Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) used to treat depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. In doing so, it is also useful in decreasing the frequency and severity of a common sexual disorder known as premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation (PE) is characterized by ejaculating sooner during sex than preferred, and often within just a few minutes. In this 3-minute article, we answer the question how does sertraline work for premature ejaculation.
Premature ejaculation, sometimes referred to as impotence, is a type of sexual dysfunction that occurs when a man has an orgasm and ejaculates semen sooner than he or his partner would like. Severe cases of PE are diagnosed when ejaculation occurs within seconds or a minute of penetration during intercourse.
Not everyone who experiences premature ejaculation has a history of sexual difficulty. Premature ejaculation can be diagnosed at many points during a man's life. It is common for a man to believe he has difficulty with premature ejaculation, but not meet the criteria for diagnosis.
The most common causes of premature ejaculation include anxiety, diet, low hormone levels, and various biological factors. Most cases of premature ejaculation can be improved through a combination of prescription medication, dietary changes, and behavioral therapy.
Sertraline is a prescription drug used to treat depression, premature ejaculation, and other conditions. Although it is classified as an antidepressant and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, it has been shown to be useful in treating both depression and premature ejaculation.
Sertraline is most effective at treating premature ejaculation if used along with other treatment options such as behavioral therapy and couples counseling.
Like other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, sertraline is primarily used to treat depression and mood disorders such as panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and social anxiety disorder. Multiple studies, however, have also shown it to be effective in delaying ejaculation and improving sexual function. For example, one study published in the National Library Of Medicine found that a daily 25mg dosage of sertraline increased average ejaculatory time from 1 minute to more than 7 minutes. A different study found that consistently taking sertraline was able to significantly increase average ejaculatory time, although men had to continue taking sertraline to see effects.
There are two different ways to use sertraline to treat premature ejaculation, both of which are medically approved and safe. You can take sertraline as a daily-use medication. In this way, sertraline is taken at a set time and dosage each day, regardless of if you have or plan to have sex. Sertraline can also be taken on an as-needed basis. In this dosage cycle, patients take sertraline only on days when they plan to have sex.
Although there are two different ways to take sertraline for PE, neither is more correct or effective. Talk to your doctor to determine which sertraline dosage cycle is best for you and your sexual health.
Ejaculation is believed to be controlled by chemical processes and reactions tied to sexual function and health. Sertraline is believed to help delay premature ejaculation by raising serotonin levels and affecting the action of the ejaculatory spinal cord. The ejaculatory spinal cord pathway is located at the frenulum, the back tip of the penis. Sertraline can help delay ejaculation by increasing dopamine input to the ejaculatory spinal cord.
Multiple studies have shown that sertraline tends to show noticeable effects after four weeks of taking it. The amount of time it takes for sertraline to work can vary depending on dosage, frequency of dosage, and severity of premature ejaculation. Some studies have also found that those who take sertraline daily are less likely to experience premature ejaculation than patients who take sertraline when needed.
One study published in the National Journal Of Impotence Research assessed the effectiveness of sertraline on a group of men between the ages of 20 and 63. The men were given an 25mg oral tablet of sertraline at the start of the study. This dosage was then increased to 50mg per day within 3 weeks, and 100mg per day after 6 weeks. None of these men received any other form of treatment for premature ejaculation.
At the start of the study, the subjects had an average ejaculatory time frame of one minute. After taking a daily 25mg dosage, this average time increased to over 7 minutes. Once the dosage was increased to 100mg per day, the average ejaculatory time increased to over 15 minutes. At the full 100mg dosage, side effects were limited, but did include drowsiness, mild anxiety, and reduced libido.
Another study published in Urology found that taking a daily dosage of 50mg of sertraline for two weeks increased average ejaculatory time from an average of 20 seconds to over 5 minutes.
Although sertraline has been found to be an effective treatment option for premature ejaculation, it does come with some minor side effects. A few of the most common side effects of sertraline include:
Sertraline, like other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), comes with a black box warning issued by the FDA. The black box warning is the most severe type of warning and indicates a medication may cause serious side effects. Sertraline has obtained a black box warning because it can contribute to suicidal thoughts in some cases. Call 911 immediately if you are taking sertraline and begin to have thoughts of suicide or self harm.
Sertraline is one of the most safe, cost-effective, and useful treatment options for premature ejaculation. There are, however, a few other treatment options that may be most effective if used in conjunction with sertraline. These include topical sprays, behavioral therapy, and emotion or couples counseling. To learn more about other treatment options for premature ejaculation, you can visit our blog.
Premature ejaculation is a type of sexual dysfunction that occurs when a man has an orgasm and ejaculates semen sooner than he or his partner would like.
Sertraline works to treat premature ejaculation by increasing dopamine input to the ejaculatory spinal cord. As a result, it decreases penile sensitivity and prolongs ejaculation. Multiple studies have found that sertraline can prolong ejaculation by as many as 10 minutes.
