Prescription required Serotonin receptor agonist/antagonist

Buy Addyi (Flibanserin) — Online Prescription

Often called "female Viagra," Addyi (flibanserin) is the first FDA-approved daily medication for low sexual desire in premenopausal women — a real prescription drug, not an unregulated "arousal pill." Here's what it actually treats, the alcohol rules, how it compares to Vyleesi, and real pricing.

Medically reviewed Medically reviewed by Darcey Melnyk, Pharmacist — NPI 1740713718 · Last updated 2026-08-31

Medical disclaimer This page is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site.
Active ingredientFlibanserin
Dosage formTablet (100 mg)
Administration routeOral
WarningBoxed warning: taking Addyi (flibanserin) together with alcohol increases the risk of severe hypotension (low blood pressure) and syncope (fainting). Patients are counseled to wait at least 2 hours after 1–2 standard drinks before a bedtime dose, or skip the dose entirely after 3 or more drinks.
FDA Drug Facts — ADDYI

Indications: 1 INDICATIONS AND USAGE ADDYI is indicated for the treatment of women less than 65 years of age with acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) as characterized by low sexual desire that causes marked distress or interpersonal difficulty and is not due to: • A co-existing medical or psychiatric condition, • Problems within the relationship, or • The effects of a medication or other drug substance. Acquired HSDD refers to HSDD that develops in a patient who previously had no p…

Boxed warning: WARNING: HYPOTENSION and SYNCOPE IN CERTAIN SETTINGS Interaction with Alcohol The use of ADDYI and alcohol together close in time increases the risk of severe hypotension and syncope [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. Counsel patients to wait at least two hours after consuming one or two standard alcoholic drinks before taking ADDYI at bedtime or to skip their ADDYI dose if they have consumed three or more standard alcoholic drinks that evening. Contraindicated with Strong or Moderate CYP3A4 Inhibitors The concomitant use of ADDYI and moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors increases flibanse…

Contraindications: 4 CONTRAINDICATIONS ADDYI is contraindicated in patients: • Using concomitant moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.2) ] . • With hepatic impairment [see Boxed Warning and Warnings and Precautions (5.5) ] . • With known hypersensitivity to ADDYI or any of its components. Reactions, including anaphylaxis, reactions consistent with angioedema (e.g., swelling of the face, lips, and mouth), pruritus, and urticaria have been reported [see Adverse Reac…

Excerpted from the FDA-approved prescribing information. Read the full label on Drugs@FDA →

openFDA label data — Updated 2026-09-02
Quick answer

Addyi (flibanserin) is a real, FDA-approved prescription medication — nicknamed "female Viagra," though it works nothing like Viagra. As of a 2023 FDA update, you no longer need a specially certified prescriber or pharmacy to get it — any licensed prescriber can write it, and we can fill it. It's taken daily, not on-demand, and has one serious restriction: alcohol timing.

2015Year the FDA first approved Addyi
2023Year the FDA removed the special-certification requirement
8 weeksTypical trial period before reassessing if it's working

"Female Viagra" — what's actually FDA-approved

Search for "female Viagra" and you'll find a mix of two very different things: two real, FDA-approved prescription medications, and a much larger market of unregulated "arousal pills," gummies, and supplements that borrow the same nickname without the same evidence behind them.

The real options, both for the same diagnosed condition:

Addyi (flibanserin) Vyleesi (bremelanotide)
FDA approved 2015 2019
Form Daily oral tablet As-needed injection
Timing Every night, ongoing ~45 min before activity, as needed

Everything else marketed as a "female arousal pill" or "instant" enhancement product is a different category entirely — typically an unregulated supplement, not evaluated by the FDA for safety, effectiveness, or even accurate labeling of what's actually in it. If low sexual desire is a real, persistent concern, an evaluated prescription option is the safer and more likely to actually help.

What Addyi treats

Flibanserin is FDA-approved to treat acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women under 65:

  • "Acquired" — the low desire developed after a period of normal sexual desire (it isn't a lifelong pattern)
  • "Generalized" — it isn't limited to a specific partner or situation

The FDA label specifically excludes low desire that's better explained by a co-existing medical or psychiatric condition, relationship problems, or another medication's side effect — those causes need to be ruled out by your prescriber first, since Addyi wouldn't be expected to help with them.

The alcohol rule, explained

Addyi's boxed warning: alcohol Taking Addyi together with alcohol significantly raises the risk of severe hypotension (dangerously low blood pressure) and syncope (fainting) — this is the medication's boxed warning, the FDA's most serious warning category. Current guidance: wait at least 2 hours after 1–2 standard drinks before taking your bedtime dose, or skip the dose entirely if you've had 3 or more drinks that evening.

This same hypotension and sedation risk is also increased by combining Addyi with moderate or strong CYP3A4 inhibitors (certain other medications) or in patients with liver impairment — both are contraindications on the label, which is exactly why your full medication list and health history matter before starting.

Addyi vs. Vyleesi

Both treat HSDD, but the experience of taking them is very different:

Daily pill

Addyi (flibanserin)

Schedule
Every night, ongoing
Main restriction
Alcohol timing (boxed warning)
Common side effects
Dizziness, sleepiness, nausea
As-needed injection

Vyleesi (bremelanotide)

Schedule
Self-injected ~45 min before activity, max 8x/month
Main restriction
No alcohol restriction, but can briefly raise blood pressure
Common side effects
Nausea (common, especially early doses), flushing, injection-site reactions

Neither is universally "better" — it's a genuine fit question between a daily-pill routine with an alcohol consideration, versus an as-needed injection with a high early rate of nausea. This is a conversation for your prescriber based on your health history and preference.

Getting a prescription — easier than it used to be

Until 2023, Addyi could only be prescribed and dispensed by prescribers and pharmacies specially certified under an FDA risk management program (REMS), based on the seriousness of the alcohol interaction. The FDA removed that certification requirement in 2023, after reviewing years of real-world safety data — so today, any licensed prescriber can write an Addyi prescription, and any licensed pharmacy, including Arrow Pharmacy, can fill it. The alcohol counseling that used to be part of a formal certified program is still something we'll walk you through — it just no longer requires a special certification to do it.

If you have questions about whether Addyi is an appropriate option, that conversation starts with your prescriber; call us at (860) 522-9289 with any pharmacy-side questions once you have a prescription.

Side effects

The most commonly reported side effects are dizziness, sleepiness, and nausea. Because Addyi can cause sleepiness, it's taken at bedtime, and it's worth being cautious about driving or operating machinery the next morning until you know how it affects you personally.

If you don't notice an improvement in symptoms after about 8 weeks, current guidance is to reassess with your prescriber — continuing without benefit isn't supported by the clinical data behind the medication.

Buying, pricing, and savings

  • Choose generic. Generic flibanserin has been available since late 2022/early 2023 and is dramatically less expensive than brand-name Addyi for the identical medication — ask us to fill generic unless your prescriber specifies otherwise.
  • Ask about savings programs. Manufacturer or discount savings options may apply to your specific prescription — ask our pharmacists before paying full price.
  • No special pharmacy needed anymore. Since the 2023 REMS change, we can fill this the same way as any other prescription — call us at (860) 522-9289 once you have one.
FDA drug shortage status

No active shortage reported — No shortage records found for this generic name.

FDA openFDA — Updated 2026-09-02

Addyi (Flibanserin) Prices in the USA

These are estimated average US retail cash prices — not insurance copays, not coupon prices, and not a quote from Arrow Pharmacy. Actual cost varies significantly by pharmacy, region, quantity, and insurance. Generic flibanserin became available in late 2022/early 2023, cutting the cost dramatically from the original brand-only price. Call us at (860) 522-9289 for a current price.

Dosage Brand-name avg. price Generic avg. price
100 mg (30 tablets) $800–1,200 (Addyi) $40–150
Average market pricing — Updated 2026-08-31

Frequently asked questions

Is Addyi really "female Viagra"?

It's the nickname, but the comparison is imperfect. Viagra (sildenafil) works on blood flow, in men, on-demand, for a physical response. Addyi works on brain chemistry, is FDA-approved only for a specific diagnosed condition (HSDD) in women, and is taken daily — you don't take it right before sex. The nickname stuck because it was the first FDA-approved daily pill for low sexual desire in women, not because it works the same way.

What is flibanserin (Addyi) approved for?

Flibanserin is FDA-approved to treat acquired, generalized hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) in premenopausal women under 65 — low sexual desire that causes marked distress, and that is not better explained by a medical or psychiatric condition, relationship problems, or a medication side effect.

Do I need a special certified doctor to get an Addyi prescription?

No — not anymore. Until 2023, Addyi required a prescriber and pharmacy certified in an FDA risk management program (REMS). The FDA removed that certification requirement in 2023 based on years of safety data, so today any licensed prescriber can write the prescription and any pharmacy, including Arrow Pharmacy, can fill it.

Why can't I drink alcohol while taking Addyi?

Combining Addyi with alcohol significantly raises the risk of severe hypotension and fainting (syncope) — it's the medication's boxed warning, the FDA's most serious warning category. Current guidance: wait at least two hours after one or two standard drinks before a bedtime dose, or skip the dose entirely if you've had three or more drinks that evening.

How is Addyi different from Vyleesi?

Both treat the same condition (HSDD) in premenopausal women but work very differently. Addyi is a daily pill with an alcohol restriction; Vyleesi is an as-needed injection with no alcohol restriction but causes nausea in a large share of users. See the comparison below.

Is there an over-the-counter "female Viagra" or arousal pill that actually works?

No FDA-approved oral medication for female sexual desire is available without a prescription. Supplements marketed as "female arousal pills" or "instant" enhancement products are not FDA-evaluated for safety or effectiveness, and their actual ingredients and doses aren't independently verified. If low desire is a real concern for you, an evaluated, FDA-approved option is the safer path.

What are the most common side effects of Addyi?

Dizziness, sleepiness, and nausea are the most commonly reported side effects. Because it can cause sleepiness, it's taken at bedtime, and driving or operating machinery the morning after a dose should be approached cautiously until you know how it affects you.

How long does it take for Addyi to work?

Addyi is not a same-day or on-demand medication — it's taken daily, and the FDA label notes that if you haven't noticed improvement after 8 weeks, your prescriber will typically recommend stopping it, since continued use without benefit isn't supported by the data.