Viagra, the famous drug for treating erectile dysfunctions can help people flying eastwards to recover from jetlag much faster, a research suggest.

The research was carried out by Argentine scientists from the National University of Quilmes. The scientists found that Viagra helped hamsters to recover circa 50 percent faster from six hour forward shifts in their daily time cycles. However, it was found out that Viagra works only in conjunction with light therapy, and only with forward time shifts that are equivalent to flying eastbound.

The team shifted the light-dark cycle of animals six hours forwards i.e they switched on lights six hours earlier than usual. After that they monitored the harmster’s running wheel activity in order to find out when the animals had got used to the new time cycle. Normally, harmsters are active during the day and stop running at night, when the lights go out.

Injection of the drug before the time shift caused the hamsters to adjust to the new time cycle much faster. The dose did not matter, as even very low doses of Viagra, that did not cause penile erection proved to be effective.

Also it was revealed, that Viagra, when used without the shifts of the light did not cause any changes in the hamster’s activity, so the drug works only by enhancing the light-induced response.

Viagra seemed to work via a molecule cGVP that has a role in setting the body’s time clock. This molecule is present at higher levels during the day, and at lower levels when the lights go out, according to Dr Diego Golumbek, who led the research.

The scientists will have to wait for more research to find out whether the drug will work in humans.