Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation / 대한남성과학회지

ABSTRACT

Premature ejaculation (PE) affects the 20~30% men among general population regardless of their age. PE may be classified as lifelong (primary) or acquired (secondary) type. Diagnosis of PE is mainly based on subjective complaints of sexual symptoms. Recently proposed diagnostic system of PE is based on many aspects; intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), control over ejaculation, stress and interpersonal difficulty according to the PE problem. Standard treatment of lifelong PE is mainly pharmacotherapy. Among many treatment options, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are recommended for off-label use by American Urologic Association and International Consultation on Sexual Medicine. SSRIs were reported to improve the PE symptom by lengthening IELT. However, daily intake of SSRIs often increases the possibility of adverse effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, loss of libido, and even erectile dysfunction. Recently, dapoxetine hydrochloride, newer SSRI with short half life, was tailored to target the PE. Dapoxetine was proved its efficacy on PE over placebo. Clinicians should keep in mind that the sexual dysfunction can be the primary complaints or the results of the intake of antidepressants at the same time.