Addyi

Addyi (flibanserin) is a medication designed to help address hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women. This condition causes a low libido or a general lack of sexual desire. This medication is designed to target the neurotransmitters linked to sexual desire, rebalancing each patient’s brain chemistry. ⁽¹⁾ This medication should be taken once a day before bed and has become a popular treatment amongst women with a low libido unrelated to mental conditions, medications, or relationship concerns.

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About Addyi

Addyi is the first FDA-approved medication used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. This once-a-day pill is designed to target specific neurotransmitters in the brain to help enhance one’s sexual desire. These neurotransmitters include:

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder

Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder (HSDD) is a condition that causes a recurring lack of sexual desire. This can lead to mental anguish or a strain in relationships. HSDD is considered the most commonly identified cause of sexual dysfunction in women, with approximately 50% of women in the United States experiencing sexual dysfunction ⁽¹⁾ and 10% of U.S. women experiencing HSDD specifically. ⁽²⁾ While the exact causes of HSDD are unknown, it is believed to be influenced by both hormonal levels and neurotransmitters.

There are four types of HSDD, including:

Addyi is designed to work best for those with acquired, generalized HSDD, but patients with situational or lifelong HSDD can still reach out so our team can find an appropriate solution.

Benefits of Addyi

Addyi offers many benefits to women experiencing difficulties in their intimate lives due to HSDD. This treatment can help premenopausal women with low libido increase their sexual desire, as well as reduce distress relating to inhibited sexual desire. Addyi may also improve the frequency of satisfying intimate experiences and help women feel more ready for intimacy. Furthermore, this treatment is designed to rebalance each patient’s neurotransmitters, addressing any potential underlying neural imbalances that may be affecting sexual desire or arousal.

To learn more about how Addyi may benefit you, please contact us online.

Ideal Candidates

Suitable candidates for Addyi include premenopausal women who have been diagnosed with acquired, general hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD). General HSDD refers to a generalized lack of sexual desire, while acquired HSDD refers to the development of HSDD after a period of healthy sexual response. ⁽²⁾ Patients experiencing significant distress or anguish, or those who may have had relationships affected by their low libido, are highly recommended for this treatment. Additionally, a lack of sexual desire should not be caused by any other factors, such as mental health conditions, medications, or hormonal imbalances.

All candidates interested in Addyi should be in good overall health and free from any underlying medical conditions that may interfere with how the medication is processed. Patients should also be willing to significantly reduce their consumption of alcohol, as this may lead to fainting or lowered blood pressure.

Individuals taking CYP34A inhibitors or those with liver concerns are not recommended for Addyi ⁽¹⁾ but are still encouraged to reach out so that our team may find a suitable alternative. Our specialist will determine each patient’s candidacy for Addyi during their personal consultation.

Personal Consultation

At Austin Plastic Surgeon, each patient is asked to schedule a personal consultation before starting their treatment. This consultation is not only a chance for our team to meet each patient but also to understand how we can best help them. The specialist will first sit with each individual to confirm their eligibility for Addyi. Each patient should be prepared to discuss their medical history and current medications so that our team can check for any potential interactions and ensure that other factors, such as hormonal imbalances or mental health conditions are not causing their symptoms and concerns. Once it has been determined that the patient is eligible for Addyi, the specialist will provide each patient with a set of guidelines outlining how and when to take Addyi, what to avoid during treatment, and how to best manage any potential side effects.

To schedule your personal consultation, please contact us online. To speak to a member of our team or schedule your consultation over the phone, please call our Austin office at (512) 253-2238, our San Antonio office at (726) 215-7058, or our West Lake Hills office at (512) 253-2195.

Addyi Routine and Adjustment Period

Patients should consistently take their dose of Addyi at night before bed. Taking the medication at night can help reduce any interactions or effects that may affect one’s daily routine. It is important to remember to take it daily for the most effective results.

The adjustment period may vary from patient to patient, depending on how quickly their body acclimates to their medication. The adjustment period can last for several weeks. During these first few weeks, patients may experience various side effects, but these will gradually subside with continued use.

Results

Most women will start to experience the beneficial effects of Addyi after approximately 4 weeks of regular use, but some women may not experience results for up to 8 weeks. Patients may experience an enhanced sexual desire, more satisfying intimate experiences, and a reduction in distress related to low libido. Additionally, some women also report feeling more emotionally and mentally open to intimacy.

If no improvement is observed after 8 weeks, your specialist may recommend that you stop taking Addyi. ⁽¹⁾

Potential Side Effects

When starting Addyi, many patients undergo an adjustment period as they adapt to their new medication. Patients start to experience side effects within the first 2 weeks of treatment.

The most commonly reported side effects of Addyi include:

The specialist will discuss these side effects in further detail during each patient’s consultation.

Corresponding Procedures

Many treatments may be administered to complement the effects of each patient’s Addyi, with the most popular option being our wellness program. Our wellness program offers fully customizable treatments that combine personal care, innovative treatments, and advanced technology to help each patient enhance the quality of their life. We currently offer personalized sexual enhancement treatments to help each patient address their concerns in this area.

To determine the best treatment plan, we use phenotype testing to evaluate each patient’s genetic makeup. This test can help determine how they may respond to certain medications, how their body metabolizes nutrients, as well as identify certain genetic predispositions. From there, the specialist will recommend the best sexual wellness treatment, combining both holistic and integrative medicine.

To learn more about the other treatments that may be performed in conjunction with Addyi, please read the Austin Plastic Surgeon blog!

Cost of Addyi in Austin, Texas

The specialist will discuss the cost of each patient’s Addyi during their consultation. We encourage each patient to check out our perks memberships to receive special savings and rewards.

To discover the cost of your Addyi medication, please contact us online or call our Austin office at (512) 253-2238, our San Antonio office at (726) 215-7058, or our West Lake Hills office at (512) 253-2195.

FAQ

References

1. Pierrelus C, Carlson K. Flibanserin. PubMed. Published November 10, 2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK589649/
2. Pachano Pesantez GS, Clayton AH. Treatment of Hypoactive Sexual Desire Disorder Among Women: General Considerations and Pharmacological Options. FOCUS. 2021;19(1):39-45. doi:https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20200039