Sildenafil citrate for the sexual dysfunction in antidepressant-treated male patients with posttraumatic stress disorder. A preliminary pilot open-label study.
BACKGROUND
Previous studies have suggested that posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) may be associated with pervasive sexual dysfunction. Sildenafil citrate was established as a highly effective and well-tolerated oral agent for the treatment of sexual dysfunction of various etiologies. There are no studies that have examined the efficacy of oral sildenafil in PTSD patients with sexual dysfunction.


OBJECTIVE
The current study evaluated the impact of sildenafil added to an ongoing antidepressive treatment in male PTSD patients.


METHODS
Ten consecutive male PTSD patients who complained of sexual dysfunction were enrolled in an open-label 4-week fixed-dose study of sildenafil citrate 50 mg/day p.r.n. Patients were evaluated at baseline and after treatment with the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS); sexual function assessments were performed using the International Index of Erectile Function.


RESULTS
All patients completed the study and statistically significant improvement was observed in all evaluated domains of sexual functioning: erectile function (53.5%), orgasmic function (40.3%), sexual desire (53%), intercourse satisfaction (82%) and overall satisfaction (57.4%). Oral sildenafil treatment appeared to be well tolerated and no single patient stopped the treatment. Improvements in various CAPS subscales were also obtained; however, there was no significant correlation between improvement in sexual functioning and the changes in CAPS subscale scores.


CONCLUSIONS
Sildenafil seems to be an efficacious, safe and well-tolerated treatment of sexual dysfunction in antidepressant-treated male PTSD patients.
Reznik
Ilya
I
Ness-Ziona Mental Health Center, Ness-Ziona, Israel. nzlib@int.gov.il
Zemishlany
Zvi
Z
Kotler
Moshe
M
Spivak
Baruch
B
Weizman
Abraham
A
Mester
Roberto
R
D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011687:Purines; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate