Health Insider Update

News

FDA Approves First Drug to Increase a Woman’s Sex Drive

FDA Approves First Drug to Increase a Woman’s Sex Drive
August 27
19:49 2015

pinkpillIt’s about time! Did you know that men have access to more than 20 drugs to boost their libido? Things are about to change. On August 19th, 2015, the FDA approved flibanserin, the first drug designed specifically to treat low sex drive in women. 

Many are calling flibanserin the “female Viagra,” but this drug is completely different. While Viagra and similar medications send blood directly to the penis, flibanserin works by affecting the chemicals in a woman’s brain (after all, a woman’s sex drive is much more complicated than a man’s). The new medication has even shown success in treating women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).

The FDA defines HSDD as: “characterized by low sexual desire that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty and is not due to a co-existing medical or psychiatric condition, problems within the relationship, or the effects of a medication or other drug substance.”

According to women who participated in a clinical trial, flibanserin should be called the relationship drug. Cara, 33, was considering divorce after suffering more than ten years with little to no desire for sex. “I felt something in me had changed,” said Cara after the birth of her first child. “Your body turns from sexual to something for your child. I had no desire for my husband, or for anyone else.”

Amanda, age 52, had a similar story. Both women experienced life-changing and marriage-saving effects after taking flibanserin.

According to Sprout Pharmaceuticals, flibanserin works by boosting chemicals in the brain associated with arousal, making it the first non-hormonal option for premenopausal women with a low sex drive.

Flibanserin will be sold under the brand name Addyi and is scheduled to hit shelves in October. Final approval has been delayed as potential side effects are evaluated. The biggest drawback is that Addyi cannot be taken in conjunction with alcohol, a huge libido booster for many women. And since the little pink pill is designed to be taken once per day, users would have to practice complete abstinence from alcohol.

 

About Author

April Kuhlman

April Kuhlman

Related Articles