A couple of weeks ago the FDA (The American food and drug licensing authority) approved the female libido-booster flibanserin at the third application by the manufacturer, Sprout. The perky pink pill has been given the gnomic name “Addyi” (pronounced addee).
It treats – no that’s wrong – it very modestly alleviates 10% of the premenstrual woman’s complaint of hypoactive sexual desire disorder (HSDD) at a cost of $5000 a year. This is not good enough bearing in mind that Viagra, when first introduced in 1998, had a 60% efficacy rate.
It has to be taken once a day, regularly, during which time “patients” can feel nauseous, cannot drink alcohol (they faint), and cannot take oral contraceptives. It will be commercially available in October, if licensed in Europe. But with such pathetic performance and significant side effects, it is unlikely that there will be stampedes at Boots.
For the scientifically minded, Addyi works on the arousal areas of the brain (not the genitalia as with the blue Viagra) by promoting dopamine and norepinephrine production which excites sexual desire, and by suppressing serotonin which generates the sensation of sexual satiety.
Sprout publicists claim that the name Addyi “represents the utility of the treatment and essence of the brand” – what? – no. It is found in the 19th century cowboys’ joyful cry! “Yip-i-ADDY-I-ay” – now condensed into “Yippee!”
The smash hit top of the pops song of 1905 went –
Young Herman Von Bellow, a musical fellow,
Played on a big cello each night;
Sweet melodies rare in a dance garden where
Dancers danced ’round and ’round with delight;
One night he saw dancing a maid so entrancing –
His heart caught fire inside;
A music so mellow he sawed on his cello,
She waltzed up to him and cried:
Chorus
Yip-i-ad-dy-i-ay-i-ay!
Yip-i-ad-dy-i-ay-i-ay!
I don’t care what becomes of me,
When you play me that sweet melody,
Yip-i-ad-dy-i-ay-i-ay!
My heart wants to holler, “Hooray!”
We hope the young Sprout can play a “big cello”
As well as the skilful von Bellow,
Whose success was owed, without anyone’s doubt, to his super- abudant machismo
Be a Wellman
