It is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that was designed specifically for premature ejaculation. SSRIs have been shown to be effective for the treatment of PE. The downside to most SSRIs is that they must be taken daily in order to achieve the desired effect. was designed to be taken on an "as needed" basis and has been shown to be effective when taken < 3 hours before sexual activity. Studies have shown that increases the intra-vaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) - the time from vaginal penetration to male orgasm.
It is the first compound developed specially for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) for men at th age of 18-64 years old. works by inhibiting the serotonin transporter, increasing serotonin's action at the post synaptic cleft, so as to delay ejaculation.. As a member of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) family, was initially created as an antidepressant. However, unlike other SSRIs, is absorbed and eliminated rapidly in the body. Its fast response makes it suitable for the treatment of PE but not as an antidepressant.
Treat male premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction.Because lack of specific approval treatment for PE in the US and some other countries, other SSRIs such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, fluvoxamine, and citalopram have been used as off label drugs to treat PE. Waldinger’s meta analysis shows that the use of these conventional antidepressants increasing IELT from two to ninefold above base line in comparison of three to eightfold when dapoxetine is used. However, these SSRIs must be taken daily in order to achieve meaningful efficacy, and the long half-life increases the risk of the drug accumulation and as a consequence increased of adverse effects such as decreasing sexual libido and causing erectile dysfunction. Dapoxetine, on the other hand, is a fast-acting SSRI. It is rapidly absorbed and eliminated from the body within a few hours. This favorable pharmacokinetics minimizes the risk of the drug’s accumulation in the body, and therefore reducing side effects.
