20 August 2015 - US regulators yesterday approved the first ­“female Viagra”, a drug known as Addyi that works on the brain to boost younger women’s libido if they have lost interest in sex.

Made by North Carolina-based Sprout Pharmaceuticals, Addyi, also known as flibanserin, received the nod from the US Food and Drug Administration, on the condition that extra care is taken to ensure women do not take it with alcohol due to the risk of serious side effects.

“Today’s approval provides women distressed by their low sexual desire with an approved treatment option,” said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA’s Centre for Drug Evaluation and Research.

The FDA approved Addyi for acquired, generalised hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or sudden and severe loss of libido.

“Prior to Addyi’s approval, there were no FDA-approved treatments for sexual desire disorders in … women,” the ­agency said.

The disorder can develop in women once sexually active “and is not due to a coexisting medical or psychiatric condition, problems within the relationship, or the ­effects of a medication or other drug substance”.

For more details, go to: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/american-regulators-approve-first-female-viagra-drug-addyi/story-e6frg6so-1227490465754