Pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and electrocardiographic effects of dapoxetine and moxifloxacin compared with placebo in healthy adult male subjects

Abstract

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be associated with electrocardiographic effects. The electrocardiographic pharmacodynamics of dapoxetine, a short-acting SSRI being developed for the treatment of premature ejaculation, are compared with those of placebo and moxifloxacin (positive control) in 2 single-center, randomized, crossover studies in healthy men. In study 1, subjects receive 2 doses of dapoxetine 120 mg, given 3 hours apart; a single dose of moxifloxacin 400 mg; and 2 doses of placebo, given 3 hours apart. In study 2, subjects receive single doses of dapoxetine 60 mg, dapoxetine 120 mg, moxifloxacin 400 mg, and placebo. Moxifloxacin significantly increases QT and corrects QT intervals (QTc) compared with placebo in both studies (eg, Bazett-corrected QTc of 11.90 milliseconds [95% confidence interval, 2.68 to 21.11] and 5.06 [95% confidence interval, -2.26 to 12.38]). Dapoxetine 60, 120, and 240 mg do not prolong the QT/QTc interval and have no clinically significant electrocardiographic effects. Dapoxetine and moxifloxacin pharmacokinetics are similar to previous reports. Adverse events are generally mild in severity; nausea is the most common. The results demonstrate that dapoxetine does not have electrocardiographic effects at doses of 60, 120, and 240 mg.