Getting Addyi requires a prescription from a licensed physician, either through an in-person visit or a telehealth consultation. Because this medication is only FDA-approved for premenopausal women with low sexual desire that causes personal distress, you’ll need to meet specific eligibility criteria before a doctor will prescribe it.
Who Qualifies for Addyi
Addyi is approved exclusively for premenopausal women with a condition called hypoactive sexual desire disorder, or HSDD. This isn’t a catch-all for anyone experiencing a dip in libido. To qualify, your low sexual desire must be something that developed over time (not something you’ve experienced your whole life), must cause you significant personal distress, and must have been present for at least six months.
Importantly, the low desire cannot be caused by another medical condition, a psychiatric condition like depression, relationship problems, or a side effect of a medication you’re already taking. If an antidepressant is suppressing your sex drive, for instance, Addyi isn’t the appropriate fix. A doctor will work through these possibilities before writing a prescription. Many use a validated five-question screening tool that helps distinguish HSDD from other causes of low desire.
Addyi is not indicated for postmenopausal women or for men. The FDA label states this explicitly.
The Prescription Process
You have two main routes: visiting a doctor in person or using a telehealth service. For in-person visits, you can bring up HSDD with your gynecologist, primary care doctor, or a sexual health specialist. Expect the conversation to cover your medical history, current medications, mental health, relationship context, and how long you’ve been experiencing low desire.
The telehealth route is straightforward. Addyi’s manufacturer partners with BeyondMD, a US-licensed telemedicine platform. You fill out a health and lifestyle questionnaire online, a licensed doctor reviews it, and if you’re a good candidate, you can receive approval within 24 hours. The prescription can then be shipped directly to you through a partner pharmacy, or you can fill it at any pharmacy you choose.
What It Costs
Cost varies significantly depending on your insurance. Women with insurance coverage typically pay as little as $40 per year for Addyi. If you’re paying out of pocket, the manufacturer offers Addyi for $149 per month through its PhilRx mail-order pharmacy, with the discount applied automatically and free shipping included.
To get the lowest guaranteed price, you can call 844-PINK-PILL (844-746-5745) and select option 1 to connect with PhilRx Pharmacy directly. PhilRx also provides prior authorization support if your insurance company requires it.
How to Take It
Addyi is a once-daily pill taken at bedtime. The bedtime timing isn’t optional. It’s specifically designed to reduce the risk of side effects like dizziness, low blood pressure, and fainting, which are more pronounced if you take it during waking hours.
Results aren’t immediate. An adequate trial period is eight weeks. If you haven’t noticed any improvement in sexual desire by week eight, the recommendation is to stop taking it.
The Alcohol Rule
This is the single most important safety consideration with Addyi. Combining it with alcohol significantly increases the risk of dangerously low blood pressure and fainting.
The current FDA guidelines are specific: if you’ve had one or two standard drinks, wait at least two hours before taking your bedtime dose. If you’ve had three or more drinks, skip your dose entirely that evening. After taking Addyi at bedtime, do not drink alcohol until the following day. This isn’t a soft suggestion. The interaction can cause you to lose consciousness.
Who Should Not Take It
Beyond the alcohol restriction, Addyi is not appropriate for women with liver problems, as the body processes the drug through the liver and impairment can cause it to build up to unsafe levels. Certain medications that affect how your liver breaks down drugs can create a similar problem, so your doctor will review everything you’re currently taking.
Antidepressants and sedatives also warrant caution when combined with Addyi. Be upfront with your prescribing doctor about every medication, supplement, and herbal product you use. This is one of the main reasons a medical consultation is required rather than making the drug available over the counter.