Applications:

Flibanserin is used for hypoactive sexual desire disorder among women. Those receiving flibanserin report a 0.5 increase compared to placebo in the number of times they had “satisfying sexual events”. In those on flibanserin it rose from 2.8 to 4.5 times a month while women receiving placebo reported also an increase of “satisfying sexual events” from 2.7 to 3.7 times a month. The onset of the flibanserin effect was seen from the first timepoint measured after 4 weeks of treatment and maintained throughout the treatment period.

The effectiveness of flibanserin was evaluated in three phase 3 clinical trials. Each of the three trials had two co-primary endpoints, one for satisfying sexual events (SSEs) and the other for sexual desire. Each of the 3 trials also had a secondary endpoint that measured distress related to sexual desire. All three trials showed that flibanserin produced a increase in the number of SSEs and reduced distress related to sexual desire. The first two trials used an electronic diary to measure sexual desire, and did not find an increase. These two trials also measured sexual desire using the Female Sexual Function index (FSFI) as a secondary endpoint, and a increase was observed using this latter measure. The FSFI was used as the co-primary endpoint for sexual desire in the third trial, and again showed a statistically significant increase.

Researchers think that flibanserin restores some of the chemical imbalances that affect sexual desire disorders. Most people have heard of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, like fluoxetine (Prozac). SSRIs can have negative sexual side effects, such as reduced libido or erectile dysfunction. This suggests that serotonin plays an important role in sexual desire and excitation. Flibanserin affects serotonin but in a different way than SSRIs. It stimulates one type of receptor while blocking another, and it also increases dopamine in the body. Dopamine is known to have positive effects on sexual health.