Sydney, November 18 A drug that failed to pull women out of depression could work as their alternative to Viagra, experts believe.

Lead North American investigator John Thorp, analysed tests of flibanserin, an active ingredient in Viagra along with sildenafil.

The researcher found that though the drug fell short of helping women beat their blues, it did give them "an increase in libido that they liked."

The data from clinical trials of the drug held in Canada, Europe and the United States showed that 100 milligrams a day of flibanserin resulted in "significant improvements" in the two variables.

"Men remain interested but can't act or perform properly and women lose interest," the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Thorp as saying.

"So where Viagra and other erectile dysfunction medications work in the blood supply, flibanserin works in the brain," he added.

Dr Brian Klee, senior medical director at Pfizer also said that "people didn't want to give the medication back because of the side effect of having erections that were harder, firmer and lasted longer." (ANI)