Medication & Drugs for Premature Ejaculation

Another form of treatment for premature ejaculation is medication. This, along with sex therapy for couples are options to treat premature ejaculation and have proved to be successful at doing so.

It is a matter of personal choice as to which one you choose.

There are two forms of medication available to treat premature ejaculation which includes:

• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
• PDE-5 inhibitors

Other options include condoms and gels which contain a local anaesthetic although experts advise against their use. There is some debate as to their efficiency with reports of their ability to cause an allergic skin rash.

Another type of medication which has been recently released onto the market is ‘dapoxetine’ or ‘Priligy’. This is part of the SSRIs group of medication and is designed to treat premature ejaculation.

Currently this is not available on the NHS or via your GP. There is limited access to this medication only through a private doctor.

This is discussed in more detail in our priligy section.

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

This is the name given to a class of drugs which are more popularly known as antidepressants. These include Prozac, Seroxat and Cipramil.

This group includes drugs which work in a roughly similar way to each other. They work by ensuring that the chemical serotonin – a neurotransmitter – is able to transmit messages between nerve cells. It also prevents serotonin from being reabsorbed by these nerve cells which then stops these messages from being transmitted. This blockage may be one of several changes which lead to depression. So, these SSRIs stop the absorption of serotonin which enables messages to be fired from one nerve cell to another. Serotonin has the effect of improving one’s mood and temperament in general. Their main use is to treat depression but they have been found to be equally useful for treating premature ejaculation. Even though they are not designed for this purpose they have been prescribed for this condition.

The types of SSRIs prescribed for this condition include:

• Seroxat (paroxetine)
• Lustral (sertraline)
• Prozac (fluozetine)

Prozac is a familiar sounding medication to many people who normally associate this with feeling happy and upbeat rather than curing premature ejaculation. But research has suggested that this drug can increase the length of time a man is able to hold out before ejaculation.

You may find that you experience an improvement in your condition shortly after taking this medication but you will have to wait for two to three weeks to obtain the full effects.

Are there are any side effects?

There are side effects with any medication as it is difficult to predict how they will work from one person to another. There are side effects of taking SSRIs which include:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhoea
• Fatigue
• Sleepiness
• Excessive sweating
• Dry mouth
• Yawning

But these tend to be mild and usually improve after a couple of weeks. If you are concerned then discuss this further with your GP.

PDE-5 inhibitors

This is a form of medication which is primarily used to treat erectile dysfunction although they are also useful in some cases of premature ejaculation. It stands for ‘phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors’. They work by increasing the blood supply to the penis which then enables the man to achieve and sustain an erection. This also improves the quality of the erection which is an important factor in these cases. This medication is worth considering if you have suffered from erectile dysfunction or are worried about your ability to sustain an erection. Examples of these include:

• Viagra (sildenafil)
• Cialis (tadalafil)
• Levitra (vardenafil)

These three forms of medication are commonly prescribed for erectile dysfunction and can also help with premature ejaculation.

Are there any side effects with PDE-5 inhibitors?

They are not recommended for anyone suffering from coronary heart disease, low blood pressure or are taking medications which contain nitrates. Your GP will advise you further about the side effects of this medication.

Obtaining medication for premature ejaculation via the internet

Many people purchase medication over the internet as it is both cheaper and easier to do so. But think carefully before you do. There are unregistered websites selling out of date, bogus medicines which are dangerous to your health so avoid buying them from these types of websites.

One of the problems with doing so is that of buying diluted or unsafe medication; another is purchasing a medication of which you are unaware of the side effects.

Medication such as SSRIs has side effects such as hallucinations, seizures and insomnia which need to be carefully monitored. This means taking this medication under the guidance of your GP who will check that it is suitable for you and will not interact with any other medication you may be taking. This is why it is important that only buy medication from licensed, reputable websites which require a prescription from your GP. Make sure that you only take medication which is under the supervision of your GP. For more advice speak to your GP or local pharmacist. If you are thinking about buying this medication online then visit the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) website. This site contains information about using online pharmacies as well as a code of ethics which reputable sites should abide by. This code requires websites to show the name of the business, the address and the name of the supervising pharmacist.