Incidence of sexual dysfunction in healthy volunteers on fluvoxamine therapy

Background: Current literature suggests that the incidence of sexual dysfun ction secondary to fluvoxamine therapy is 1% to 8%, while other selective s erotonin reuptake inhibitors may have rates as high as 75%. The objective o f this study was to determine the incidence of sexual dysfunction secondary to fluvoxamine in healthy volunteers. Method: 20 healthy volunteers (10 men, 10 premenopausal women) had adverse effects assessed at 6 visits while not receiving fluvoxamine, then twice wh ile taking 150 mg fluvoxamine daily. Assessments occurred at 2-week interva ls. Incidence rates for sexual dysfunction were calculated. Results: No sexual dysfunction was reported prior to fluvoxamine therapy. A fter 2 weeks and 4 weeks of therapy respectively, sexual dysfunction occurr ed in 20% (N = 4) and 35% (N = 7) of the healthy volunteers. Conclusion: The incidence of sexual dysfunction during fluvoxamine therapy in healthy volunteers is 35%. This incidence is higher than previously repo rted and similar to that of other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.