FDA Approves Two New Drugs for This STD
Real talk. We don’t talk enough about sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Most are very treatable, however. The FDA has approved two new antibiotics for a common sexually transmitted infection, gonorrhea, “the clap.” Blujepa (gepotidacin) was approved for people who have an allergy to ceftriaxone or have developed resistance to this antibiotic. The FDA also approved Nuzolvence (zoliflodacin) for people who have run out of treatment options.
“These approvals mark a significant milestone for treatment options for patients with uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea,” said Adam Sherwat, MD, director of the Office of Infectious Diseases in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER) in a news release.
Gonorrhea Statistics You Should Know
Gonorrhea affects approximately 385, 551 men in the U.S., according to the CDC. This STI can be sneaky because you may not have any symptoms, and then spread it to other people. Common symptoms in men include:
- Pain when urinating
- Discharge from the penis
- Pain or swelling in one testicle
Risks of Not Getting Treatment
- Infertility
- Scars in your urethra
- Inflammation of your testicles
- Prostate pain and inflammation
Prevention Strategies
Use condoms every time you have sex and talk openly with your partner if you have multiple partners. Get tested once per day.
Be Aware of Side Effects
In Blujepa's study of 628 participants, some experienced diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, vomiting, gas, dizziness, soft stools, headache, tiredness, and excessive sweating. In a clinical study of over 900 participants, Nuzolvence was well tolerated, but not without side effects, which can include low white blood cell counts, headache, dizziness, nausea, and diarrhea. This medicine can affect heart rhythm and certain brain chemicals.
More research will further provide more information about the safety and effectiveness of these new medications.