ask your pharmacist

Are there any prescription treatments for premature ejaculation?

One common side effect of antidepressants is delayed ejaculation. So some doctors prescribe antidepressants for premature ejaculation. Some studies have found that the antidepressant clomipramine (brand name Anafranil) works well to delay ejaculation. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants such as fluoxetine (>Prozac), paroxetine (>Paxil), and sertraline (>Zoloft) can also be effective. Studies have shown that 20 to 70 percent of men have a delay in ejaculation of three to five minutes when they use these medications.

Treatment for premature ejaculation should begin with behavioral approaches such as sex therapy, followed by the use of >condoms with or without >Maintain. Prescription medicines are an option if other measures don't work.

Sources:
Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry. Williams & Wilkins, 1995.
Kim, S.C. "Efficacy and Safety of Fluoxetine, Sertraline, and Clomipramine in Patients with Premature Ejaculation: A Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study," The Journal of Urology 159 (1998).
Mayo Clinic Family Health Book. William Morrow & Co., 1996.
Xin, Z.C. "Penile Sensitivity in Patients with Primary Premature Ejaculation," The Journal of Urology 156 (1996).
Maintain Product Information. www.durex.com. Last accessed 1/9/2007.
Diseases and Conditions, "Premature ejaculation." http://www.mayoclinic.com. Mayo Clinic Health. Last accessed 1/9/2007.
Medline Plus. Medline, 2007.
Drug Facts and Comparisons. Facts & Comparisons, 2007.

This answer prepared 4/20/2001.
This information updated 1/9/2007.