• Lawrence C Jenkins, Joshua Gonzalez, Raanan Tal, Patricia Guhring, Marilyn Parker, and John P Mulhall.
• Sexual & Reproductive Medicine Program, Urology Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
• J Sex Med. 2019 Dec 1; 16 (12): 1895-1899.

BackgroundPremature ejaculation (PE) is a common sexual dysfunction for which selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been used effectively for treatment. However, compliance with therapy and predictors of long-term SSRI use in the treatment of PE are not well known.AimTo analyze our experience with drop-out rates with fluoxetine in the primary PE population and to identify predictors of continued use of this agent.MethodsMen with primary PE constituted who used fluoxetine and had at least 12 months follow-up constituted the study population. Subjects underwent a comprehensive interview to ascertain self-reported (non-stopwatch) intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), self-rated control over ejaculation, and personal and patient-reported partner distress due to PE. Patients were treated with fluoxetine 20 mg daily, with the possibility of dose titration up or down based on efficacy and side effects.OutcomesThe PE parameters of interest included self-reported IELT, self-rated control over ejaculation, personal and partner distress due to PE, and medication adherence.Results130 men were included in the study. Dropout rates at 6 and 12 months were 56% and 72%. Self-rated "poor" ejaculatory control decreased from 98%-41% (P < .01), high personal distress from 47%-11% (P < .01), and high partner distress rates from 72%-27% (P < .01). Predictors of continued use at 12 months included high partner distress, being unpartnered, and having a post-treatment IELT ≥5 minutes (P < .01). Overall side effects included headache (5%), dizziness (4%), nausea (5%), nervousness (5%), and sleepiness (8%); however, moderate to severe side effects reported included nausea (2%), sleepiness (2%), headache (2%), and dizziness (2%).Clinical ImplicationsCompliance with SSRIs is a well-described problem in the depression literature, but data are sparse regarding continued use of SSRIs in the treatment of PE.Strengths And LimitationsWe report on 12-month compliance with SSRIs for the treatment of PE. Our early compliance rates were more encouraging than what has been reported in the past. However, IELT was self-reported and not measured objectively, and we did not use validated patient-reported outcomes but rather self-reported ejaculatory control and distress levels, which have limitations.ConclusionsFluoxetine is an effective agent for the treatment of PE with significant improvement realized in IELT, ejaculatory control, and distress levels for both men and their partners. Despite its efficacy, continued use of fluoxetine beyond 6 months is poor. Jenkins LC, Gonzalez J, Tal R, et al. Compliance with Fluoxetine Use in Men with Primary Premature Ejaculation. J Sex Med 2020;16:1895-1899.Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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