Relationship between CYP 2D6 metabolic status and sexual dysfunction in paroxetine treatment

This article describes the incidence of sexual dysfunction in 30 patients subjected to long-term treatment by paroxetine in dependence on the P 450 CYP 2D6 isoenzyme metabolic status. Measured on the Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX; McGahuey, Delgado, & Gelenberg, 1999), the incidence of sexual dysfunction in patients converted to CYP 2D6 poor metabolizers was markedly higher compared with patients who had no history of such conversion, a difference that reached the level of statistical significance. Our article discusses the incidence of sexual dysfunction in connection with reduced CYP 2D6 capacity.