THE PINK PILL – Review by April Neale

You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088. Ever wonder why there are 26 medications for male sexual disorders and only one drug for women who experience low libido?

Perhaps it’s because this glaring example of medical sexism has not been widely discussed in popular media.

The research behind the “pink pill”

These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them: normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected pain or tenderness around eyes and cheekbones Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. The Pink Pill: Sex, Drugs & Who Has Control, a gripping new documentary film, blends archival footage, interviews with physicians and advocates and intimate reflections from women to reveal the uphill battle getting the drug Addyi (flibanserin) to market.

• Some pink pills combine herbal extracts like ginseng or maca for effects.
• They are popular in wellness circles for enhancing intimacy and confidence.
• Research on pink pills' long-term safety is limited; caution is advised.
• Available through online stores, pharmacies, or clinics in some regions.

This so-called “pink pill” is a prescription medication for treating low libido or hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women.

Directed by award-winning Canadian filmmaker Aisling Chin-Yee, the film follows Cindy Eckert, the trailblazing founder of Sprout Pharmaceuticals who developed Addyi.

Why did it take so long to earn FDA approval for Addyi in the first place?

Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may change the amount of this medicine that is absorbed in the body. The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.

Let’s Get to the Root Cause

The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine. For oral dosage form (tablets):For treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder:Adults—100 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime.Children—Use is not recommended. For treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder:Adults—100 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime.Children—Use is not recommended. Adults—100 milligrams (mg) once a day at bedtime.

What should I know about Addyi before using it?

For treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder: If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep out of the reach of children. Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed. Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use. Habitually dressed in pink, a symbol of her unwavering determination to champion women’s health, she is a force to be reckoned with.

• The pink pill can improve blood flow, leading to increased arousal.
• It may help with vaginal dryness or discomfort during intimacy.
• Psychological factors, like stress, also influence its effectiveness.
• Combining with counseling or therapy can enhance results.

As a sexual wellness researcher and women’s health advocate knowledgeable about gender and sexual inequities, I was deeply moved by this film.

Women’s bodies and reproductive rights have not — at least not in my lifetime — been more threatened than they are today. Addyi’s story is a vital testament to what smart and determined women in science can do for other women. Well-researched and inclusive of multiple perspectives, it shows us the collective change required to keep moving the medical needle toward a place where women’s health receives the same funding, marketing and support as men’s. We’re not there yet, but The Pink Pill provides a road map for how to successfully advocate for women’s health and sexual autonomy. Low sexual desire impacts 13 to 40 per cent — or between 536 million and 1.65 billion — of women globally. Despite these numbers and many negative effects — including relationship strain, shame, depression and body image issues — the film reveals an alarming gap in medical knowledge and training. Medical students are still not trained in women’s sexual health; not even at the top schools in the United States, as one physician in the documentary adds. The clitoris was excluded from instructional materials, another shares. The medical and moral disdain surrounding female pleasure directly impacts how women with low libido are treated by their doctors, many of whom engage in medical gaslighting. The “oh, it’s just in your head” trope has haunted women for centuries, and doctors routinely advised patients with low sexual desire to take baths, plan date nights or submit to “duty sex.” As Eckert says, after disclosing her own struggles with HSDD: “We’re conditioned to not fight for it.” This was echoed in her first meeting with the U.S.

The overlooked science of women’s desire

Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Using this medicine with any of the following is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication, change some of the other medicines you take, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases.

Other Interactions

If used together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use this medicine, or give you special instructions about the use of food, alcohol, or tobacco. The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially: Depression or mental illness, history of or Drug or alcohol use disorder, or history of or Hypotension (low blood pressure)—Use with caution. Liver problem—Should not be used in patients with this condition. Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor.

More common

Do not take more of it, do not take it more often, and do not take it for a longer time than your doctor ordered. The medicine should come with a Medication Guide. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions. Taking this medicine at a time other than bedtime may increase risk of low blood pressure, fainting, accidental injury, or sleepiness. Do not eat grapefruit or drink grapefruit juice while you are using this medicine. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop and market flibanserin in early 2010, when a male board member asked: “What do we need a bunch of horny women running around for?” Later that year, German pharmaceutical giant Boehringer Ingelheim released very promising results from a flibanserin clinical trial involving women affected by HSDD.

IN THEIR WORDS

It is very important that your doctor check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly and to check for unwanted effects. Using these medicines together may increase risk for low blood pressure and fainting. Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting may occur when you take flibanserin within 2 hours of drinking alcohol. It is recommended to wait at least 2 hours after drinking 1 or 2 standard alcoholic drinks (eg, one 12-ounce regular beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or shot) before taking flibanserin at bedtime, or you may skip your dose if you drink 3 or more standard alcoholic drinks in the evening. If you have taken flibanserin at bedtime, do not drink alcohol until the following day.

Are you currently using Addyi (flibanserin)?

This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that may make you drowsy or less alert). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicines for hay fever, allergies, or colds, sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine, fildena 150 mg tablet prescription pain medicine or narcotics, medicine for seizures or barbiturates, muscle relaxants, or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of these medicines while you are using flibanserin. If your condition does not improve within 8 weeks, or if it become worse, check with your doctor. This medicine may cause you to feel dizzy, drowsy, or lightheaded.

How does Addyi work (mechanism of action)?

Avoid driving, using machines, or doing anything else that could be dangerous if you are not alert for at least 6 hours after you take this medicine and until you know how this medicine affects you. If you feel lightheaded, getting up slowing after sitting or lying down may help. This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Check with your doctor right away if you have chest tightness, cough, difficulty swallowing, dizziness, fast heartbeat, hives, itching, skin rash, large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs, or unusual tiredness or weakness. Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. However, in October 2010, the company halted the pursuit of FDA approval because, as Eckert said: “They didn’t want to take on women and sex.” That’s when she bought the rights to the drug and stepped up to be its champion.

Finally, Addyi is a pink pill, and you often dress in pink. How did that start?

This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements. Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur: dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention.