Effects of Antidepressant Medication on Sexual Function: a Controlled Study

There has been little systematic study of the types of sexual dysfunction produced by antidepressant medication or of the frequency with which this type of adverse effect occurs. The authors report results of a double-blind study in which the effects of imipramine, phenelzine, and placebo on specific aspects of sexual function were assessed in depressed outpatients before and after 6 weeks of treatment. Both active treatments were associated with a high incidence of adverse changes in sexual function and produced significantly more adverse effects on sexual function than placebo. Orgasm and ejaculation were impaired to a greater extent than erection. Adverse sexual function changes secondary to antidepressant medication occurred frequently in both men and women, although men reported a higher incidence. Antidepressant-related sexual dysfunction may be of clinical importance for medication compliance in view of current recommendations that antidepressants be administered for longer periods as maintenance therapy or for prophylaxis.