Flibanserin is a novel, non-hormonal drug that has been studied in clinical trials for the treatment of HSDD in premenopausal and postmenopausal women. The application submitted to the FDA is for premenopausal women. Flibanserin is believed to work on key neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in the brain that affect sexual desire. More specifically, it is thought that flibanserin corrects an imbalance of levels of these neurotransmitters by increasing dopamine and norepinephrine (both responsible for sexual excitement) and decreasing serotonin (responsible for sexual inhibition). In clinical studies, flibanserin was evaluated for its ability to increase the frequency of satisfying sexual events, increase the intensity of sexual desire and decrease the associated distress women feel from its loss.
Flibanserin is an antidepressant that failed to help depression in clinical trials, but was noted to have improved sexual health outcomes. It's not uncommon for a drug to be developed for one purpose, then approved for another. Sildenafill was originally developed to lower blood pressure, but failed those trials. The benefit of both of these drugs was discovered by accident. However, flibanserin has now been studied for its effects on sexual health for nearly a decade. Flibanserin doesn't have any interactions with hormonal medications, Thorp says. It does seem to interact with the original libido helper, though: some panelists recommended a warning against drinking alcohol while taking it, Reuters reported. (Interested in natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy? The Natural Menopause Solution has everything you need to tame symptoms and trigger rapid, healthy weight loss in menopausal women. Flibanserin (INN, USAN), sold under the trade name Addyi, is a medication approved for the treatment of pre-menopausal women with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD).The medication increases the number of satisfying sexual events per month by about one half to one over placebo from a starting point of about two to three. Flibanserin ( Addyi ) is a new drug being investigated for the prevention of HSDD in woman. HSDD, is a relatively new term developed to describe Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder which basically means a woman whose is otherwise healthy has a lacking libido, or a lack of sexual desire. Studies show that about 10-20% of women face this problem and some say HSDD outnumbers men with sexual problems. Flibanserin is classified as a 5-HT serotonin receptor agonist and a dopamine D4 receptor partial agonist. It is a Non-Hormonal agent that in essence increases dopamine and noradrenalin while reducing Serotonin in the brain. This in return seemingly has a positive effect on a woman's sexual craving who was otherwise lacking in this area. The benefits of it being Non-Hormonal are that it will not have the problems associated with other hormonal treatments such as a negative altered mood among other issues.
