Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction: A comparison between Duloxetine and Escitalopram.
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Date
2010-04
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Abstract
Background: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) and Serotonin and
Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) have the potential to produce delayed
ejaculation in men, delayed orgasm or anorgasmia in women and decreased libido that is
independent of the gender. The occurrence of medication-associated sexual dysfunction
increases the likelihood of medication non-compliance (or non-adherence) in patients,
which may contribute to untreated depression and/or disease relapse. Materials &
Methods: 60 patients with diagnosis of Depressive episode (in remission at the time of
study), divided into 2 groups of 30 patients taking Duloxetine and the remaining 30 patients
taking Escitalopram, were recruited on consecutive basis from the patients attending
Psychiatry OPD of Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC). Each subject was rated on
Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX) and the results obtained were statistically
analyzed. Results: In the present study the average ASEX score obtained in the
Escitalopram group (12.63) was found to be more than that in Duloxetine group (12.36),
though this difference was not found to be statistically significant. Conclusions: These
results illustrate that antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction is reported frequently by
patients taking SSRIs or SNRIs. Our study did not find any significant difference between
escitalopram and duloxetine with respect to their sexual dysfunction profile but in view of
the limitations of our study there is need for further research in this domain of
psychopharmacology.
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Keywords
Escitalopram, duloxetine, Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX)
Citation
Jhanjee Anurag, Kumar Pankaj, Gupta Neeraj Kumar. Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction: Acomparison between Duloxetine and Escitalopram. Delhi Psychiatry journal. 2010 Apr; 13 (1): 89-93.