Wondering why your sex drive feels low? Here is what you need to know about Flibanserin.

Have you ever felt like your interest in being close with your partner has dropped compared to before? Feeling like your sex drive is low can feel confusing and overwhelming, but please know you are not alone. Many women experience this at some point in their lives, and there is no need to feel embarrassed about it. Today, we will talk about a medicine called Flibanserin that helps treat this exact issue.

Understanding your body is the first step toward feeling better and reclaiming your well-being. Let us dive into what this medicine is, how it works, and what you must keep in mind before taking it.

What Kind of Medicine is Flibanserin?

Simply put, Flibanserin is a prescription pill used to treat a condition called Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) in women who have not gone through menopause yet. This means your monthly menstrual cycle has not stopped completely. The brand name for this medicine is Addyi.

Now, HSDD is not just a normal, temporary dip in your sexual interest. Here is what defines this specific condition:

• You have never experienced such a low level of sexual desire before in your adult life.
• This low desire happens no matter what type of sexual activity you try, where you are, or who your partner is.
• This low desire causes you real emotional distress, sadness, or frustration.
• Most importantly, your doctor must confirm that the low desire is not caused by another physical illness (like diabetes or thyroid problems), a mental health condition (like depression), problems in your relationship, another medicine you take, or drug use.

Think about a woman named Samantha. She is 35 years old and has been married for 5 years. In the early years, her relationship with her husband was wonderful. However, for the past 6 months, Samantha has felt zero sexual interest. When her husband talks about it, she feels upset, but she does not know what to do. This kind of situation is what doctors call HSDD.

This means this medicine...

• Is not meant for women who have already gone through menopause.
• Is not meant for men at all.
• Is not designed to enhance physical sexual performance.

This medicine may also be used for other purposes as recommended by your doctor. If you have any questions, always ask your doctor or pharmacist.

What You Must Tell Your Doctor Before Taking This Medicine

Before you start taking Flibanserin, your doctor or nurse practitioner needs to know about your health history. These details are very important for your safety:

• Dehydration: If your body lacks enough water or fluids.
• Alcohol use: If you drink alcohol regularly. This is a very important factor with this medicine.
• Substance use history: If you have ever had problems with alcohol or drug addiction in the past or present.
• Heart disease: If you have any heart conditions or heart problems.
• Mental health issues: If you have a history of depression or other mental health conditions.
• Liver disease: If you have any problems with your liver. This is a critical safety concern.
• Low blood pressure: If your blood pressure tends to run low.
• Allergies: If you have ever had an allergic reaction to Flibanserin, or any other medicines, foods, or dyes.
• Pregnancy: If you are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, or plan to become pregnant soon.
• Breastfeeding: If you are currently breastfeeding your baby.

Never hide these details. Telling your doctor everything protects your health and safety.

How to Use This Medicine Correctly

Now, let us review how to take this medicine properly to get the best results safely.

• Take this tablet with a glass of water.
• Take the exact dose prescribed by your doctor. Do not change it on your own.
• You must take this medicine only at bedtime right before you sleep. Never take it during the day or morning.
• For no reason should you take this medicine with grapefruit juice. Keep this rule in mind at all times.
• Pay special attention to alcohol rules:
• If you drink one or two alcoholic drinks, you must wait at least two hours before taking your night pill.
• If you have three or more alcoholic drinks on a given day, do not take your pill that night at all.
• After taking your night pill, do not drink any alcohol until the next day.

When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, you will receive a special patient information leaflet called a MedGuide. Read this guide carefully every time you get your prescription refilled, as it contains important safety details.

This medicine is not approved for use in children. It is strictly meant for adult women.

What to Do If You Take Too Much

If you think you have taken too much of this medicine, contact a poison control center or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

This medicine is just for you! Do not share it with your friends or family members, even if they show the exact same symptoms you have.

What to Do If You Miss a Dose

If you miss your scheduled bedtime dose, simply skip that dose entirely. Take your next dose at the regular time the following night. Never take a missed dose in the morning, and never double up on doses to make up for a missed one.

Things That Can Interact With This Medicine

Flibanserin can interact with many other medicines, foods, and drinks. You need to be aware of these interactions to avoid serious health risks.

Never take Flibanserin with these specific medicines:

• Berotralstat .
• Certain antiviral medicines for HIV or hepatitis .
• Antifungal medicines such as fluconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and posaconazole .
• Ciprofloxacin .
• Clarithromycin .
• Conivaptan .
• Diltiazem .
• Erythromycin .
• Grapefruit juice (mentioned before, but worth repeating).
• Nefazodone .
• Telithromycin .
• Verapamil .

Flibanserin can also react with these items, so you must exercise caution:

• Alcohol (as discussed, this can cause dangerous reactions).
• Birth control pills .
• Bupropion .
• Certain anxiety or sleep medicines .
• Seizure medicines such as carbamazepine, phenobarbital, and phenytoin .
• Stomach medicines such as cimetidine, esomeprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, and ranitidine .
• Digoxin .
• Diphenhydramine (found in some cough and cold medicines) .
• Etravirine .
• Fluoxetine (an antidepressant) .
• Fluvoxamine .
• Ginkgo biloba (an herbal supplement) .
• Lorcaserin .
• Narcotic pain medicines .
• Resveratrol .
• Rifabutin, rifampin, and rifapentine .
• Sirolimus .
• St. John's Wort (an herbal supplement) .

This list is not complete. Tell your doctor about every single medicine, vitamin, and herbal supplement you take. Also, let your doctor know if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use recreational drugs, as these substances can interact with Flibanserin.

What Else Should You Keep in Mind?

• Keep regular appointments with your doctor to check on your progress. If you do not notice any improvement in your symptoms after about 8 weeks of treatment, let your doctor know.
• This medicine can make you feel sleepy or dizzy. Therefore, for at least 6 hours after taking your pill and until you know how the medicine affects you, do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or do anything that requires full alertness.
• Do not stand up or sit up too quickly. Rising suddenly can cause dizziness and increase your risk of falling.
• A reminder about alcohol: Alcohol increases sleepiness and dizziness. When combined with this medicine, it can drop your blood pressure severely and cause fainting. As noted, wait two hours after 1-2 drinks before taking your pill, and skip the pill entirely if you have 3 or more drinks.

What Kind of Side Effects Can Happen?

Like any medicine, Flibanserin can cause some side effects.

If you notice these symptoms, contact your doctor or doctor as soon as possible:

• Allergic reactions: Skin rash, itching, hives, or swelling of your face, lips, or tongue.
• Extreme drowsiness: Feeling unusually tired during the day.
• Low blood pressure: This can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, fainting spells, or unusual fatigue.

These side effects are usually mild, but let your doctor know if they continue or bother you:

• Dry mouth.
• Nausea.
• General tiredness.
• Trouble sleeping.

This list may not include every possible side effect. If you experience any other unusual symptoms, consult your doctor for advice.

How to Store Your Medicine Properly

• Keep the medicine in a safe place where children and pets cannot reach it.
• Store it at room temperature (around 20°C to 25°C or 68°F to 77°F).
• Do not keep expired medicines. Safely dispose of them when they pass their expiration date.

How to Throw Away Unused or Expired Medicines

Throwing medicines straight into the trash or flushing them down the toilet is not always safe.

• Check if a local medicine take-back program is available in your area. Your local pharmacy or police station can give you details.
• If a take-back program is not available, check the medicine label or patient leaflet for disposal instructions. If you are unsure, ask your pharmacist.
• If throwing them in the household trash is allowed, take the pills out of their original container. Mix them with something undesirable like cat litter, dirt, or used coffee grounds. Place this mixture inside a sealed bag or container, seal it tightly, and put it in your regular trash bin.

Final Important Things to Remember

Flibanserin is a specialized medicine designed to treat a specific medical condition (HSDD) causing low sexual desire in women. It is not suitable for everyone. Taking this medicine with alcohol is especially dangerous. Also, you must tell your doctor about every medicine you take and every health condition you have.

Sources & References:

• U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Addyi (Flibanserin) Patient Information and Medicine Guide.
• Mayo Clinic: Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder in Women - Diagnosis and Treatment Overview.
• National Health Service (NHS UK): Medicines A-Z and Sexual Health Guidance.
• Cleveland Clinic: Understanding Female Sexual Dysfunction and Treatment Options.
• National Institutes of Health (NIH / PubMed): Clinical evaluation and safety profile of Flibanserin.