The Drug aimed at helping women who have lost their sex drive has taken a huge step in the positive direction and has been backed by an FDA panel. The FDA advisory committee voted 18-6 to persuade that the FDA approve the drug flibanserin for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. More details after the jump.
The advisory committee’s recommendation will be given the the FDA who will decide in the end if the drug will be approved. The FDA is often swayed by the opinion of the advisory board so this seems like positive move for those who are advocating for the drug.
Dr. Margery Gass, a sexual dysfunction expert at Cleveland Clinic, said after the vote, “I am elated, very happy to hear this,” she added “I think women are going to be very appreciative of having something they can try for this problem.”
The drug, flibanserin has been given nicknames like ‘Female Viagra’ and ‘The Little Pink Pill’ is very complex and is different than sexual dysfunction medications that have been given to men in the past. The drug that works on the central nervous system — in the same category as an antidepressant. This is the complete opposite than Viagra for men because in men the medication focuses on the physical, treating erectile dysfunction but does nothing to create a sex drive.
Experts say for women most often times the cure for a low sex drive is most likely to be found within themselves. Judy Kuriansky, a clinical psychologist and certified sex therapist said, “Women’s sexuality is very complicated. It’s not a matter of just taking that pill by the way, and then all of a sudden the lights go on. You have to feel good about your body. You have to feel good about yourself. You have to feel the guy really loves you. … It’s complex. It’s not the same as a man taking a pill.”
The meeting held on Thursday was the third time flibanserin was reviewed by the FDA. It had been rejected in the past because of the negative side effects and the fact that it didn’t actually turn women on. It is now back on the table after a 2013 study concluded by Journal of Sexual Medicine determined that women taking the drug reported an average increase of 2.5 satisfying sexual events in four weeks, compared with an increase of 1.5 among women using a placebo.
