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September 4, 2015
Star News



 

J'CAN WOMEN AWAIT 'FEMALE VIAGRA'

Rosheika Grant, STAR Writer

Jamaican women who are distressed by low sexual desire are now awaitng the recently announced reprieve in the form of the pill called the 'Pink Viagra'.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States of America recently announced that it had approved the first prescription drug designed to boost sexual desire in women.

The drug, which is called Addyi, will now be available for distribution to the general public through pharmacies, after being rejected by the FDA twice in 2010 and 2013.

Sexual desire

And Jamaican women are eagerly waiting for it to become available locally.

A 48-year-old woman, who spoke to THE WEEKEND STAR,on condition of anonymity, expressed joy at the news that there is a drug that can assist women like herself who suffer from low sexual desire.

"I hope the wait isn't too long before it's sold here because I have tried everything for my libido and absolutely nothing has worked for long," she added.

Explaining that she has been experiencing menopausal symptoms for more than three years, she said her sexual libido was what had suffered the most after the symptoms began.

Another woman who is not suffering from sexual libido issues told THE WEEKEND STAR that she wanted to try the drug to experience the effect of the drug.

"I have read online where women take the male Viagra and it gives them even greater sexual experiences, so I want to try it if it comes to Jamaica," said the 30-year-old female.

But when it becomes available in Jamaica, pharmacists are saying the women may have to wait awhile, and the drug won't be available at every pharmacy. And when it does arrive, Addyi will cost a lot more than Viagra.

"The Government does not carry drugs such as Viagra because it is really expensive and the average person would not be able to purchase it," a senior pharmacist at a public hospital explained. One 'blue pill' as the male Viagra is called costs a little under $2,000. The Pink Viagra is expected to be triple that so it would cost around $6,000 per tablet. She added that patients who visit private pharmacies would probably be in a better position to afford the drug.

Low libido issues

One pharmacy proprietor who asked for his name to be withheld admitted that his client base would be able to afford Addyi.

"My customers generally are able to afford these things, if they want it, they will buy it," he added.

He said women who are in their late 40s and older would be the market for Addyi as it is these women who usually have low libido issues.

The pharmacy owner said while his company carries the male Viagra, it may take some time before the Pink Viagra is sold by his business.

"The drug just recently received approval so there is a waiting process, plus we have to do significant research before adding these drugs to our shelves, so it may be awhile before it is sold in Jamaica," noted the proprietor.

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