The effects of fluoxetine on several neurophysiological variables in patients with premature ejaculation.
OBJECTIVE
Fluoxetine, a selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor, has been shown to increase the intravaginal latency of patients with premature ejaculation. We demonstrated the effects of fluoxetine on intravaginal latency, penile sensory threshold, and variables of sacral evoked response and cortical somatosensorial evoked potential in patients with premature ejaculation.


METHODS
Of 48 patients 40 who presented to our clinic with premature ejaculation met the study criteria, gave written or oral consent, and were divided randomly in a double-blind fashion into 2 groups of 20 patients. The study group received 20 mg. fluoxetine daily and the control group received placebo for 1 month. The patients were evaluated during visits before and after treatment for intravaginal latency, penile sensory threshold values, and the variables of sacral evoked response and cortical somatosensory evoked potential tests.


RESULTS
Patient ages, intravaginal latencies, penile sensory threshold values, and amplitudes and latencies of sacral evoked response and cortical somatosensory evoked potential tests in both groups were not significantly different at the beginning of treatment (p >0.05). At the end of treatment intravaginal latencies and penile sensory threshold values were increased in the study group compared to before treatment and the control group (p <0.05). No change was observed in either group for the amplitudes and latencies of sacral evoked response and cortical somatosensory evoked potential tests (p >0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that fluoxetine is effective treatment for premature ejaculation probably due to its effect of increasing the penile sensory threshold, without changing the amplitudes and latencies of sacral evoked response and cortical somatosensory evoked potential.
Department of Urology, Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Gevher Nesibe Research and Training Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey.
U
U
Yilmaz
A
A
Tatlişen
H
H
Turan
F
F
Arman
O
O
Ekmekçioğlu
D000328:Adult; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000187:drug effects; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D005473:Fluoxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors