Female Viagra: The new libido pill is FDA approved

This week America’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first prescription drug that promises to increase a woman’s libido.

The pill that’s been named Addyi (aka flibanserin) and developed by Sprout Pharmaceuticals is a once-daily, non-hormonal pill that is to be used for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). It is said to promote arousal by boosting the happy-making neurotransmitters to release more serotonin and dopamine into the body.

It’s the first of its kind to be approved for this condition, which in the US alone is affecting up to 1 in 10 women. But, like any form of medication, the new women’s Viagra comes with a pretty heavy list of possible side effects such as low blood pressure, fainting, dizziness, nausea and sleepiness. It also warns that the drug can interact with alcohol, increasing the risk of the named side effects.

One thing we find reassuring is, in order to prescribe and dispense Addyi, doctors will need to become a certified trainer, which means completing the appropriate training.

The tiny, pink pill is set to be available in October in the US. And while it’s still unsure as to when (or if) it will arrive Down Under, we think this breakthrough in science is pretty darn clever.

Source: bodyandSoul