A drug originally developed as an antidepressant may work better as a female sex drive. Researchers say it could be a female Viagra.
Three separate clinical studies have shown that anti-depressants, flibanserin, can increase libido in women who report low libido. Several clinical studies have shown that women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder who took 100 mg per day increased flibanserin encounter sexual satisfaction, increased sexual desire, and a reduction of anxiety associated with sexual dysfunction.
"It's basically a drug like Viagra for women in this desire or libido is the most common female sexual problem like erectile dysfunction in men, John M. Thorp Jr., a distinguished professor McAllister Obstetrics and Gynecology, University North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine and principal investigator of North America, as saying.
The studies included a total of 1946 premenopausal women aged 18 and over and women were randomized to receive placebo or flibanserin. Participants completed four weeks before the study and four weeks after the exam. The researchers found that a daily dose of 50 mg is too small to be effective and that the greatest improvement in symptoms flibanserin require 100 mg a day.
"These results demonstrate a new approach to the pharmacological treatment of sexual problem that affects women of childbearing age more," Thorpe was quoted as saying.
Nine of the 26 percent of American women affected by hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
