Flibanserin Update: New Study Examines Safety And Effectiveness Of 'Viagra For Women'

Flibanserin is a drug that supposedly increases the libido of women in menopause. The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2015.

However, a new study shows that Flibanserin's effects on sex drive is limited and that it might even cause some negative health effects on women, Medical News Today reports. The findings of the study seem to indicate that the drug's risks are not worth the benefits as the desired effects are minimal while the side effects are great.

"The findings indicate that flibanserin results, on average, in a monthly increase in satisfaction of one-half of one sexual event, but that it significantly increases dizziness, sleepiness, nausea and fatigue among women using it," Medical News Today explains. "The overall impression of the women surveyed was that the drug led to either minimal or no improvement."

The research involved the analysis of clinical trial records of almost 6,000 women and was conducted by Dr. Loes Jaspers of the Erasmus University Medical Center and other co-authors. The researchers found out that five trials were published and three were unpublished. The published trials were more favorable to flibanserin while the unpublished ones were less favorable.

"The FDA approved a marginally effective drug for a non-life-threatening condition in the face of substantial, and unnecessary, uncertainty about its dangers," Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice's Dr. Steven Woloshin and Dr. Lisa M. Schwartz commented via MNT. "We all need a drug approval process that delivers good decisions based on adequate evidence."

Everyday Health shared some tips on how to increase women's libido during menopause without the use of flibanserin. Vaginal atrophy treatment, maintaining an intimate relationship with each other and seeking the help of a sex therapist are some of the ways to deal with this issue.