Are Addyi and Female Viagra the Same Pills?
Addyi History
In 1998 original male Viagra acquired more than a million of recipes within the first month of presence on the market. The medicine for female libido boost, Addyi (flibanserin) was bought only 227 times although the advertising campaign was quite large.
Addyi doesn’t have the same operation mode as Viagra. Male medicine increases blood pressure in penis and renders a considerable assistance for men suffering from erectile dysfunction. A female drug is designed for women before menopause. This disorder shouldn’t be caused by psychic condition or personal relations issues. Thus, Addyi is interesting for most women. The tablets work in the principle of antidepressant: it causes activation of dopamine and norepinephrine in brain affecting the mood.
Moreover Female Viagra has always shown disputable results during clinical trials. Only 13% of women who took it on a daily basis reported of appearance of sexual desire. It is just as 10% as more effective than placebo tablets designed for the same purposes. Many patients experienced side-effects, such as drowsiness, vertigo, syncope. In order to get rid of undesired effects, women had to refuse alcohol.
Also, in comparison with traditional Viagra, the female variant has a considerably bigger price. Up to date, the so-called female Viagra was distributed in the unchanged form of the male Viagra, but in tableted form painted in pink color. Addyi increases the dopamine level (“feel-good” hormone) and stimulates certain receptors. Small pink tablets should be helpful in female sexual disorders. The large clinical trials in the USA and Europe are performed up to now. But the fact is that those women, who took part in clinical trials of the drug, have experienced the duplicated amount of satisfactory sexual intercourses. In comparison with male Viagra showing is result in an hour after the intake, flibanserin should be taken during a month before the visible effect occurs.
According to statistics, 10-14% of women had such side-effects as vertigo and drowsiness. The effect of the drug occurs faster if a woman quits smoking. To sum up, Addyi product called female Viagra works differently in comparison with a male analogue. Original male Viagra causes increased blood supply to penis, whereas the female variant has absolutely another mode of action.
What Women Should Know about FDA Approved Flibanserin
FDA has approved flibanserin (Addyi), the first medicine for treatment of female erectile dysfunction. Hypoactive disorder of sexual desire affects from 7,7% up to 14% of women suffering from menopause in the USA. Addyi may cause arterial blood pressure drop and syncope. Therefore, it may be prescribed by a specialist only after the assessment of risk-benefit ratio. The possibility of these side-effects and their severity increases if female Viagra is co-administered with alcohol and a number of medicines (CYP3A4 inhibitors) or taken by women suffering from hepatic disorders.
How Does It Work?
Addyi mode of action for hypoactive sexual desire disorder treatment is unknown. Anyway it has an effect of agonist/antagonist on postsynaptic serotonergic receptors. In particular, flibanserin is an agonist of 5HT-1A receptors and antagonist of 5-HT2A receptors and capable to restore balance between these systems of neurotransmitters. Before its administration by women suffering from hypoactive sexual desire disorder, it was considered to be an anti-depressant. Although all anti-depressants increase the risk of suicidal attempt, the clinical trials haven’t exposed the same effect for the patients taking flibanserin.
Addyi Pharmacokinetics
Although flibanserin peak level is generally achieved within 45-60 minutes after the intake, its combination with food may slow down peak levels from 1 to 3 hours. The half-life period is around 12 hours. Co-administration with strong CYP3 A4 inhibitors, ketoconazole and fluconazole increases exposition by 4,5 times and 7 times accordingly. Although hormonal contraceptives are weak inhibitors of CYP3 A4, these medicines increase the impact of flibanserin by around 40%.
Efficiency of Data
During three clinical trials during 6 months each, researches have revealed statistically significant improvements in sexual behavior and events, and stress level decrease which is connected with sexual desire. In order to estimate the level of the latter, researches have held an interview known as Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI).
In comparison with basic average value: 2-3 satisfactory sexual intercourses each month. Daily usage of flibanserin increased the levels as by 0,5-1 cases per month more as in placebo-group. The average levels of sexual excitement increased by 1,2-6 cases in comparison with initial average levels 1,8-1,9 which is in average by 0,3-0,4 points more than in placebo-group.
Addyi Effects and Potential Interaction
The recommended dosage of flibanserin is 100mg which should be taken on a daily basis before sleep. General adverse events connected with the intake of the drug include hypertension, syncope and accidental injuries.
Researches also exposed the potentially high frequency of appendicitis among women taking flibanserin. Its usage along with hormonal contraceptives increases the possibility of drowsiness, vertigo, tiredness occurrence. The co-administration with triptane enhances drowsiness and upper respiratory infections.
Genotoxicity and Reproductive Function Data
Flibanserin usage leads to the growth of mammary tumors among animals. Nevertheless, genotoxicity analyses do not indicate the potential danger of DNA damage. Besides, the induction mechanism of tumors is unknown. This information is especially important, since women in menopause are main consumers of flibanserin. Pregnancy test was essentially important for women passing clinical trials and those ones who stopped treatment after getting pregnant.
Difference between Female Viagra and Addyi
The main difference between the medicines lies in their active substances. Female Viagra and its generics traditionally contain sildenafil 100 mg, whereas Addyi comprises flibanserin. Active substances have absolutely different modes of action. Flibanserin has the qualities of anti-depressants, whereas sildenafil causes increase blood flow to sexual organs.
Female Viagra and Its Generics
This drug was specially designed for improvement of female sexual functioning and for achievement of fully-realized sensitive orgasm. The medicine enhances blood supply to female sexual organs resulting in increased satisfaction with sexual intercourse and helps to experience orgasm.
Female Viagra Effect
Being a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5), sildenafil enhances blood supply to vascular system of pelvic organs due to impact of nitrogen oxide and enhanced influence of cyclic guanosine monophosphate on smooth cells of arteries. This effect causes filling with blood of labia minora (analogue of male cavernous bodies) and coles femininus. Also, functional activity of pituitary glands increases providing lubrication in vaginal opening. As a result, a woman even in menopause period may take a fully-realized pleasure of sex along with enhanced orgasmic sensations. The pain and dryness of vaginal opening are removed during sexual intercourse. The effect duration lasts up to five hours.
Female Viagra Application
Female Viagra is indicative in the following cases:
- Feeling of pain in the area of vaginal opening during coitus caused by dryness and insufficient excitement;
- Decreased libido during climacteric and post-climacteric period;
- Impairment of sensations after female gonadectomy or hysterectomy.
Female Viagra and its generics should be taken perorally 30-60 minutes before planned sexual intercourse. Maximal dosage is 50mg once a day. In case of good tolerability, a dose may be increased up to 100mg. If you are over 65 years of age or suffer from mild renal or hepatic failure, your maximal dosage is equal to 25mg.
Female Viagra Counter-Indications
- Pregnancy and foregoing to pregnancy period;
- Severe forms of cardiac angina;
- Hypertension and hypotension;
- Heart or apoplectic attacks in the medical history;
- Pigmented retinitis;
- Co-administration with nitrates-containing agents;
- Combined intake with ketoconazole, erythromycin, cimetidine, itraconasole.
Female Viagra Advantages
- Enhances sensitivity to stimulation;
- Effective for women with metrosteresis and menopause up to 50 years of age.
- Causes achievement and enhancement of orgasm;
- Increases blood supply to sexual organs.