Addyi Archives - Jeffrey Sterling, MD

Introduction

This post revisits the female libido-enhancing pill Addyi a year later.

It was a year ago that Straight, No Chaser reviewed approval for the first medication meant to address less than optimal sexual desire in females. That drug is flibanserin, which hit the market under the brand name Addyi. Let’s revisit the discussion – mostly as a reaffirmation of a basic Straight, No Chaser lesson.

The idea of a female counterpart for Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs has been bantered about for years. After all, it’s been shown in the medical literature that at some point, approximately 10% and up to one-third of women may suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (the actual term for premenopausal women with diminished or absent sexual desire, aka low libido in women) – or should I ignore the fact that Viagra earned its maker more than $1.6 billion dollars last year?

If you think through the premise, the issue existing with women never should have been exactly the same as exists with men. After all, men are treated for erectile dysfunction, and after all, women don’t have penises. Furthermore, the condition in women speaks to diminished desire, not diminished ability as in seen in men. The situations aren’t exactly analogous, thus you wouldn’t think the solution would be as simple as giving women a drug used for erectile dysfunction.

The Female Libido-Enhancing Pill – An Update

And so, the drug flibanserin, which is not the same drug as Viagra (sildenafil), has been fully approved by the FDA for treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Again, it’s important to immediately point out that this is a different medication. In fact, it’s a drug that acts on the central nervous system and is in the same category of pharmaceuticals as antidepressants.

Any of you suffering from depression and taking antidepressants may have paused at that last sentence, and here’s a word of caution to those legitimately suffering. The FDA rejected this same drug twice within the last five years prior to its approval, presumably based on its (lack of) merits. Most of the reasons this medication hadn’t been approved previously were related to the associated side effects (often a deterrent to compliance with antidepressants), which include episodic low blood pressure, fainting, and fatigue. Questions continue to exist on interactions with alcohol or birth control pills. The specific challenge in finally getting approval was largely based on getting a better handle on the side effect profile and on weighing the side effects vs. the benefits.

But does it work?

You tell me – it’s been nearly a year! Using Viagra as an analogy, has the marketing machines of Big Pharma inundated your televisions with ads trumping Addyi’s success? Do you doubt that this wouldn’t have occurred with overwhelming success? This has often been discussed in Straight, No Chaser (and is echoed by many sex therapists and behavioral psychologists). The cure for such conditions is not likely to be found in a bottle.

When conditions are mental instead of physical or physiological in nature, the solution may need to also be mental. It is fair to say approval of this drug rode a wave. This was partially based on a combination of existing lack of options in women’s health, politics and the sincere desire to provide solutions to women in need. That is not the same as saying this drug is definitely the solution for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Nor does it mean to suggest that it can’t be an option for women in need.

Still, the drug has been studied in more than 11,000 women. It performed better than a placebo by all measures examined. Specifically, women in clinical trials of the drug experienced two to three “satisfying sexual events” per month before joining the trial. FDA analysis showed they had 0.5 to 1 more such event per month with flibanserin, compared with a placebo. That’s a fact, and that gets a drug approved. Just remember: just because a drug is approved doesn’t mean in will work in you. It also doesn’t mean it will be safe for you to take. Discuss this with your physician. In the meantime, remember: diet, exercise, stress reduction and moderation in your indulgences make for a best approach. Seeking health from a pill bottle is rarely, if ever, the answer.

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Introduction

This post is about the female libido-enhancing pill flibanserin, branded as Addyi.

It was barely two months ago that Straight, No Chaser forecasted approval for the first medication meant to address less than optimal sexual desire in females. Given the approval of Flibanserin, which should hit the market by Oct. 17 under the brand name Addyi, it’s time to revisit the discussion.

A Female Viagra? She-agra?

The first thought that comes to mind is hmm…. The idea of a female counterpart of Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs has been bantered about for quite a while. After all, according to the medical literature, at some point, approximately 10% and up to one-third of women may suffer from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). (HSDD is the actual term for premenopausal women with diminished or absent sexual desire. This is also known as “low libido in women”). Should I note that Viagra earned its maker more than $1.6 billion dollars last year?

If you think this through, the issue existing with women shouldn’t be exactly the same as exists with men. After all, men are treated for erectile dysfunction, and after all, women don’t have penises. Furthermore, the condition in women speaks to diminished desire, not diminished ability as in seen in men. The situations aren’t exactly analogous, thus you would think the solution wouldn’t be as simple as giving women a drug used for erectile dysfunction.

Flibanserin – A Female Libido-Enhacing Pill

And so, the drug flibanserin has been fully approved by the FDA for treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder. Note: this is not the same drug as Viagra (sildenafil), Again, it’s important to immediately point out that this is a different medication. In fact, it’s a drug that acts on the central nervous system and is in the same category of pharmaceuticals as antidepressants.

Any of you suffering from depression and taking antidepressants may have paused at that last sentence. Here’s a word of caution to those legitimately suffering. The FDA rejected this same drug twice within the last five years. It had been presumed that this was based on its (lack of) merits. Most of the reasons this medication hadn’t been approved prior to now were related to the associated side effects (often a deterrent to compliance with antidepressants), which include episodic low blood pressure, fainting, and fatigue.

Questions continue to exist on interactions with alcohol or birth control pills. The specific challenge in finally getting approval was largely based on getting a better handle on the side effect profile and on weighing the side effects vs. the benefits.

What decision should you make?

This has been discussed in Straight, No Chaser (and is echoed by many sex therapists and behavioral psychologists). The cure for such conditions is not likely to be found in a bottle. As exists in this example, when conditions are mental instead of physical or physiological in nature, the solution may need to also be mental. It is fair to say this drug is riding a wave based on a combination of existing lack of options in women’s health, politics and the sincere desire to provide solutions to women in need.

That is not the same as saying this drug is definitely the solution for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in women. Still, the drug has been studied in more than 11,000 women. It performed better than a placebo by all measures examined. Specifically, women in clinical trials of the drug experienced two to three “satisfying sexual events” per month before joining the trial. An FDA analysis showed they had 0.5 to 1 more such event per month with flibanserin, when compared with a placebo. That’s a fact, and that gets a drug approved. Just remember: just because a drug is approved doesn’t mean in will work in you. It also doesn’t mean it’s safe for you to take. Discuss this with your physician.

Tag Archives: Addyi

A Year Later – The Female Libido-Enhancing Pill Update

Introduction

The Female Libido-Enhancing Pill – An Update

But does it work?

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Female Libido Enhancing Pill

Introduction

A Female Viagra? She-agra?

Flibanserin – A Female Libido-Enhacing Pill

What decision should you make?

Follow us!