Antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction in men

Pharmacol Biochem Behav. 2014 Jun:121:132-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pbb.2013.11.003. Epub 2013 Nov 15.

Abstract

Most of the available antidepressant medications, including tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and dual noradrenergic/serotonergic reuptake inhibitors have been reported to be associated with sexual dysfunction in both sexes. This manuscript reviews evidence concerning the relative incidence of treatment emergent sexual dysfunction in men being treated with antidepressant drugs. Both double-blind controlled trials and large clinical series report a high incidence of sexual dysfunction, especially ejaculatory delay, with serotonergic drugs. The incidence of sexual dysfunction in men appears to be much lower with drugs whose primary mechanism of action involves adrenergic or dopaminergic systems.

Keywords: Antidepressant; Serotonin; Sexual disorder; Sexual dysfunction; Side effect.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antidepressive Agents / adverse effects*
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / adverse effects
  • Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Depressive Disorder / drug therapy
  • Depressive Disorder / physiopathology
  • Ejaculation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors / adverse effects
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / chemically induced*
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / drug therapy
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / physiopathology

Substances

  • Antidepressive Agents
  • Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic
  • Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors
  • Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors