Posted: August 20, 2015 Contributor: PRJKT RUBY
‘Female Viagra’ is Here!
It’s been quite the week for Sprout Pharmaceuticals, the developers of the first-ever FDA approved medication for the treatment of low libido in women. Final approval has finally given the green light for manufacturers to go ahead with drug sales (speculated to appear in the U.S. in the fourth quarter) and now Sprout is to be acquired by Valeant Pharmaceuticals for nearly $1 billion in cash.
The approval of flibanserin (brand name Addyi) marks a significant triumph for women’s sexual health. For years women have suffered from sexual dysfunction with no approved treatment available. Many feel the approval of flibanserin is a huge step in the right direction toward the continuing goal of equality for women.
Interestingly enough, while the medication has been dubbed ‘female Viagra’ it actually doesn’t work like the wildly popular ‘little blue pill.’
Addyi is for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). This ailment is categorized by low sex drive that causes a woman distress in her personal life. So how does it work? Well, not anything like the Viagra we all know about…but then again, men and women have very different bodies.
Flibanserin was first developed as an antidepressant and while undergoing clinical trials, women reported an increase in sexual drive and satisfaction. After more exploration and research, the drug began going through the approval process for the treatment of HSDD. It effectively works to balance chemicals in the brain which are linked to sexual desire. It’s categorized as a 5HT1A agonist and a 5HT2A antagonist.
Unlike Viagra, where men pop the pill 30 minutes to an hour prior to sexual activity, Addyi is taken daily and will take some time to begin working, just as other medications that work to balance brain chemistry.