Triple‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial of Ginkgo biloba in sexual dysfunction due to antidepressant drugs

Abstract

A triple-blind (investigator, patient, statistician), randomized, placebo-controlled, trial of Ginkgo biloba 240 mg daily was carried out. Following a 1-week control, it was given to 24 patients with sexual impairment due to antidepressant drugs. Efficacy analysis was carried out on eight males and five females on placebo and six males and five females on Ginkgo, completing the full 12 weeks of treatment. Not included were three subjects who dropped out after 6 weeks. A validated, sex (gender)-orientated questionnaire was recorded at - 1, 0, 1, 3, 6, 9 and 12 weeks, and a non-blind follow-up for a further 6-weeks on Ginkgo. Hamilton anxiety and depression ratings were made at 0, 6 and 12 weeks and simple global assessments of alertness and memory. There were some spectacular individual responses in both groups, but no statistically significant differences, and no differences in side-effects.

Ejaculatory dysfunction and depression: pharmacological and psychobiological interactions

“…Thus, beyond the established efficacy of sildenafil for ED, specific improvement in DE could not be distinguished from improvement in erectile function. In other placebo-controlled studies in patients with SSRI-induced sexual dysfunction, Gingko biloba 46 and bupropion 47 were indistinguishable from placebo. In the one study that did show a positive sexual effect of bupropion compared to placebo, the effect was minimal and limited to libido.…”

The Impact of Ginkgo biloba Tablet and Aromatherapy Inhaler Combination on Sexual Function in Females During Postmenopausal Period: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In a clinical trial study conducted by Wheatley in the United Kingdom to determine the effect of Ginkgo biloba on sexual function in men and women aged at 18-65 yrs under depression treatment, taking 240 mg Ginkgo biloba extract caused no change in sexual activity improvement (29). Failure to consist with our study could be due to the differences in health status of the subjects because their samples were men and women treated for depression, while our samples were only healthy postmenopausal women.…”

Strategies for managing antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction: A review

“…Following positive early reports of its efficacy in this area, there have now been two placebo-controlled RCTs of G. biloba as a possible antidote to antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Neither trial has shown a benefit of the use of G. biloba [27,28]. Both were small in size, with a total number of only 61 participants over the two studies, and included both men and women.…”