Class
Multimodal serotonin agonist/antagonist — not a PDE5 inhibitor
Content and sources reviewed
Special research
Flibanserin
Flibanserin — sold as Addyi — is the first medicine approved specifically for low sexual desire in premenopausal women. It is the honest answer to Lovegra's problem: instead of a blood-flow drug aimed at the wrong target, it is a brain drug aimed at desire itself.
A different kind of medicine entirely
Flibanserin is not a PDE5 inhibitor, it is not hormonal, and it is not taken on-demand. It is a serotonin modulator: a 5-HT1A agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist that shifts the balance of dopamine and serotonin in the prefrontal cortex — the brain's desire-versus-inhibition circuitry.
The practical differences from Lovegra are total:
- Where it acts: the brain (desire), not the genitals (blood flow).
- How it is taken: 100 mg every night at bedtime, building up over weeks — not before sex.
- Who it is for: premenopausal women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) — persistent low desire causing distress, not explained by another condition.
- Regulatory status: FDA-approved for this exact use since 2015 — the one thing Lovegra does not have.
Flibanserin at a glance
The essentials — including the honest limits.
Approved for
HSDD in premenopausal women (FDA, 2015)
Dosing
100 mg once daily at bedtime; not on-demand
Timeline
Effects build over weeks — typically judged after 8 weeks
Effect size
Modest on average: roughly +0.5–1 satisfying sexual event per month over placebo
Not approved for
Postmenopausal women, men, or low desire without distress
Flibanserin vs Lovegra — the honest contrast
| Flibanserin (Addyi) | Lovegra (sildenafil) | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Flibanserin 100 mg | Sildenafil 100 mg |
| Mechanism | Serotonin modulator acting in the brain | PDE5 inhibitor increasing genital blood flow |
| Regulatory status | FDA-approved for HSDD (2015) | Off-label for women — no major approval |
| Taken | Daily at bedtime | On-demand before sex |
| Onset | Weeks of daily use | 30–60 minutes |
| Evidence in women | Modest but demonstrated in trials | Mixed; clearest in arousal-type difficulties |
| The point | Targets desire | Targets arousal |
Core sources — including Singapore
- FDA: Addyi (flibanserin) label
The approved prescribing information: dosing, boxed alcohol warning, and trial results.
- FDA: Drug Trials Snapshots — Addyi
Plain-language summary of the trials behind the 2015 approval.
- HSA (Singapore): register of therapeutic products
The official place to check whether any medicine, flibanserin included, is registered in Singapore.
- HealthHub (Singapore): dangers of buying health products online
Singapore consumer guidance that applies to any unregistered online purchase.
Flibanserin questions
Is flibanserin 'female Viagra'?
No — that label misses everything that matters. Viagra-class drugs act on blood flow during arousal; flibanserin acts on desire circuitry in the brain, daily, over weeks.
Is flibanserin (Addyi) available in Singapore?
It is not listed in Singapore's National Drug Formulary; current registration status can be confirmed on HSA's public register. A Singapore doctor can advise on diagnosis and on any lawful access route.
Who should not take it?
Anyone with liver impairment, anyone using strong CYP3A4 inhibitors, and anyone who cannot abstain from alcohol. It is also not studied in postmenopausal women or men.
How long until it works?
Effects build gradually. Trial guidelines typically assessed benefit after 8 weeks; if there is no meaningful change by then, stopping is reasonable.
Does it cause side effects?
Common ones include dizziness, sleepiness, nausea, and fatigue — which is why the bedtime dose was designed.
Where can flibanserin be bought?
One of our partner pharmacies carries generic flibanserin 100 mg tablets, and the store link on this page points there. It is a prescription medicine in many countries — check your local rules and speak to a clinician.
Ready to view Flibanserin in store?
The link below is an affiliate link to a third-party seller. Flibanserin carries a serious alcohol interaction and requires diagnosis and monitoring — speak to a clinician before considering it.