The Food and Drug Administration of the US has finally decided to approve the pink pill that will help women lift their sex drive. The drug called Addyi which is intended for females suffering from hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) will now be sold in the market.
After considering the drug for three times, the agency has finally approved it. The director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research of FDA Janet Woodcock announced the news.
"Today's approval provides women distressed by their low sexual desire with an approved treatment option. The FDA strives to protect and advance the health of women, and we are committed to supporting the development of safe and effective treatments for female sexual dysfunction."
The Flibanserin containing drug which is sometimes called female Viagra is similar to an antidepressant since it functions by changing brain chemistry. It regulates the dopamine and serotonin in the brain which is responsible for controlling hormones that promotes sexual desire.
But the physicians are still unsure of the exact link between the two neurotransmitters and HSDD. They still can't provide clear explanation how the drug helps boosts libido in females.
Sprout Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of the libido-enhancing drug announced also announced the news on its official site. The company mentioned that the drug is the frist and only FDA approved drug for HSDD which is experienced by 1 out of 10 women in the US.
The company studied Flibanserin in more than 11,000 women who showed improvements on their sexual desire, increase satisfying sex activities and reduced stress among the subjects. The company claims that the drug is safe based on their clinical trial data.
However, the FDA warns the public about the potential side effects of the pill which include loss of consciousness and low blood pressure. The drug will only available from health experts and certified pharmacies. The agency requires both the prescribers and the patients to fully understand the risk accompanying the treatment.
Sprout said that the non-hormonal pill should only be taken by women once a day. Addyi is expected to be released this coming October 17.
