Diminished libido is an unfortunate side effect of aging (and multiple medications), and until now, there wasn't much hope for ladies with dwindling sex drives.
Yesterday, however, the Food and Drug Administration officially approved a new drug designed to boost the libido in women.
Originally and mistakenly touted as the “female Viagra,” the drug, Addyi, works over the long run — meaning women won't be able to just pop a pill and get off.
It's meant to be taken daily, and it works slowly over a period of time by acting on the chemicals that affect mood and appetite, increasing the psychological desire for sex (rather than the physical desire).
The approval of the pill comes with a long list of FDA-imposed safety measures and instructions for both the doctor and the patient. Doctors, for instance, can only prescribe the drug after completing (and passing) an online course that teaches about the potential dangers of the medication.
Pharmacists must be certified to dispense. And the drug will have a label on the box warning women of the potential interactions, side effects and risks, which include fainting, dizziness and low blood pressure.
The label also advises patients to avoid alcohol while taking Addyi and to stop taking after eight weeks if no improvements are felt.
Sprout Pharmaceutical is the first drug manufacturer to get official approval on this sort of drug; in the past, drug giants including Pfizer, Bayer and Proctor & Gamble attempted to create a female libido-boosting drug, but they all failed.
That's not to say Addyi is perfect: In fact, the FDA rejected it twice, due to the high potential for side effects and relative ineffectiveness when compared to male libido-boosting drugs like Viagra.
Because of this, opinion surrounding the drug is split among professionals. Supporters, many of whom are feminists, insist Addyi can help to close the "pleasure gap" between men and women.
Opponents, however, maintain the drug is dangerous, and the benefits aren't worth the risk of taking the drug every day.
Whether Addyi will prove successful or not is a question only time and experience can answer.
The drug will launch in mid-October and will be available in brand name and generic formulations.
Citations: FDA Approves Womens Sex Pill Addyi With Safety Restrictions (Huffington Post), The FDA just approved a drug people are wrongly calling female Viagra (Business Insider)
