News September
PEOPLE’S PHARMACY: New Drug For Premature Ejaculation
Before Bob Dole went on television to talk about erectile dysfunction
and Viagra, men’s sexual problems were rarely discussed in
public. Impotence was a source of shame.
Now that ads for Viagra, Tadalafil and Levitra are commonplace, people
no longer seem reluctant to discuss ED. But there is another aspect
of men’s sexual health that remains taboo.
Premature ejaculation is still forbidden territory. Few men can
bring themselves to talk about this issue with their partners, much
less their doctors. But PE, as it is abbreviated, is extremely common
and can have devastating consequences on a relationship. Experts
estimate that nearly one man in three suffers from this condition
(International Journal of Impotence Research, September/October
2006).
Defining PE precisely has been a challenge. Investigators haven’t
had an objective measure for diagnosis. A large study found that
most men lasted a little more than seven minutes, on average. Those
with PE lasted less than two minutes.
Many men suffering with severe PE last less than one minute. They
often feel that they have little or no control over their ejaculation,
and they believe that PE has a negative effect on their relationship.
Because they cannot satisfy their partners in such a short time,
many men feel inadequate. Their self-confidence may suffer, but
they often don’t know what to do to solve the problem.
Until recently, doctors had little to offer. Sex therapists recommended
behavioral strategies to delay orgasm, but not all men were able
to master the techniques. Anesthetic creams that reduce sensation
have been marketed for the problem, but the Food and Drug Administration
has not approved such products for this use.
The problem is that these powerful medications have other side
effects as well. In addition, men who are not depressed might be
reluctant to take an antidepressant daily just to prolong intercourse.
A new drug called dapoxetine might someday offer men an alternative
approach to treating PE. This medication is in the same family as
other SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) antidepressants,
but it is not as powerful or long lasting. Dapoxetine has been developed
specifically to be used “on-demand" rather than on a
daily basis.
A study in the journal The Lancet (Sept. 9-15, 2006) reports that
men taking dapoxetine one to three hours before sexual activity
were able to extend intercourse from less than one minute prior
to treatment to nearly three minutes after using the drug. That
might not seem like much improvement, but many men reported better
control over ejaculation and greater sexual satisfaction. Partners
seemed to benefit as well.
No one knows whether the Authorities will approve dapoxetine for
PE. The agency rejected an initial application last year. The drug
can cause nausea, diarrhea, headache and dizziness.
Perhaps now with the hope of an effective treatment, PE will come
out of the closet, and more men will seek help for this common condition.
Source http://www.tuscaloosanews.com/
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