Can You Inhale Your Way to Sexual Desire With a New Nose Spray?

Nov. 15, 2005 — -- An odorless, colorless, synthetic chemical could be the next big treatment for sexual dysfunction -- for men and women.

PT-141 has been tested on 900 volunteers who have since reported enhanced arousal and desire in as few as 15 minutes after taking the drug.

The drug, made by N.J.-based Palatin Technologies, will soon enter advanced clinical trials, the final round of testing before it goes to the Food and Drug Administration for review. If it is approved, it could be on the market in as soon as three years.

"The promise of this is very compelling, but as with all drugs, we need to wait and see what the testing reveals in terms of potential risks and benefits," said ABC News medical contributor Dr. David Katz.

Viagra, the popular drug for erectile dysfunction, works by increasing blood flow to the genital area. PT-141 acts on the brain to jump-start desire, which in turn can cause increased genital blood flow in men and women.

"The interesting thing about targeting the brain with this spray is that so much of sexual activity is dependent on the brain's interpretation of desire, rather than the feelings in the peripheral appendages," Katz said.

The drug's ability to work on women distinguishes it from other drugs in the marketplace, Katz said.

"For the couple who has been together a long time and has just let sex fall by the wayside as a natural consequence of the stresses of life, this could be a good way to get it back in the relationship," he said.

More than 23 million men have been prescribed Viagra since it was approved in 1998. PT-141 could be a good choice for men who suffer from ED and can't take the Viagra-like drugs, either because they don't work for them or because of other health conditions such as hypertension. It could also work for heart disease patients.

Although the drug may sound like the holy grail for some couples, it could cause problems for others.

"Sexuality isn't just a physical thing," Katz said. "In many cases, there are some underlying emotional or psychological issues, and this shouldn't be used as a Band-aid. It's something that might mask relationship problems and shouldn't be used as a shortcut."