Study offers hope for people taking newer antidepressants:
People experiencing antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction may find hope in a study of the drug
Sildenafil (Viagra). In a six-week, randomized study of 90 men with sexual side effects from antidepressants, 54.5% of those treated with Sildenafil showed improvement, according to the January 1, 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
The participants in the study were 90 men being treated for major depressive disorder (MDD) with serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SRI) antidepressants at one of three outpatient medical centers in the United States. To be in the study, the men were required to be in remission from depression as well as to be experiencing sexual dysfunction associated with the treatment with SRI antidepressants. Researchers used criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) to define antidepressant-associated sexual dysfunction (AASD). Participants in the study were required to be experiencing sexual dysfunction caused by at least one of the following: erectile dysfunction (ED); inability to have an orgasm; and/or ejaculatory delay of at least 10 minutes.
The antidepressants taken by participants in the study were the SRI antidepressants: citalopram (Celexa), clomipramine (Anafranil), fluoxetine (Prozac), fluvoxamine (Luvox), imipramine (Tofranil), nefazodone (Serzone), paroxetine (Paxil), sertraline (Zoloft), and venlafaxine (Effexor). The researchers point out that 30% to 70% of people taking these SRIs (mainly for depressive and anxiety disorders) experience sexual side effects, and nearly 90% of those with sexual side effects will stop treatment with the antidepressants as a result. Clearly, solutions for these side effects are necessary for successful treatment with SRIs to continue.
The study lasted for six weeks. Of the 90 participants, 45 were given 50 mg of Sildenafil (Viagra) and 45 were given a placebo. Participants were told to take one pill about an hour before sexual activity but were not take more than one pill per day.
The results of the study show Sildenafil (Viagra) to be a promising option for the many people experiencing antidepressant sexual side effects. Using several questionnaires to measure results, researchers found that 54.5% of participants taking Sildenafil were "much or very much improved" as compared to 4.4% of those taking the placebo. Although Sildenafil (Viagra) is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat erectile dysfunction, researchers found that participants experiencing other types of
Sexual Dysfunction also showed improvement. Additionally, researchers found that patients remained in remission from depression while taking Sildenafil, showing that this treatment would not interfere with the depression treatment.
