Description and Brand Names

Drug information provided by: Merative, Micromedex®

US Brand Name

1. Addyi

Descriptions

Flibanserin is used to treat hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in women who have not gone through menopause. This medicine should only be used by women who have low sexual desire that is troubling to them and is not caused by a medical or mental problem, problems in the relationship, or medicine or other drug use.

Women who have gone through menopause and men should not use flibanserin. Do not use this medicine to improve sexual performance.

This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.

This product is available in the following dosage forms:

• Tablet

Before Using

In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:

Allergies

Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.

Pediatric

Flibanserin should never be used in children for HSDD.

Geriatric

Flibanserin is not recommended for use in the elderly. Safety and efficacy have not been established.

Breastfeeding

There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.

Drug Interactions

Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.

• Amprenavir
• Aprepitant
• Atazanavir
• Boceprevir
• Ciprofloxacin
• Clarithromycin
• Colchicine
• Conivaptan
• Diltiazem
• Dronedarone
• Erythromycin
• Fluconazole
• Fosamprenavir
• Fosaprepitant
• Imatinib
• Indinavir
• Itraconazole
• Ketoconazole
• Letermovir
• Levoketoconazole
• Lopinavir
• Nefazodone
• Nelfinavir
• Nirmatrelvir
• Posaconazole
• Ritonavir
• Saquinavir
• Telaprevir
• Telithromycin
• Verapamil
• Voriconazole

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Acepromazine
• Adagrasib
• Afatinib
• Alfentanil
• Alprazolam
• Amobarbital
• Anileridine
• Aripiprazole
• Asciminib
• Asenapine
• Avacopan
• Baclofen
• Benperidol
• Benzhydrocodone
• Berotralstat
• Betrixaban
• Bromazepam
• Buprenorphine
• Buspirone
• Butabarbital
• Butorphanol
• Calcium Oxybate
• Cannabidiol
• Cannabis
• Carbinoxamine
• Carisoprodol
• Carphenazine
• Ceritinib
• Cetirizine
• Chloral Hydrate
• Chlordiazepoxide
• Chlorpromazine
• Chlorzoxazone
• Clobazam
• Clonazepam
• Clorazepate
• Clozapine
• Codeine
• Crizotinib
• Cyclobenzaprine
• Cyclosporine
• Dabigatran Etexilate
• Dabrafenib
• Daridorexant
• Dexmedetomidine
• Diazepam
• Dichloralphenazone
• Difenoxin
• Dihydrocodeine
• Diphenhydramine
• Diphenoxylate
• Doxylamine
• Droperidol
• Enasidenib
• Enflurane
• Enzalutamide
• Esketamine
• Estazolam
• Eszopiclone
• Ethchlorvynol
• Ethopropazine
• Ethylmorphine
• Fedratinib
• Fentanyl
• Fexinidazole
• Fluphenazine
• Flurazepam
• Fluspirilene
• Fosnetupitant
• Fospropofol
• Gabapentin
• Gabapentin Enacarbil
• Halazepam
• Haloperidol
• Halothane
• Hexobarbital
• Hydrocodone
• Hydromorphone
• Hydroxyzine
• Isoflurane
• Ivacaftor
• Ketamine
• Ketazolam
• Ketobemidone
• Lacosamide
• Lanreotide
• Lefamulin
• Lemborexant
• Lenacapavir
• Levocetirizine
• Levorphanol
• Lofexidine
• Lorazepam
• Lorlatinib
• Loxapine
• Magnesium Oxybate
• Mavacamten
• Meclizine
• Melperone
• Meperidine
• Mephobarbital
• Meprobamate
• Meptazinol
• Mesoridazine
• Metaxalone
• Methadone
• Methdilazine
• Methocarbamol
• Methohexital
• Methotrimeprazine
• Methylene Blue
• Metoclopramide
• Midazolam
• Mitotane
• Mobocertinib
• Molindone
• Moricizine
• Morphine
• Morphine Sulfate Liposome
• Nalbuphine
• Netupitant
• Nicomorphine
• Nirogacestat
• Nitrazepam
• Nitrous Oxide
• Octreotide
• Olanzapine
• Oliceridine
• Omaveloxolone
• Opium
• Opium Alkaloids
• Orphenadrine
• Oxazepam
• Oxycodone
• Oxymorphone
• Palbociclib
• Papaveretum
• Paregoric
• Pentazocine
• Pentobarbital
• Perampanel
• Perazine
• Periciazine
• Perphenazine
• Pimozide
• Piperacetazine
• Pipotiazine
• Piritramide
• Pirtobrutinib
• Potassium Oxybate
• Pralsetinib
• Prazepam
• Pregabalin
• Primidone
• Prochlorperazine
• Promazine
• Promethazine
• Propofol
• Quazepam
• Quetiapine
• Ramelteon
• Relugolix
• Remifentanil
• Remimazolam
• Remoxipride
• Repotrectinib
• Ribociclib
• Rimegepant
• Ritlecitinib
• Ropeginterferon Alfa-2b-njft
• Secobarbital
• Selpercatinib
• Sertindole
• Sirolimus Protein-Bound
• Sodium Oxybate
• Sotorasib
• Sparsentan
• Sufentanil
• Sulpiride
• Suvorexant
• Tapentadol
• Taurursodiol
• Temazepam
• Tenofovir Alafenamide
• Thiethylperazine
• Thiopental
• Thiopropazate
• Thioridazine
• Tilidine
• Tizanidine
• Tocilizumab
• Tolonium Chloride
• Topiramate
• Topotecan
• Tramadol
• Triazolam
• Trifluoperazine
• Trifluperidol
• Triflupromazine
• Trimeprazine
• Trofinetide
• Tucatinib
• Ubrogepant
• Venetoclax
• Vincristine
• Vincristine Sulfate Liposome
• Vonoprazan
• Zaleplon
• Zolpidem
• Zopiclone
• Zotepine
• Zuranolone

Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.

• Digoxin

Other Interactions

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. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.

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.

• Grapefruit Juice

Using this medicine with any of the following is usually not recommended, but may be unavoidable in some cases. 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.

• Ethanol

Other Medical Problems

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 abuse, or history of or
• Hypotension (low blood pressure)—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.

• Liver problem—Should not be used in patients with this condition.

Proper Use

Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. 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. Read and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions.

Take flibanserin only at bedtime. 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. Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may change the amount of this medicine that is absorbed in the body.

Dosing

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.

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.

Missed Dose

If you miss a dose of this medicine, skip the missed dose and go back to your regular dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Storage

Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.

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.

Precautions

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.

Do not use this medicine together with amprenavir, atazanavir (Reyataz®), boceprevir (Victrelis®), ciprofloxacin (Cipro®), clarithromycin (Biaxin®), conivaptan (Vaprisol®), diltiazem (Cardizem®), erythromycin (Ery-Tab®), fluconazole (Diflucan®), fosamprenavir (Lexiva®), indinavir (Crixivan®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), ketoconazole (Nizoral®), nefazodone, nelfinavir (Viracept®), posaconazole (Noxafil®), ritonavir (Norvir®), saquinavir (Invirase®), telaprevir, telithromycin (Ketek®), or verapamil (Calan®). 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.

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, 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. 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. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal (eg, St. John's wort) or vitamin supplements.

Side Effects

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:

More common

1. Blurred vision
2. confusion
3. dizziness, fainting, or lightheadedness, especially when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
4. sleepiness or unusual drowsiness
5. sweating
6. unusual tiredness or weakness

Less common

1. Feeling of constant movement of self or surroundings
2. sensation of spinning

Rare

1. Bloating
2. fever
3. nausea
4. severe cramping
5. stomach or lower abdominal pain
6. vomiting

Incidence not known

1. Chest tightness
2. cough
3. difficulty swallowing
4. dizziness
5. fast heartbeat
6. hives, itching, skin rash
7. large, hive-like swelling on face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
8. puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
9. unusual tiredness or weakness

Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. 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:

Less common

1. Constipation
2. dry mouth
3. nervousness
4. normal menstrual bleeding occurring earlier, possibly lasting longer than expected
5. trouble sleeping

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. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Portions of this document last updated: April 01, 2024

Original article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/flibanserin-oral-route/precautions/drg-20152672