Glossary · Treatments

Flibanserin (Addyi)

Also called: Addyi.

Definition: Flibanserin is a once-daily 100 mg oral medication FDA-approved in 2015 for premenopausal hypoactive sexual desire disorder. It modulates serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine signaling. Effects are modest and it must not be combined with alcohol.

Detailed definition

Flibanserin (Addyi) was the first FDA-approved drug for HSDD in premenopausal women. It is a serotonin 5-HT1A agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist with activity at dopamine D4 and noradrenergic receptors. Standard dose is 100 mg orally at bedtime. Effects on desire are modest in placebo-controlled trials — typically about 0.5–1 additional satisfying sexual events per month above placebo. Notable warnings: severe hypotension and syncope when combined with alcohol (the FDA initially required a strict alcohol contraindication, later softened to "avoid alcohol within 2 hours"); CYP3A4 interactions; and not approved for postmenopausal women.

Why it matters in menopause

For premenopausal women specifically, flibanserin can be a fit. For postmenopausal women with HSDD, low-dose testosterone (off-label) typically has more compelling evidence. ClearedRx evaluates HSDD using the DSDS and discusses the full range of options.

Sources

External references: Wikipedia.

← Back to full glossary