AB142. Discontinuation of dapoxetine treatment in patients with premature ejaculation: a 2-year prospective observational study

Objective: Although dapoxetine is the only oral pharmacological agent approved for the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) and is very effective, its discontinuation rate is high compared to PDE5 inhibitors in patients with erectile dysfunction (ED). This study assessed the discontinuation rate of dapoxetine treatment in patients with PE and the reasons for discontinuation a clinical setting.

Methods: The study enrolled 182 consecutive patients [mean age, 38.2 (range, 19-63) years] between October 1, 2011 and September 30, 2013. The PE type (life-long or acquired), self-estimated intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), International Index of Erectile Function-Erectile Function Domain (IIEF-EF) questionnaire, and medical history were checked in all patients. The patients were evaluated 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after initiating therapy regarding the treatment status and the reasons for treatment discontinuation in the case of discontinuation. We compared the discontinuation rates with various parameters and the time interval.

Results: Of the patients, 9.9% were continuing treatment after 2 years. The discontinuation rate at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months was 26.4%, 35.2%, 17.6%, 8.2%, and 2.7%, respectively. Cumulatively, 79.1% of the patients discontinued the treatment within 6 months. After 12 months, however, the discontinuation rate dropped sharply. The reasons for discontinuation were cost (29.9%), disappointment that PE is not a curable disease and dapoxetine was needed whenever he had sex (25%), side effects (11.6%), low efficacy (9.8%), to seek other treatment options (5.5%), and unknown (18.3%). Patients with acquired PE (vs. life-long), IELT >2 min before treatment, older than 50 years, taking PDE-5 inhibitors, and IIEF-EF <26 tended to discontinue early and had high drop-out rates.

Conclusions: Of the patients, 9.9% were continuing treatment after 2 years. The discontinuation rate at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months was 26.4%, 35.2%, 17.6%, 8.2%, and 2.7%, respectively. Cumulatively, 79.1% of the patients discontinued the treatment within 6 months. After 12 months, however, the discontinuation rate dropped sharply. The reasons for discontinuation were cost (29.9%), disappointment that PE is not a curable disease and dapoxetine was needed whenever he had sex (25%), side effects (11.6%), low efficacy (9.8%), to seek other treatment options (5.5%), and unknown (18.3%). Patients with acquired PE (vs. life-long), IELT >2 min before treatment, older than 50 years, taking PDE-5 inhibitors, and IIEF-EF <26 tended to discontinue early and had high drop-out rates.

Keywords: Premature ejaculation (PE); dapoxetine