Disclaimer: None of the information in this article constitutes medical advice, and is just the opinion of the writer(s). We recommend that patients follow their doctor’s guidance in regard to prescription medication.
Addyi is an FDA-approved prescription medication for increasing sex drive in women. The generic version of this medication is called flibanserin, and we’ll use these two terms interchangeably throughout this article because they refer to the same active drug ingredient.
But is Addyi proven to enhance sex drive in women? Does it cause side effects? Is generic flibanserin as effective as Addyi? And how does Addyi work in the body?
In this article we’ll answer all of these questions and more, as we analyze research studies on Addyi to determine if it's effective for improving sex drive in women.
We'll also discuss the risk of side effects, explain if patients can get a generic version for much cheaper, and document how the medication works in the body.
Key takeaways:
- Addyi is clinically proven to increase sex drive in women
- We don't consider the increase to be impressive
- Addyi may cause side effects like drowsiness and nausea
Does Addyi Increase Sex Drive?
Addyi has been studied in clinical trials which examined its effects on female libido.
A medical review published in the Journal of Women’s Health analyzed the results of three clinical trials on Addyi in premenopausal women with low sexual desire.
All three trials showed a positive effect for the Addyi group, with the average sexual desire score nearly doubling (from 1.2 to 2.1 “satisfying sexual events” over the 28 day trial period).
The researchers noted that the results were consistent across demographics like race, and that the medication not only improved sexual desire but also reduced sexual distress.
Addyi has also been studied in postmenopausal women.
A 2017 clinical trial examined the effects of the drug in trial participants with an average age of around 56 years.
The results from this study were less favorable than the study with premenopausal trial participants.
Sexual function was documented to be improved by Addyi, but there was no difference in the number of satisfying sexual events.
The most thorough meta-study we could find on Addyi reviewed data from eight clinical trials totalling 5,914 patients.
Addyi was found in the review to be effective on average, but to a relatively low degree. Treatment with the drug resulted in 0.5 additional satisfying sexual events compared to baseline per month.
Addyi is proven to be effective for increasing sexual desire in women, but in our opinion, not to a particularly impressive degree.
Does Addyi Cause Side Effects?
Addyi's FDA label has a "black box" warning, shown below, indicating that alcohol cannot be used with the drug and that Addyi can have severe side effects when taken with certain types of medications like CYP3A4 inhibitors.
A doctor should be able to check a patient's medication records to make sure they are not taking anything that would negatively interact with Addyi.
According to the meta-study we reviewed in the first section, Addyi was 4x more likely than placebo pills to cause dizziness.
It was also 4x more likely to cause sleepiness, and 2.35x more likely to cause nausea. Risk of fatigue as a side effect also increased by 64% on average.
Given the black box warning, it's important that patients considering Addyi have an honest conversation with their doctor about whether or not they can stop drinking alcohol entirely.
If a patient is unable to do so, their doctor may be able to recommend other medications to improve sex drive that do not have a negative interaction with alcohol.
How Much Cheaper is the Generic?
As referenced in the intro to this article, the generic form of Addyi is called flibanserin. These two drugs have the exact same active ingredient.
Medical research has conclusively proven that generic drugs are just as effective as brand-name drugs. This suggests that generic flibanserin should be just as effective as Addyi, but generic drugs often have significantly lower retail prices.
Unfortunately, at the time of updating this article, generic flibanserin is not available in the US according to GoodRx.
Drug manufacturers have exclusive patent rights for 20 years, but the testing and development process can take around 10 years, so generic versions of prescription medication often hit the market around 10 years after FDA approval.
Addyi was approved in 2015, so a generic version of this drug should hit the market within the next few years.
How Does Addyi Work?
Sexual function and desire comes from both mental and physical stimuli, and Addyi functions on the mental level.
The medication increases circulating levels of dopamine and reduces levels of serotonin in the brain.
These two neurotransmitters are associated with a wide range of physical functions, moods and hormonal signaling.
Medical research has proven that overactivity of serotonin can cause female sexual disorders, so decreasing levels of this neurotransmitter is likely what makes Addyi effective. Serotonin can inhibit sexual desire and arousal.
Addyi acts as an agonist on dopamine D4 receptors, which means it binds to the receptors and activates cellular signaling. This appears to be its main mechanism of action, along with its ability to be an agonist at several other receptor sites in the brain.
Our Clean Women's Libido Picks
Illuminate Labs Panax Ginseng Extract is our top libido pick.
A meta-study on natural products for treating female sexual dysfunction found that Panax ginseng was effective for improving sexual arousal and sexual desire in women.
MBG Vitamin D3 Potency+ is our top value women's libido pick.
Vitamin D was shown to improve sexual desire, orgasm and satisfaction in young women with low vitamin D status in a 2018 clinical trial.
Both of the products recommended in this section are entirely free of ingredients we consider to be unhealthy.
We're not suggesting that dietary supplements are as effective as any FDA-approved medication.
