FEMALE SEXUAL SIDE-EFFECTS ASSOCIATED WITH SELECTIVE SEROTONIN REUPTAKE INHIBITORS - A DESCRIPTIVE CLINICAL-STUDY OF 33 PATIENTS

Objective: After the advent of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on the U.S. market in 1988, American psychiatrists have been faced wi th more choices of antidepressants for the treatment of depression. Th e prescribing of SSRIs has been increasing in popularity because they are easily titrated by the physicians and tolerated by patients. Howev er, the SSRI use is frequently associated with female sexual dysfuncti on. The aim of this study was to describe these SSRI-associated female sexual side effects. Methods: In a retrospective series, clinic recor ds of 110 female SSRI-treated outpatients were reviewed for loss of or decreased libido, orgasmic disturbances (anorgasmia or delayed orgasm ), as well as clinical management patterns to alleviate sexual side ef fects. Results: Twenty-one fluoxetine-, nine paroxetine-, and five ser traline-treated cases with female sexual inhibition were identified. T he fates of SSRI-associated sexual adverse effects and clinical manage ments of restoring these side effects were described. Conclusions: Wit h some limitations in interpreting the data, the findings of this stud y suggest that SSRI-associated female sexual dysfunction occurs at a h igher rate than we previously thought, equal potentials in implicating female sexual side effects among three SSRIs, and the absence or the low incidence of female sexual adverse effects from bupropion, and tha t these side effects can be managed by waiting for a spontaneous remis sion, dosage reduction of SSRIs, substitution with bupropion and other antidepressants, or the use of an antidote.