Sexual functioning in depressed outpatients taking mirtazapine
Autor: | Robert M. A. Hirschfeld, Mark R. Rouleau, Beth K. Boyarsky, Waheedul Haque |
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Rok vydání: | 1999 |
Předmět: |
medicine.medical_specialty
media_common.quotation_subject Mirtazapine Delayed ejaculation Orgasm medicine.disease Psychiatry and Mental health Clinical Psychology Erectile dysfunction Sexual dysfunction medicine Antidepressant medicine.symptom Sexual function Major depressive episode Psychology Psychiatry media_common medicine.drug |
Zdroj: | Depression and Anxiety. 9:175-179 |
ISSN: | 1520-6394 1091-4269 |
Popis: | Objectives—One-third of patients with untreated depression have sexual difficulties manifested by decreased libido, erectile dysfunction or delayed ejaculation. This dysfunction may be exacerbated by stimulation of post-synaptic serotonin 5HT2 receptors, a side-effect of most widely-used antidepressant medications, especially the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Mirtazapine is an atypical antidepressant with a2 adrenergic antagonist and serotonin 5-HT2 and 5-HT3 receptor-blocking activity. In theory, it should not worsen and perhaps may improve sexual function. This pilot study investigated sexual functioning and antidepressant activity in depressed patients taking mirtazapine. Experimental design—Twenty-five (F = 18, M = 7) sexually active adult outpatients with a DSM-IV-diagnosis of major depressive episode entered a 12-week, flexible-dosing, open-label pilot study. The Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) assessed sexual functioning and the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) assessed depressive symptoms on a bimonthly basis. Principal Observations—Desire, arousal/lubrication, and ease/satisfaction of orgasm improved (by 41%, 52%, and 48%, respectively) in the depressed women. In men, desire, arousal/erection, and ease/satisfaction of orgasm also improved (by 10%, 23% and 14%, respectively) but much more modestly. HAM-D, Clinical Global Impression (CGI) Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS), and Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) scores improved in both groups. There was a 50% dropout rate among women before six weeks of treatment. However, the ASEX and HAM-D scores of the groups terminating before and after six weeks of treatment showed similar rates of improvement. Conclusions—Mirtazapine has a beneficial effect on sexual functioning in both depressed women and men. Longer-term double-blind research assessing sexual function during the administration of mirtazapine as well as other antidepressants is recommended. Depression and Anxiety 9:175–179, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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