According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the erectile-dysfunction drug sildenafil (marketed as Viagra®) can improve sexual function in pre-menopausal women experiencing adverse sexual side effects from anti-depressants.

Investigators from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine conducted a small, 8-week trial to evaluate the efficacy of sildenafil in treating sexual dysfunction in women who were taking anti-depressant medications. A total of 98 women aged 18 to 50 were randomized to receive either sildenafil or a placebo pill prior to attempting to initiate sexual activity. The investigators found that women taking sildenafil were more likely to experience sexual satisfaction than those taking placebo.

Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression, and they are also more likely to experience problems with sexual function. Unfortunately, many anti-depressant medications have side effects that may be difficult to tolerate. In addition to reducing anti-depressant-related sexual dysfunction, sildenafil could potentially increase compliance with anti-depressant medications and improve the management of depression. Currently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet approved Viagra® for women, so further research is needed to confirm the findings of this small study.