Many mental health professionals are interested in how they can best assist their female patients who experience SSRI-induced orgasmic dysfunction. A recent article in Journal Watch (9/08) titled, “Sildenafil effective for SSRI-induced female orgasmic dysfunction,” examines this issue. The article reports on a randomized controlled trial published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The researchers studied 98 pre-menopausal women who were prescribed SSRIs for depression and developed the side effect of sexual dysfunction. The women were randomized into groups receiving either placebo or sildenafil. And the results? “Compared with placebo, sildenafil was associated with significantly greater improvements in sexual function [specifically orgasm] from baseline to 8 weeks…desire, arousal, lubrication, enjoyment, and pain did not improve.” The results of this study seem to indicate that sildenafil, as an off label use, may be helpful in restoring orgasmic ability while taking SSRIs. Of note, the results of the study should be viewed with caution given the fact that the study was sponsored by the manufacturer of sildenafil.
The Bottom Line: The results of this study seem to indicate that sildenafil, as an off label use, may be helpful in restoring orgasmic ability while taking SSRIs.
Dr. Tanya Korkosz
Dr. Jeffrey Speller
Psychopharmacology Associates of New England
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