Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.Zoe Eisenberg, iEG contributor
This week, the FDA ended a long-standing equality battle by approving a little pink pill touted to increase sexual desire among women, reportedly akin to the male’s version of Viagra.
The pill is called Addyi, prounounced ad-ee, and it’s a huge move for the medical industry, a decision trailing after a long campaign promoting equality amongst access to libido-boosting drugs for men and women. Similarly focused drugs, such as Cialis and Levitra, have been on the market for men for years, meaning Addyi will bring equality to the playtime playing field.
While many compare the pill to Viagra, upon closer inspection it seems they’re really only similar in goal: to make those taking it more sexually stimulated. Unlike Addyi, Viagra works to direct blood flow after the pill is popped (a.k.a., an express train to Bonertown). Addyi stimulates chemicals in the brain (dopamine and norepinephrine) to boost sexual desire, and can take weeks or even months to go into effect.
Brain chemicals aside, everyone is asking how safe the pill is. The drug was already rejected by the FDA twice, first in 2010 and again in 2013. Opponents of the pill cite its long list of negative side effects: low blood pressure, fainting, possible nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, and depression. While none of these side effects seem particularly sexy, trying to treat low-libido with a pill that causes depression (one of the largest causes of low-libido) seems like a bit of a circular fight.
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Clik here to view.Depression isn’t the only emotional and psychological issue that can inhibit libido; anxiety and fractures in trust or intimacy often lead to a decrease in sex drive. So, this begs the question: should we really pop a prescription on something so intricate?
To kink the matters further, the med is also slapped with a hefty warning against combining the dose with booze. Since the pill is a daily popper, it seems unlikely those taking it will be steering completely clear of alcohol, unless they don’t drink at all.
While the pill seems like it has a long way to go before everyone is cheering it on, I do think it’s a big equality move for it to be offered at all. For those who are insured, Addyi will set you back somewhere between $30 and $75 per month.
So tell us, would you use Addyi?
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