Ejaculation-retarding properties of paroxetine in patients with primary premature ejaculation: a double-blind, randomized, dose-response study

Abstract

Objective: To compare the influence of a daily dose of 20 or 40 mg of the serotonergic antidepressant drug paroxetine in delaying ejaculation in patients with primary premature ejaculation.

Patients and methods: Thirty-four patients with primary premature ejaculation were randomly assigned to receive 20 mg or 40 mg daily of paroxetine for 7 weeks in a double-blind fixed-dose trial after an initial dose of 20 mg/day in the first week. Patients and their female partners were interviewed separately. In the group receiving 20 mg, one of two capsules consisted of placebo and in the group receiving 40 mg, both capsules contained active drug.

Results: The trial was completed by 27 men; both groups showed a statistically significant difference from the baseline values of ejaculation latency (P < 0.001) and a clinically relevant improvement in ejaculation time. The increase in the intravaginal ejaculation latency time was not statistically significant different between the groups. The patient's assessments were confirmed independently by their partners.

Conclusions: The daily use of 20 mg paroxetine may be considered as an adequate treatment for primary premature ejaculation. Increasing the dose may lead to a further increase in ejaculation latency.