when is a SSRI not an antidepressant ?

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Premature ejaculation drug hope

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5324750.stm

Treatment for premature ejaculation is much needed

The first tailor-made drug for premature ejaculation has been found

to be safe and effective, a report says.

The drug dapoxetine lengthened the duration of intercourse by three

to four times in an American study of 2,600 men, the Lancet

reported.

University of Minnesota researchers found taking the drug increases

the average duration of sex from less than a minute to three minutes

19 seconds.

Premature ejaculation affects up to a third of men.

There is currently no medication for the condition on the market.

There is really very little treatment for premature ejaculation so

any drug which may help would be welcome

Baker, of the Men's Health Forum

Treatments involve counselling and the use of anti-depressants from

dapoxetine's family of drugs - selective serotonin reuptake

inhibitors (SSRIs) - although these are not specifically licensed

for premature ejaculation.

Indeed, some experts have raised concerns about these drugs being

used as they carry a risk of side effects including psychiatric

problems, skin reactions and changes in bodyweight.

While dapoxetine is an SSRI, it is not as strong as ones used to

treat depression, and has been specifically tailored for premature

ejaculation. It can be used on-demand rather than needing to be

taken over the long-term.

The team, led by Dr Jon Pryor, combined results from two trials.

More than 2,600 men with moderate to severe ejaculation problems

were included and either received a placebo, 30mg of dapoxetine or

60mg of dapoxetine.

On average, at the start of the study, the men ejaculated less than

a minute after penetration.

Sexual intercourse

After 12 weeks, that time extended to an average of one minute 45

seconds for those on the placebo, two minutes 47 seconds for those

on 30mg dapoxetine, and 3 minutes 19 seconds for those on 60mg

dapoxetine.

Dr Pryor said: " Dapoxetine also improved patients' perceptions of

control over ejaculation, satisfaction with sexual intercourse, and

overall impression of change in condition.

" Partners benefited through improved satisfaction with sexual

intercourse. "

The drug, made by ALZA Corporation, whose parent company is

& , is not currently licensed for use in the UK.

But in an accompanying editorial in the Lancet, Italian urologist

Francesco Montorsi said the drug had been shown to be safe and

tolerable.

He added: " The hope is that on-demand dapoxetine will become an

important drug to offer patients with premature ejaculation. "

Baker, from the Men's Health Forum, said: " There is really

very little treatment for premature ejaculation so any drug which

may help would be welcome.

" However, one of the major obstacles to treatment is convincing men

to seek help. It is a very common problem, but many feel to

embarrassed to talk to doctors and other health professionals. "