Objective: to compare of efficacy of citaloprarn and escitalopram in treatment of patients with premature ejaculation (PE).
Design: A randomized, double-blind -controlled study.
Methods: Patients with PE (n=60) were randomly divided into two treatment groups: a group receiving escitalopram I 0 mg daily for 6 weeks (n=30); and a group receiving citalopram 20 mg daily for 6 weeks (n=30). The Chinese Index of Sexual Function for PE was used for patient evaluation at pre-treatment, at 2 weeks intervals after start of treatmerr: for 6 weeks, and at 3 months after stopping treatment.
Results: The mean of total scores in the escitalopram group at initial pre-treatment evaluation and at 2, 4 and 6 weeks of treatment and at 3 months after stop of treatment (21.66
± 1.80, 29.63 ± 1.47, 36.83 ±1.64, 43.76 ± 1.27 and 41.40 ± 1.07; respectively) were not significantly different from those in the citalopram group (21.86 ± 1.22, 29.30 ± 0.91, 3 7. I 3 ±
0.50, 43.90 ± 0.54 and 41.70 ± 0.59; respectively) (P value= 0.51, 0.27, 0.27, 0.32 and 0.10 respectively).
Conclusion: Daily administrations of 10 mg of escitalopram or 20 mg citalopram for 6 weeks were found to be equally effective for treatment of patients with PE. Both drugs have the potential to provide long term control over ejaculation.