Persistent sexual dysfunction after discontinuation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
BACKGROUND
Sexual dysfunctions such as low libido, anorgasmia, genital anesthesia, and erectile dysfunction are very common in patients taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). It has been assumed that these side effects always resolve after discontinuing treatment, but recently, four cases were presented in which sexual function did not return to baseline. Here, we describe three more cases. Case #1: A 29-year-old with apparently permanent erectile dysfunction after taking fluoxetine 20 mg once daily for a 4-month period in 1996. Case #2: A 44-year-old male with persistent loss of libido, genital anesthesia, ejaculatory anhedonia, and erectile dysfunction after taking 20-mg once daily citalopram for 18 months. Case #3: A 28-year-old male with persistent loss of libido, genital anesthesia, and ejaculatory anhedonia since taking several different SSRIs over a 2-year period from 2003-2005.


RESULTS
No psychological issues related to sexuality were found in any of the three cases, and all common causes of sexual dysfunction such as decreased testosterone, increased prolactin or diabetes were ruled out. Erectile capacity is temporarily restored for Case #1 with injectable alprostadil, and for Case #2 with oral sildenafil, but their other symptoms remain. Case #3 has had some reversal of symptoms with extended-release methylphenidate, although it is not yet known if these prosexual effects will persist when the drug is discontinued.


CONCLUSIONS
SSRIs can cause long-term effects on all aspects of the sexual response cycle that may persist after they are discontinued. Mechanistic hypotheses including persistent endocrine and epigenetic gene expression alterations were briefly discussed.
Csoka
Antonei B
AB
University of Pittsburgh--Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. csokaA@dom.pitt.edu
Csoka
A
A
Bahrick
Audrey
A
Mehtonen
Olli-Pekka
OP
D000328:Adult; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004542:Ejaculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009948:Orgasm / Q000187:drug effects; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents