Drugs for hypoactive sexual desire disorder
Medicines for low sexual desire that causes distress in premenopausal women: daily flibanserin and on-demand bremelanotide.
What they are
Hypoactive sexual desire disorder is low or absent sexual desire that causes marked distress and is not explained by another medical or mental health condition, relationship problems or a substance. Treatment starts with assessing these causes; sex therapy and psychotherapy are part of care. Two medicines are approved for premenopausal women: flibanserin, a tablet taken every night, and bremelanotide, an injection used before sexual activity. Neither is for men, for postmenopausal women or for improving sexual performance.
Mechanism of action
Both act in the brain, and how they improve desire is not known. Flibanserin is a serotonin 5-HT1A receptor agonist and 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. Bremelanotide is a melanocortin receptor agonist.
Target: Brain serotonin receptors (5-HT1A, 5-HT2A) and melanocortin receptors
Drugs in this class
Others in the class
- Bremelanotide (melanocortin receptor agonist, injected under the skin before sexual activity)
Test yourself
Think of the answer, then tap the question to see it.
Which patients are drugs for hypoactive sexual desire disorder approved for?
Premenopausal women whose low sexual desire causes distress and is not explained by another condition, relationship problems or a substance.
How do flibanserin and bremelanotide differ in use?
Flibanserin is a tablet taken every night; bremelanotide is an injection used before sexual activity.
Which cardiovascular effect is typical of bremelanotide?
A rise in blood pressure with a fall in heart rate after the dose.
Educational content on how drugs work; not a prescribing guide and no substitute for a health professional's advice. No doses are given.
Sources: Flibanserin: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); Bremelanotide Injection: MedlinePlus Drug Information (MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine), 2026); ATCDDD - ATC/DDD Index (WHO Collaborating Centre for Drug Statistics Methodology, 2026).
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Representative model, for educational purposes only.