Female Viagra Now Approved In The US But With A Serious Warning From The Government

Lack of sexual desire among women may now be treated as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has now approved the 'pink pill' under the brand name Addyi. Amidst hurrahs for the product, still the government issued a warning to take it under a health professional's supervision.

 In a report from Reuters, Addyi comes with a 'boxed warning' as the pill may react to alcohol or with medicines known as CYP3A4 inhibitors that include certain steroids. In this way, people with liver impairment should be careful in taking the pill.

"Because of a potentially serious interaction with alcohol, treatment with Addyi will only be available through certified health care professionals and certified pharmacies. Patients and prescribers should fully understand the risks associated with the use of Addyi before considering treatment," Janet Woodcock, M.D., director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) said as mentioned in The Guardian.

Despite this warning, The National Consumers League praised the product for benefits it can do to premenopausal women.

"This is the biggest breakthrough in women's sexual health since the advent of 'the Pill'" for contraception. It validates (and) legitimizes female sexuality as an important component of health," the organization said in a statement.

Unlike the male Viagra, Addyi arouses the woman, not by increasing blood flow in her genitals, but by by targeting the pleasure centers of the brain, New Zealand Herald said.

This is due to earlier criticisms that women's arousal is hugely influenced by psychological factors.

Addyi (Flibanserin) was first proposed in 2010 with its original creator Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim but was rejected several times for its side effects with the FDA saying its "benefits outweighed the risks."

However, the US FDA is now giving a go at the product in treating hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) - a persistent lack of sexual desire in women starting this year.

Sprouts Pharmaceuticals is also considering introducing the product in the European market including the UK. But the drug still has to be approved and licensed under European Medicines Agency.