[fitGLOSS] Viagra for Women? Antidepressant Shows Promise

Posted on November 17, 2009 by Lolita Carrico

An antidepressant that never made it to the market is getting a second chance — as a possible fix for women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) — an new term for low libido.

In a new study, the drug flibanserin increased desire and sexual satisfaction in women significantly. Unlike Viagra, which treats male erectile dysfunction by increasing blood flow to the area, this drugs works to enhancing mood by modulating serotonin and other neurotransmitters.

“This is a landmark study, and I think it’s going to make a great difference for the quality of life for women throughout the world,” said Dr. Elaine Jolly, director of the Women’s Health Center at Ottawa Hospital in Canada. “This is just the beginning.”