Health & Medicine - Posted by Tom Hughes-UNC on Monday, November 16, 2009 14:00 - 28 Comments 
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(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...‘Female Viagra’ targets brain to boost sex drive
“It’s essentially a Viagra-like drug for women in that diminished desire or libido is the most common feminine sexual problem, like erectile dysfunction is in men,” says John Thorp, principal investigator for North America in the clinical trials. Studies have shown that the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in the U.S. ranges from 9 percent to 26 percent of women, depending on age and menopausal status.
UNC CHAPEL HILL (US)—A drug originally designed to fight depression has shown to increase sex drive in women with low libido.
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The text of this article by Futurity is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivatives License.
The clinical trials of the drug flibanserin were the first ever to test a therapy that works at the level of the brain to enhance libido in women reporting low sexual desire, says John Thorp Jr., McAllister distinguished professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine. He is also principal investigator for North America in the studies.
“Flibanserin was a poor antidepressant,” Thorp says. “However, astute observers noted that it increased libido in laboratory animals and human subjects. So, we conducted multiple clinical trials and the women in our studies who took it for hypoactive sexual desire disorder reported significant improvements in sexual desire and satisfactory sexual experiences.
“It’s essentially a Viagra-like drug for women in that diminished desire or libido is the most common feminine sexual problem, like erectile dysfunction is in men,” Thorp adds.
Studies have shown that the prevalence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in the U.S. ranges from 9 percent to 26 percent of women, depending on age and menopausal status. Flibanserin is currently an investigational drug and is available only to women taking part in clinical trials.
The results reported here were presented Nov. 16 at the Congress of the European Society for Sexual Medicine in Lyon, France. The presentation was given by Elaine Jolly, overall principal investigator and a professor at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Jolly, Thorp, and colleagues pooled data from four clinical trials of flibanserin conducted in the United State, Canada, and Europe. A total of 1,946 pre-menopausal women ages 18 and older were randomized to receive either flibanserin or placebo for 24 weeks, with 4 weeks of pre-treatment baseline measurement and 4 weeks of post-treatment follow-up.
Initially, four different dosing regimens were used in the trials: 25 milligrams twice a day, 50 milligrams once a day at bedtime, 50 milligrams twice a day, and 100 milligrams once a day at bedtime.
The dosing regimens totaling 50 milligrams a day were not effective while the regimens totaling 100 milligrams were. So, the results being reported are from only three of the four trials and are based on the 100 milligrams once a day dosing regimen only.
The trials measured mean changes from baseline on a number of variables as reported by the women each week, including number of satisfying sexual events and electronic diary desire score.
The researchers concluded that treatment with 100 milligrams of flibanserin once a day was associated with significant improvements versus placebo.
“These results point to a novel approach to pharmacologic treatment of the sexual problem that plagues reproductive age women the most, and may over time prove to be an effective treatment without the side effects of androgen replacement therapy, which is the only treatment currently available,” Thorp notes.
The trials were funded by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of flibanserin.
UNC at Chapel Hill medical news: www.unchealthcare.org/site/newsroom
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[...] is a drug designed to combat depression but it also increases a woman’s libido by working on the brain, poetically known as the body’s largest erogenous [...]
future antidepressants « psych information
[...] year or two. This medication has recently been found to increase sex drive in females – see article. This is interesting when you consider that many of the common antidepressants we use have the [...]
Egimens totaling 50 milligrams a day were not effective while the regimens totaling 100 milligrams were. So, the results being reported are from only three of the four
This medication has recently been found to increase sex drive in females – see article.
Where can I try this drug? I have had problems for years and there does not seem to be anything or anyone that offers much help. I have a very healthy husband and I know he tries to understand but would prefer a little more sex in our marriage.
Nancy Davis
Good post, thanks!
I think ti’s very rare side effects that are caused from using Viagra.
ps2
This medication has recently been found to increase sex drive in females – see article.
I think ti’s very rare side effects that are caused from using Viagra. Yep
Interesting blog, the author thanks so much for the interesting explanation!
Keep it up, great success! Bloggy wish a lot of good posts!
D.A.
I would be interested in any update that arise as well as any studies that might come up within the Buffalo Ny area.
Interesting blog, the author thanks so much for the interesting explanation!
Keep it up, great success! Bloggy wish a lot of good posts!
I would be interested in any update that arise as well as any studies that might come up within the Buffalo Ny area.
I think ti’s very rare side effects that are caused from using Viagra. Yep
So what the same can be say of men? ;) good info
I never thought that female also use viagra to boost their sex drive. Obviously, the use of viagra is supported with scientific studies.
Female viagra? this doesnt sound so good, guys have problems with their “gear” after some time but womans ? they dont need any viagra to make sex :/
This is something new, which I never knew.
Rugenickmt
Hi everyone! I’m originally from London but am living in Berlin at the moment.
Gotta love this forum!
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Barrater is my life
I just have to present this particular to the trainees and check out just what exactly they will think concerning this.
The trail effects of Flibanserin were amazing. I concur that it had shown significant results in the laboratory animals and the women who had taken it for hypoactive sexual desire. But its results were not sustainable. As it was a women Viagra and works as the same as Viagra for men works. Although, I do agree that the studies proved the functionality of Flibanserin, but I would go with that more research is required to be done for development of a perfect women Viagra.
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It sounds kinda dangerous messing with your brain for arousal
I think ti’s very rare side effects that are caused from using Viagra.
greetings Larissa
Viagra for women? I think thats realy cool. thx johanna
Yeah!! I will testing very soon ;-) Greetings Hanna
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