UA Study Seeks to Help Women Who Experience Sexual Dysfunction
as a Result of Taking Antidepressants

Oct. 18, 2001
From: Public Affairs, (520) 626-7301
Modern antidepressant drugs, such as Prozac, Paxil, Celexa and others, can be extremely effective in treating depression. But for some patients, both men and women, those drugs can cause or worsen sexual dysfunction. It's a difficult trade-off for many patients who want to treat their depression -- but not at the cost of their sex lives.

Doctors at the University of Arizona Department of Psychiatry have successfully treated men who experience sexual dysfunction as a result of their antidepressants. Now the department is beginning a research study to see if an investigational drug will have the same success in women.

The UA is joining investigators at six other academic sites across the county to study 150 patients. The women will receive either the investigational drug or a placebo. But all the participants will have an opportunity to take the study medication after the initial study period.

"Sex is an important part of life," says Alan Gelenberg, MD, head of the UA Department of Psychiatry and principal investigator of this study. "It forges a bond between people. Unfortunately, sometimes a helpful drug impairs sexuality. This study attempts to help people with this problem. We were extremely pleased with the results in men and hope to find similar benefits in women."

PLEASE NOTE: Women currently using antidepressants who are interested in participating in this study can call 626-6650. Dr. Gelenberg is available for interviews at 626-6586.

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