desire and reduce distress in women with a reduced sex drive.

A German company called Boehringer Ingelheim originally developed Flibanserin as an anti depressant. However, whilst it didn't help depression, many study participants reported increased sexual interest while taking the drug.

Boehringer Ingelheim failed to win approval from the FDA two years ago for the use of the drug in the treatment of low sex drive in women.

'Female Viagra'?

When a testosterone patch for women was launched in 2007, it was hailed by the media as the 'female Viagra'. It aimed to boost the libido or sex drive of women who'd had their menopause brought on by a hysterectomy. But now, an independent drug guide has recommended that women avoid the patches, saying that the benefits are limited and the long-term safety uncertain.

An independent medicine guide has reviewed the research on testosterone patches for women, and says they shouldn't be recommended to treat a low libido. Although the research shows some benefits for carefully selected women, the improvement is small, with dummy patches working almost as well. Short-term side effects from testosterone patches are common, and the long-term safety is unknown.

The report also points out that the diagnosis of low sexual desire is subjective and can involve several factors, including relationships and lifestyle.

Source: Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin, published by the BMJ Group.