After being shot down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration twice, Addyi (flibanserin)—the “female Viagra”—has been approved.
The drug, a little pink pill (because pink is for girls, duh), treats premenopausal women with low sex drives. And despite it being called the female Viagra, it works in a completely different way. Viagra targets the physical problem of erectile dysfunction, while Addyi targets the central nervous system and helps increase sexual desire. Viagra is only taken when needed before sex whereas Addyi needs to be taken once every night.
Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research said of the approval,
Addyi’s side effects include severe low blood pressure and loss of consciousness, especially among patients who drink alcohol while on the drug. Addyi will come with a box warning alerting people who drink alcohol while on the drugs, people with liver problems, and people who take certain medications.
Women on Addyi have a 37% increase in sexual desire according to clinical trials held by Sprout Pharmaceuticals, the company responsible for the drug. Addyi will be available starting in October.
[via CNN]
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