Se. Althof et al., A DOUBLE-BLIND CROSSOVER TRIAL OF CLOMIPRAMINE FOR RAPID EJACULATION IN 15 COUPLES, The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 56(9), 1995, pp. 402-407
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.