Effect of bupropion-SR on orgasmic dysfunction in nondepressed subjects: a pilot study

The objective of this study was to determine whether the aminoketone antidepressant bupropion has beneficial effects in orgasmic dysfunction.

Single-blind, sequential treatment order of three weeks each: placebo, bupropion-SR 150 mg/day, bupropion-SR 300 mg/day.

Nondepressed women (n = 20) and men (n = 10) having nonphysiologic orgasmic delay or inhibition.

Reported difficulty or delay in achieving orgasm, satisfaction with orgasm and erectile function, and subjective impressions of drug effect.

In the women, there were significant improvements relative to baseline (p < .01) on both doses of bupropion-SR in all measured aspects of sexual function, and significant improvements relative to placebo (p < .05) in overall sexual satisfaction on both doses and satisfaction with intensity of orgasm on 150 mg/day (300 mg/day, p = .10). In the men, significant improvements over baseline (p < .01) were observed with both doses in overall sexual satisfaction, ability to achieve an erection, and delay in reaching orgasm/ejaculation; significant improvements relative to placebo (p < .05) were observed in overall sexual satisfaction on both doses, ability to achieve erection on 150 mg/day, and delay in orgasm/ejaculation on 150 mg/day. Seventy percent of subjects reported improvement in libido, arousal, or orgasmic function during bupropion administration.

Bupropion-SR may be a useful agent for treating orgasmic delay and inhibition, and possibly disorders of sexual arousal. The results argue against bupropion's apparent prosexual effect in depressed patients being simply a result of its antidepressant activity.