The female ‘Viagra’ has been approved… but it might make you throw up and pass out

Viagra has been putting lead in the pencils of men the world over since the Nineties, but a drug that improves the sex lives of women has only just been approved... and to say it's experiencing a few teething problems is an understatement.  Addyi, the first ever prescription drug designed to improve and enhance a woman's libido and sexual desire, will launch in October, having been approved  by the Food and Drug Administration. The pink pill, known generically as flibanserin, is made by Sprout Pharmaceuticals and will be marketed as a treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder, characterised as a lack or absence of sexual fantasies and desire for sexual activity. In clinical trials, 43-60 per cent of women found that Addyi improved their sex drive. So far, so good, right? Well, not really. Addyi has an entirely different mechanism to Viagra, which relaxes muscles and increases blood flow to particular areas of the body. Addyi works on the central nervous system to correct dopamine and norepinephrine imbalances and decrease serotonin levels, which are responsible for sexual satiety. The most common side effects of this action include low blood pressure, fatigue, dizziness, nausea and sleepiness, so it is recommended that the pill is taken at bedtime. Even at that, many women reported feeling groggy the following morning, which could make the drive to work a little dangerous. Another major concern is the risk of fainting, particularly when the pill is combined with booze:

“Because of a potentially serious interaction with alcohol, treatment with Addyi will only be available through certified health care professionals and certified pharmacies,” says Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “Patients and prescribers should fully understand the risks associated with the use of Addyi before considering treatment.”

So, in short, it's the libido-boosting pill that could leave you too tired and sick to have sex. And you'll need to skip that evening glass of Chablis to take it. Not tonight, love.