A failed drug treatment for depression may have a new lease of life as a female Viagra equivalent, according to US scientists. Clinical trials highlighted how this drug, Flibanserin, was ineffective in treating depressive patients, but it was seen to have a libidinous effect on those taking it. The emergence of an alternative treatment field for this drug mirrors the case of Viagra itself - which was initially conceived as a heart disease remedy.

Details concerning Flibanserin's performance in trials were presented by a US research team at a conference organised by the European Society for Sexual Medicine. "Flibanserin was a poor antidepressant", head scientist Professor John Thorp informed those present. "However, astute observers noted that it increased libido in laboratory animals and human subjects. So, we conducted multiple clinical trials."

Viagra for Women

2,000 female participants took part in these trials in all. Those prescribed a daily dose of 100mg of Flibanserin fed back results indicating that their desire for sexual intercourse had been boosted, and that their sexual experiences had been pleasant, Professor Thorp commented, adding: "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."

Responses to this drug news have been mixed. As far as one representative from relationship counselling group Relate was concerned, the announcement had potential, but with a caveat. "Female loss of libido is a big problem and it is not going away", the organisation's Paula Hall stressed. "This research is really quite exciting for women with loving partners whose loss of libido is a physical thing. But it is not going to fix a broken relationship or help with looking after the kids or cleaning the house."

Female Viagra

Since Flibanserin is yet to be approved for use by drug regulatory bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), its market debut as a female Viagra could be some way off in the future. Viagra, by way of contrast, has now been in global circulation for over a decade, and prescribed to 25 million male patients around the world.