title: Antidepressant treatment of premature ejaculation: discontinuation rates and prevalence of side effects for dapoxetine and paroxetine in a naturalistic setting.
abstract: The present study aimed to investigate prevalence of and reasons for selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) discontinuation, and compare the two most common SSRIs used in premature ejaculation (PE) treatment, in naturalistic settings (that is, outside clinical trials). The sample consisted of 132 Finnish men with a mean age of 42.5 years (s.d. = 10.6) who had received medical treatment for lifelong PE. The men were enlisted for the study after identifying individuals from the third author's (a physician specializing in sexual medicine) patient registry. Participants responded to a secure, online questionnaire. PE treatment-related side effects of, and discontinuation rates for, different SSRIs were retrospectively self-reported. Treatment efficacy and happiness with treatment were retrospectively self-assessed. Discontinuation rates were uniformly high, ranging from 28.8 to 70.6% between different SSRIs. Dapoxetine was associated with the highest dropout rates (70.6%), and paroxetine the lowest, discontinuation rates. Limited efficacy and side effects were the most common reasons for discontinuation. Paroxetine was more effective and better tolerated than dapoxetine. A considerable number of patients chose to spontaneously discontinue treatment, especially so in the case of dapoxetine, corroborating recent studies conducted in naturalistic settings. Further research efforts are necessary to develop new and improve existing PE treatment alternatives.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Behavioural Sciences and Philosophy, University of Turku, Turku, Finland [2] Genetic Epidemiology Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, Australia.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jern
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland [2] Department of Pharmacology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johansson
authors.affiliation: Medical Centre Mehilainen, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Piha
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Westberg
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology and Logopedics, Abo Akademi University, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Santtila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017374:Paroxetine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061686:Premature Ejaculation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D001596:Benzylamines; D009281:Naphthalenes; D017374:Paroxetine; D017367:Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors; C080598:dapoxetine