A DOUBLE-BLIND CROSSOVER TRIAL OF CLOMIPRAMINE FOR RAPID EJACULATION IN 15 COUPLES

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the sexual and psy chosocial efficacy of clomipramine for rapid ejaculation, Method: Fift een physically healthy, self-selected couples (men had a mean age of 3 8 years) who met six eligibility criteria and did not meet five exclus ion criteria participated in a variable-length, repeated measures, ran domized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study with a 2-mon th follow-up period. Sexual and psychosocial assessments were conducte d at baseline, after placebo, after 25 mg/day of clomipramine, after 5 0 mg/day of clomipramine, and at the 2-month follow-up point. The majo r outcome measures included stopwatch timing of ejaculation latencies, modified Case Western Reserve University Sexual Function Questionnair e, Symptom Checklist-90-R, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, State-Trait Anxiet y Inventory, and the Harder Self-Esteem Inventory. Results: Baseline m ean ejaculatory latency was 81 seconds; 25 mg/day of clomipramine incr eased it to 202 seconds and 50 mg/day of clomipramine to 419 seconds. This resulted in significantly greater sexual satisfaction scores for men and their partners (men, p < .001; women, p < .05), improvements i n partner coital orgasmic attainment, and greater relationship and emo tional satisfaction for the men, Withdrawal of the drug caused ejacula tory latencies to return to baseline. Conclusion: Clomipramine appears to be effective in significantly lengthening ejaculatory latencies an d increasing sexual and relationship satisfaction. It can be a cost-ef fective chronic therapy for selected patients. These impressive result s should not be expected in a less carefully screened population of me n concerned about the timing of their orgasm during intercourse.