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Cindy M. Meston, PhD; Julia R. Heiman, PhD

Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1998;55:652-656.

Background  The present investigation was designed to provide the first empirical examination of the effects of ephedrine sulfate, an - and -adrenergic agonist, on subjective and physiological sexual arousal in women. The purpose was to help elucidate the effects of increased peripheral adrenergic activity on sexual response in women.

Methods  Twenty sexually functional women participated in 2 experimental conditions in which subjective (self-report) and physiological (vaginal photoplethysmography) sexual responses to erotic stimuli were measured following administration of either ephedrine sulfate (50 mg) or placebo in a randomized, double-blind, cross-over protocol.

Results  Ephedrine significantly (P<.01) increased vaginal pulse amplitude responses to the erotic films and had no significant (P>.10) effect on subjective ratings of sexual arousal.

Conclusions  Ephedrine can significantly facilitate the initial stages of physiological sexual arousal in women. These findings have implications for deriving new pharmacological approaches to the management of sexual dysfunction in women.

From the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Heiman). Dr Meston is now with the Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin.