Antidepressants can delay ejaculation
 
LOUANNE COLE, Ph.D.EXAMINER MOVIE CRITIC
 
Wednesday, March 22, 1995
 
Q: I've heard that antidepressant medications can lead to men having
difficulty in reaching orgasm. But I've also heard that it can help men
who do want to delay their ejaculations. What do you know about this?
 
A: There have been a few studies that show positive effects from some
antidepressants for men who usually ejaculate quickly. None of the research
that I'm aware of was conducted with a large number of people and some of
it reports on only one man being treated by his physician. Nevertheless,
this information may be helpful to some readers who've experienced sexual
changes they could not otherwise explain.
 In one case in Italy in 1993, P. Stratta and some colleagues were treating
a mild form of depression. They had not set out to cause a change in their
patient's sexual functioning. Instead, much to everyone's surprise, they
and their patient reported a sexual change. The patient, a 31-year-old man,
reported that his long-standing quick ejaculation (less than 30 seconds of
intercourse thrusting before ejaculating) was totally alleviated when
treated with the antidepressant fluoxetine (Prozac). After six months of
treatment, the patient stopped taking the drug. His depressive symptoms
did not return, but nine weeks later he experienced a partial return of
the quick ejaculation. He resumed taking a low dose and a week later his
sexual functioning returned to its improved state. When these same doctors
later treated another 35-year-old man who ejaculated quickly, they decided
to try fluoxetine again. After adjusting the dosage twice, this man reported
improved control of his ejaculation timing. He later reduced his dose and
maintained his ability to last longer.
 In 1994, T.N. Wise, M.D., reported similar results using the antidepressant
sertraline (Zoloft) with a 43-year-old man who had ejaculated rapidly since
he first became sexually active. After four weeks of treatment, he was able
to be stimulated for about six to 10 minutes before ejaculating.
 In 1993, R.T. Segraves and colleagues reported in the Journal of Sex and
Marital Therapy on a study they had conducted using another antidepressant,
clomipramine(Anafranil), or a placebo with 20 men who'd had long-standing
rapid ejaculation difficulties. The mentook either the drug or a placebo
over the course of weeks during which they had 10 intercourse experiences.
Neither the men nor the researchers knew which men had which pill during
the time of the study.
 The men on the clomipramine had significant improvement and lasted on
average about six minutes, while the men onthe placebo averaged about
51 seconds. The men taking the clomipramine also reported significant
improvement in their libido, erections, ejaculation timing and quality, and
overall satisfaction with sex. The men on the placebo did not report any
such changes.
 As you mentioned, there can be side effects that interfere
with sexual functioning from using antidepressants. And, while slowing down
ejaculation sounds like a great idea to some men, others who find it
difficult to reach orgasm wouldn't like this at all. Sometimes changing to
a different antidepressant will return the prior ease of orgasm, but this
isn't always the case. If you or someone you know would like to last
longer during sexual stimulation, I would consider these types of
medications only after giving therapy a serious try. Of all the sexual
concerns men bring to therapy, slowing down ejaculation is among the easiest
to achieve.
 Antidepressants are just one example of drugs with fascinating
sexual implications. For thousands of years, people have been using drugs
for their hoped-for sexual effects, often without realizing their dangers.
Readers should be very careful to get expert medical advice before risking
a surprising or even harmful sexual effect from drugs.
 If you'd like to know about other drugs that can have positive sexual
effects or how street drugs andmedications affect your sexuality, call
Louanne Cole's "Sex Matters" information line at 1-900-773-9463. Anytime
after the tone press 26 or 54. The cost is $1 per minute (first 30 seconds
free). You must use a touch-tonephone and be at least 18.
 Cole is a board-certified San Francisco sex therapist.
Send your questions to: Sex Matters, Style, San Francisco Examiner,
P.O. Box 7260, San Francisco, 94120, or you can send e-mail
to: lcolenetcom.com.
1995 Louanne Cole.ejaculation
03/22/95 11:29 PST
 
John Cottingham         NEW ADDRESS:          [log in to unmask]