An open clinical trial of fluoxetine in the treatment of premature ejaculation

• Published in: Journal of clinical psychopharmacology Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 379 - 382
• Main Authors: HONG SHICK LEE, DONG HO SONG, KIM, C.-H, HYOUNG KEE CHOI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01-10-1996
• Subjects: Adult; Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Ejaculation; Fluoxetine - therapeutic use; Genital system. Reproduction; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - drug therapy; Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - psychology; Time Factors; Human; Chemotherapy; Serotonin; Treatment efficiency; Ejaculatio disorders; Male; Ejaculatio precox; Reuptake inhibitor
• ISSN: 0271-0749; 1533-712X
• DOI: 10.1097/00004714-199610000-00006

There have been an increased number of recent reports on orgasm-related sexual dysfunction coincident with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) treatment. In contrast, it has also been reported that SSRIs improve sexual dysfunction. Low doses of clomipramine and paroxetine, potent 5-hydroxytryptamine reuptake blockers, have been found to retard ejaculation time. We hypothesized that the SSRI fluoxetine might be effective in treating premature ejaculation. In an 8-week open-label clinical study, 11 male patients with premature ejaculation were treated with fluoxetine. After a washout period of 2 weeks, each patient was assigned to receive fluoxetine, 20 mg/day for 2 weeks, and then titrated to 60 mg/day, depending on the patient's tolerability and clinical response. A within-subjects comparison of pre- and posttreatment intravaginal ejaculation latency time revealed a significant improvement. Fluoxetine treatment produced significant improvements in self-visual analogue scale scores for sexual desire, anxiety for rapid ejaculation, and partner's satisfaction with ejaculation and overall sexual function. These data suggest that serotonergic antidepressants may be effective in treating rapid ejaculation in men and underline the need to carry out a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial to confirm these results.