[Major depressive disorder, antidepressants and sexual dysfunction]

Depression and antidepressant therapy have been associated with sexual dysfunction. Studies report wide discrepancies with regard to frequency, gender, and quality of sexual dysfunction. Although sexual side effects are a common reason for non-compliance with medication, information on impairment of sexuality in psychiatric patients is rare. The impact of antidepressant- induced sexual dysfunction is substantial and negatively affects quality of life, self-esteem, mood, and relationship with partner. Sexual side effects resulting from serotonin specific reuptake inhibitors use may be mediated by a number of central and peripheral mechanisms. Some antidepressants such as Bupropion, mirtazapine, and moclobemide have a sexual tolerability profile significantly better than SSRIs, especially escitalopram, paroxetine, venlafaxine, sertraline, or fluoxetine. There are some possibilities for treatment of anti-depressant induced sexual dysfunctions such as waiting for spontaneous remission, reducing the dosage level, substituting the offending drug with other antidepressants, drug holidays, or administration of a phosphodiesterase- 5-inhibitor. These side-effects are increasingly used therapeutically in the context of the common male sexual dysfunction ejaculatio praecox. For this indication short-acting SSRI;s are available.