title: Discontinuation of Dapoxetine Treatment in Patients With Premature Ejaculation: A 2-Year Prospective Observational Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although dapoxetine is the only oral pharmacologic agent approved for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) and is very effective, the discontinuation rate is high.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the discontinuation rate of patients with PE and the reasons for discontinuation in real-world practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 182 consecutive patients were enrolled. Type of PE, self-estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time, and medical history were evaluated in all patients who also completed the erectile function domain of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF). Visits were scheduled 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after initiation of therapy; treatment status and the reasons for discontinuation in those who did discontinue were checked. The relations of discontinuation rates were compared with various parameters and the time to discontinuation after treatment commencement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all patients, 9.9% continued treatment to 2 years. The cumulative discontinuation rates at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months were 26.4%, 61.6%, 79.1%, 87.3%, and 90.1%, respectively. Moreover, 79.1% of all patients discontinued treatment within 6 months. After 12 months, the discontinuation rate decreased sharply. The reasons for discontinuation were cost (29.9%), disappointment that PE was not curable and that dapoxetine was required every time sexual intercourse was contemplated (25%), side effects (11.6%), perceived poor efficacy (9.8%), a search for other treatment options (5.5%), and unknown (18.3%). Patients with acquired PE (vs lifelong PE), with intravaginal ejaculation latency time longer than 2 minutes before treatment, on phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, and with IIEF erectile function scores lower than 26 tended to discontinue early and thus exhibited high dropout rates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment discontinuation rate of dapoxetine was very high. The main reasons for discontinuation were the cost and disappointment that treatment was required every time adequate sexual function was required. Park HJ, Park NC, Kim TN, et al. Discontinuation of Dapoxetine Treatment in Patients With Premature Ejaculation: A 2-Year Prospective Observational Study. Sex Med 2017;5:e99-e105.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea. Electronic address: joon501@naver.com.
authors.forename: Hyun Jun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Cheol
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae Nam
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Ryong
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology and Medical Research Institute, Pusan National University Hospital, Pusan National University School of Medicine, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Pusan National University Hospital, Busan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sangmin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choe
keywords: Compliance; Premature Ejaculation; Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors