As most of you are aware, recently a new drug came to the market named, Addyi. This is the first drug approved by the FDA for female sexual dysfunction, and unfortunately it is being presented as the sister drug to Viagra. Sex, Orgasm and new Addyi Drug
I have some major issues with this drug, the least of which is saying a pill is going to cure decreased libido in women. First of all this is not a medication that will make you instantly want sex, it may take months to work unlike Viagra which is made for a rather immediate and firm response. This medication really has nothing to do with sexual response or desire and had more to do with balancing neurotransmitters in the brain (aka, antidepressant). There are some significant side effects with the medication and I’m not sure they are worth the prescription. Sex , Orgasm and new Addyi Drug
This being said we are already receiving calls from women wanting this pill. Let me tell you something, this drug is going to be a multi-billion dollar charade for Valeant that just purchased the rights from drug originator Sprout. This will be the talk of the town and there are probably going to be many women that take this medicine under the guise that it is going to cure their woes of decreased libido. Why, do we as a culture treat something like female sexual dysfunction or decreased libido as a disease treated by drugs. Viagra, on the other hand, treats erectile dysfunction and does serve a purpose. Addyi, is basically an anti-depressant and we are saying that women have decreased libido because, really, they are depressed. I’m going to close this post because the phones are ringing off the hook with women calling to come in for this medication and it isn’t even yet available.
Guys, if you are reading this let me tell you how to cure decreased libido in your significant other:
- Do the dishes
- Give her an unsolicited back rub without expecting anything in return
- Make dinner AND do the dishes
- Take care of getting the kids off to school – making lunches
- Take her out to dinner and remind her why you are with her
- Don’t be a jerk – my wife says she doesn’t have sex with jerks
- Be looking for ways to support her and help out
You don’t usually need a pill for decreased libido. It may be a piece of the puzzle if you are depressed, but sexual arousal in women is much more than waking up with an erection (cue the men). If I ask my patients to list their top ten things they need to do that day, sex, usually does not make the list, and this is normal. Sex, Orgasm and new Addyi Drug
My question is why we are making a pill for this? My question is why are we telling a younger generation of women that if they have decreased libido it’s something for which they need a pill? Public pressure to prescribe this pill will be enormous and we shall soon see how the medical and lay community responds.
Until then…
