Efficacy and safety of dapoxetine in men with premature ejaculation and concomitant erectile dysfunction treated with a phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor: randomized, placebo-controlled, phase III study

In addition, five studies9,12,13,14,15 including a total of 3346 patients, we pooled to compare IELT; patients were divided into two groups treated with either 60 mg or 30 mg dapoxetine. In the fixed-effect model meta-analysis of the five studies, the pooled estimates were statistically significantly different between the dapoxetine 60 mg and 30 mg groups (MD = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.23–0.56; P < 0.00001; Figure 4). This pooled analysis indicated that the dapoxetine 60 mg group was associated with a markedly longer IELT than the dapoxetine 30 mg group. Three studies9,12,13 including 2950 patients compared the PGIC in dapoxetine 30 mg and placebo subgroups and four studies9,10,12,13 including 3567 patients compared PGIC in dapoxetine 60 mg and a placebo subgroup.

How to Take Dapoxetine

The integrated analysis from five trials by McMahon et al19 also showed dapoxetine 30 and 60 mg on-demand significantly increased mean IELT compared with placebo (1.9 minutes for placebo, 3.1 and 3.6 minutes for dapoxetine 30 mg and 60 mg, respectively). Our statistical results and subgroup analysis of PGIC demonstrated that dapoxetine was associated with a major improvement in PGIC. As shown in Figure 5, the overall RR was 2.14 (95% CI = 1.90–2.24) between dapoxetine and placebo, 2.01(95% CI = 1.69–2.38) between the dapoxetine 30 mg subgroup and placebo and 2.26 (95% CI = 1.91–2.67) between the dapoxetine 60 mg subgroup and placebo, respectively. Additionally, the present meta-analysis also demonstrated significant improvement in PGIC with 60 mg over 30 mg dapoxetine on-demand alone. Pryor et al9 thought that the PGIC condition as a study endpoint is informative with respect to men's perception to minor detectable changes in IELT.

When is Dapoxetine Safe to Use?

In other words, there is a positive relationship between the participants' PGIC ratings and mean change in IELT values. The present findings agree with the results of previous clinical trials that reported a similar improvement in PGIC with dapoxetine versus placebo or comparing 60 mg versus 30 mg dapoxetine9,10,11,12,13,16,17,18,19,20,21. This analysis revealed the incidence of total AEs was more frequent with dapoxetine than with placebo and more common with dapoxetine 60 mg than 30 mg. However, from a review of all the studies reported in the literature, AEs of dapoxetine are generally tolerable. In the integrated analysis of the McMahon et al16 study, total AEs occurred in 35.1%, 47.0%, 60.3% subjects with placebo, dapoxetine 30 mg and dapoxetine 60 mg on-demand orally, respectively.

Written and reviewed by our qualified team

In Figure 7, the total number of AEs occurred in 49.1% (2601/5293) and 20.7% (1040/5017) of subjects treated with dapoxetine and placebo, respectively. In Figure 8, the total number of AEs occurring with dapoxetine 60 mg or tab dapoxetine 30 mg 30 mg were 58.2% (1421/2441) and 36.6% (907/2476), respectively. The most frequently reported AEs were nausea, dizziness, headache, diarrhea and insomnia22,23. Fortunately, the most common AEs with dapoxetine were mild or moderate in nature and were transient symptoms9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,24,25. The present findings agree with the results of previous clinical trials that reported similar low incidence rates of side effects. Pooled analysis indicated that when compared to the placebo group, there was a significantly higher proportion of PGIC in the dapoxetine group. The overall risk ratio (RR) was 2.14 (95% CI = 1.90–2.42; P < 0.00001). The subgroup analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between the dapoxetine (for both 30 mg and 60 mg groups) and the placebo group in PGIC (RR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.69–2.38, P < 0.00001; and RR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.91–2.67, P < 0.00001, respectively; Figure 5). In addition, data from three9,12,13 studies reporting PGIC compared dapoxetine dosages (60 mg versus 30 mg). These count data were extracted to perform a forest plot analysis, which showed that the use of dapoxetine 60 mg was associated with a significantly greater improvement in PGIC than when dapoxetine 30 mg was used (RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09–1.25; P < 0.00001, Figure 6). Data from four9,11,12,13 and five9,10,11,12,13 studies reported AEs with sufficient data to generate a subgroup forest plot for dapoxetine 30 mg versus placebo and dapoxetine 60 mg versus placebo, respectively. Our pooled result of the meta-analysis showed that the number of AEs of patients in the dapoxetine (30 mg and 60 mg) group were significantly higher than those reported by patients in the placebo group (RR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.66–3.01; P < 0.00001). The subgroup analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between treatment, with regards to 30 mg or 60 mg dapoxetine versus the placebo group in number of AEs reported (RR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.36–2.70, P = 0.0002; and RR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.58–4.02, P = 0.0001, respectively; Figure 7). Furthermore, AEs were assessed in six studies9,11,12,13,14,15 comparing two dapoxetine dosages (60 mg vs. 30 mg). This present plot demonstrated that a statistically significant difference existed between the 60 mg and 30 mg group in terms of the incidence of AEs (RR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.31–1.89; P < 0.00001; Figure 8). Dapoxetine hydrochloride was the first drug originally approved for the on-demand treatment of patients with PE in 2008. Since then, it has received marketing authorization in 59 countries worldwide7,8. In 2011, McMahon et al.16 published an integrated analysis of results from five phase 3 trials attempting to explore the efficacy and safety of dapoxetine for treatment of PE and they proposed that dapoxetine significantly improved all aspects of PE and was generally well tolerated. In 2012, McCarty et al17 published a systematic descriptive review and analyzed whether dapoxetine could be considered an efficacious and tolerable treatment for PE. However, no valid conclusions from these studies comparing 60 mg versus 30 mg dapoxetine could be obtained since these lacked strong statistical evidence. In this meta-analysis, in order to obtain a reliable and scientifically sound comparison of dapoxetine (30 and 60 mg) versus placebo and dapoxetine 60 mg versus dapoxetine 30 mg as on-demand oral treatment for PE, a precise search strategy was performed to include all relevant RCTs.

Therefore, studies of patients with erectile dysfunction18, non-RCTs19 and studies including patients with chronic, daily oral treatment with dapoxetine20,21 were excluded from the analysis of patients with PE. Ultimately, seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria for the present meta-analysis. To our knowledge, this is the most recent systematic review and meta-analysis comparing oral dapoxetine on-demand with placebo and comparing dapoxetine dosages (60 mg versus 30 mg) for priligy dapoxetine canada the treatment of patients with PE.

The present meta-analysis for IELT demonstrated that on-demand oral treatment with dapoxetine had an advantage over placebo despite the different dosages (30 mg and 60 mg) used.

It demonstrated that on-demand oral dapoxetine was an effective treatment for PE. In addition, our meta-analysis comparing dapoxetine 60 mg with 30 mg on-demand orally proved that there was a statistically significant difference in IELT between the both groups; thus, 60 mg dapoxetine had a longer IELT than 30 mg on-demand for PE. The present findings are in agreement with the results of previous clinical trials that have reported significant improvement in the IELT with the use of dapoxetine9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21.

Ethics declarations

Dapoxetine hydrochloride was the first drug originally approved for the on-demand treatment of patients with PE in 2008. Since then, it has received marketing authorization in 59 countries worldwide7,8. In 2011, McMahon et al.16 published an integrated analysis of results from five phase 3 trials attempting to explore the efficacy and safety of dapoxetine for treatment of PE and they proposed that dapoxetine significantly improved all aspects of PE and was generally well tolerated. In 2012, McCarty et al17 published a systematic descriptive review and analyzed whether dapoxetine could be considered an efficacious and tolerable treatment for PE. However, no valid conclusions from these studies comparing 60 mg versus 30 mg dapoxetine could be obtained since these lacked strong statistical evidence.

Intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT)

In this meta-analysis, in order to obtain a reliable and scientifically sound comparison of dapoxetine (30 and 60 mg) versus placebo and dapoxetine 60 mg versus dapoxetine 30 mg as on-demand oral treatment for PE, a precise search strategy was performed to include all relevant RCTs. Therefore, studies of patients with erectile dysfunction18, non-RCTs19 and studies including patients with chronic, daily oral treatment with dapoxetine20,21 were excluded from the analysis of patients with PE. Ultimately, seven RCTs met the inclusion criteria for the present meta-analysis. To our knowledge, this is the most recent systematic review and meta-analysis comparing oral dapoxetine on-demand with placebo and comparing dapoxetine dosages (60 mg versus 30 mg) for priligy dapoxetine canada the treatment of patients with PE. The present meta-analysis for IELT demonstrated that on-demand oral treatment with dapoxetine had an advantage over placebo despite the different dosages (30 mg and 60 mg) used.

Quality assessment

It demonstrated that on-demand oral dapoxetine was an effective treatment for PE. In addition, our meta-analysis comparing dapoxetine 60 mg with 30 mg on-demand orally proved that there was a statistically significant difference in IELT between the both groups; thus, 60 mg dapoxetine had a longer IELT than 30 mg on-demand for PE. The present findings are in agreement with the results of previous clinical trials that have reported significant improvement in the IELT with the use of dapoxetine9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21. Mean IELT was also significantly increased in all the studies not included in this meta-analysis. Mirone et al22 performed non-RCT trials in 2014 that compared dapoxetine 30–60 mg with alternative care/nondapoxetine, the results revealed that dapoxetine for treatment of PE had a longer mean IELT. Mean IELT was also significantly increased in all the studies not included in this meta-analysis. Mirone et al22 performed non-RCT trials in 2014 that compared dapoxetine 30–60 mg with alternative care/nondapoxetine, the results revealed that dapoxetine for treatment of PE had a longer mean IELT.

• Dapoxetine's effectiveness peaks when taken on an empty stomach.
• It is classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI).
• The medication’s half-life is short, leading to quick clearance from the system.
• Dapoxetine does not cure premature ejaculation but manages symptoms temporarily.
• Possible temporary side effects include mild nausea and dizziness.
• Do not exceed the recommended dose to avoid adverse effects.

The integrated analysis from five trials by McMahon et al19 also showed dapoxetine 30 and 60 mg on-demand significantly increased mean IELT compared with placebo (1.9 minutes for placebo, 3.1 and 3.6 minutes for dapoxetine 30 mg and 60 mg, respectively).

What are the side effects of dapoxetine (Priligy)?

Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI and doses of 30 mg and 60 mg have been evaluated through our meta-analysis. Peak plasma concentrations of dapoxetine were observed within 1.01–1.27 hours after oral administration24. The elimination half-life time is 1.3–1.4 hours and there appears to be very little accumulation24. Dapoxetine undergoes rapid absorption, elimination and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics, which are unaffected by multiple dosing. The unique pharmacokinetic characteristics might be the reason why dapoxetine is the on-demand treatment of choice for PE.

Development of this evidence summary

Safety and efficacy data have demonstrated that dapoxetine use produces acceptable improvement in the IELT and PGIC with on-demand use. Thus, we also believe it is probably better suited as an on-demand treatment option for PE26. Our systematic review and meta-analysis has many drawbacks, the primary one being that this was a heterogeneous trial. In an attempt to reduce the high heterogeneity, we carried out a subgroup analysis among studies involving the drug dosage used (30 mg versus 60 mg groups). The heterogeneity was significantly decreased when comparing dapoxetine with placebo in the IELT by subgroup analysis. Our statistical results and subgroup analysis of PGIC demonstrated that dapoxetine was associated with a major improvement in PGIC. As shown in Figure 5, the overall RR was 2.14 (95% CI = 1.90–2.24) between dapoxetine and placebo, 2.01(95% CI = 1.69–2.38) between the dapoxetine 30 mg subgroup and placebo and 2.26 (95% CI = 1.91–2.67) between the dapoxetine 60 mg subgroup and placebo, respectively. Additionally, the present meta-analysis also demonstrated significant improvement in PGIC with 60 mg over 30 mg dapoxetine on-demand alone.

What is the satisfaction rate with dapoxetine?

Thus, the data from the studies included in our meta-analysis were reliable. In summary, our meta-analysis has shown that either 30 mg or 60 mg dapoxetine on-demand orally was associated with a significantly greater increase in mean IELT and PGIC compared placebo. Pryor et al9 thought that the PGIC condition as a study endpoint is informative with respect to men's perception to minor detectable changes in IELT.

• Taking dapoxetine with food may delay the onset of action.
• Do not share dapoxetine with others, even if they have similar symptoms.
• Dapoxetine can be used with lifestyle changes to improve sexual health.
• Patients should avoid heavy alcohol consumption during treatment.
• The medication may cause temporary flu-like symptoms in some users.
• Follow-up with your healthcare provider as recommended for ongoing assessment.

In other words, there is a positive relationship between the participants' PGIC ratings and mean change in IELT values. The present findings agree with the results of previous clinical trials that reported a similar improvement in PGIC with dapoxetine versus placebo or comparing 60 mg versus 30 mg dapoxetine9,10,11,12,13,16,17,18,19,20,21. This analysis revealed the incidence of total AEs was more frequent with dapoxetine than with placebo and more common with dapoxetine 60 mg than 30 mg. However, from a review of all the studies reported in the literature, AEs of dapoxetine are generally tolerable. In the integrated analysis of the McMahon et al16 study, total AEs occurred in 35.1%, 47.0%, 60.3% subjects with placebo, dapoxetine 30 mg and dapoxetine 60 mg on-demand orally, respectively. In Figure 7, the total number of AEs occurred in 49.1% (2601/5293) and 20.7% (1040/5017) of subjects treated with dapoxetine and placebo, respectively. In Figure 8, the total number of AEs occurring with dapoxetine 60 mg or tab dapoxetine 30 mg 30 mg were 58.2% (1421/2441) and 36.6% (907/2476), respectively. The most frequently reported AEs were nausea, dizziness, headache, diarrhea and insomnia22,23. Fortunately, the most common AEs with dapoxetine were mild or moderate in nature and were transient symptoms9,10,11,12,13,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,24,25. The present findings agree with the results of previous clinical trials that reported similar low incidence rates of side effects.

Frequently asked questions for Dapoxetine

In addition, five studies9,12,13,14,15 including a total of 3346 patients, we pooled to compare IELT; patients were divided into two groups treated with either 60 mg or 30 mg dapoxetine. In the fixed-effect model meta-analysis of the five studies, the pooled estimates were statistically significantly different between the dapoxetine 60 mg and 30 mg groups (MD = 0.39; 95% CI = 0.23–0.56; P < 0.00001; Figure 4). This pooled analysis indicated that the dapoxetine 60 mg group was associated with a markedly longer IELT than the dapoxetine 30 mg group. Three studies9,12,13 including 2950 patients compared the PGIC in dapoxetine 30 mg and placebo subgroups and four studies9,10,12,13 including 3567 patients compared PGIC in dapoxetine 60 mg and a placebo subgroup. Pooled analysis indicated that when compared to the placebo group, there was a significantly higher proportion of PGIC in the dapoxetine group.

Desensitizing agents

The overall risk ratio (RR) was 2.14 (95% CI = 1.90–2.42; P < 0.00001). The subgroup analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between the dapoxetine (for both 30 mg and 60 mg groups) and the placebo group in PGIC (RR = 2.01, 95% CI = 1.69–2.38, P < 0.00001; and RR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.91–2.67, P < 0.00001, respectively; Figure 5). In addition, data from three9,12,13 studies reporting PGIC compared dapoxetine dosages (60 mg versus 30 mg). These count data were extracted to perform a forest plot analysis, which showed that the use of dapoxetine 60 mg was associated with a significantly greater improvement in PGIC than when dapoxetine 30 mg was used (RR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.09–1.25; P < 0.00001, Figure 6). Data from four9,11,12,13 and five9,10,11,12,13 studies reported AEs with sufficient data to generate a subgroup forest plot for dapoxetine 30 mg versus placebo and dapoxetine 60 mg versus placebo, respectively.

Mental health history

Our pooled result of the meta-analysis showed that the number of AEs of patients in the dapoxetine (30 mg and 60 mg) group were significantly higher than those reported by patients in the placebo group (RR = 2.23; 95% CI = 1.66–3.01; P < 0.00001). The subgroup analysis indicated a statistically significant difference between treatment, with regards to 30 mg or 60 mg dapoxetine versus the placebo group in number of AEs reported (RR = 1.91, 95% CI = 1.36–2.70, P = 0.0002; and RR = 2.52, 95% CI = 1.58–4.02, P = 0.0001, respectively; Figure 7). Furthermore, AEs were assessed in six studies9,11,12,13,14,15 comparing two dapoxetine dosages (60 mg vs. 30 mg). This present plot demonstrated that a statistically significant difference existed between the 60 mg and 30 mg group in terms of the incidence of AEs (RR = 1.57; 95% CI = 1.31–1.89; P < 0.00001; Figure 8). Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI and doses of 30 mg and 60 mg have been evaluated through our meta-analysis. Peak plasma concentrations of dapoxetine were observed within 1.01–1.27 hours after oral administration24. The elimination half-life time is 1.3–1.4 hours and there appears to be very little accumulation24.

How do I take Priligy?

However, this heterogeneity of data still exists in the PGIC and AEs analyses, which we were unable to improve. We believe this heterogeneity might have resulted in the evaluation of the PGIC value using a 7-point scale (from −3 = much worse to 3 = much better) and AEs that were assessed using a subjective evaluation by individual patients. Additional factors might have been potentially amplified heterogeneity; these include differences in treatment duration, individual differences and mental or physical conditions. Secondly, some of the included studies did not report the outcome measures; hence, the statistical results might be influenced by the statistical parameters used for calculations. Additionally, nearly all trials included in this study lacked a clear description of the allocation concealment, but all trials included in this meta-analysis were RCTs, the methods were designed well. Dapoxetine undergoes rapid absorption, elimination and dose-dependent pharmacokinetics, which are unaffected by multiple dosing. The unique pharmacokinetic characteristics might be the reason why dapoxetine is the on-demand treatment of choice for PE. Safety and efficacy data have demonstrated that dapoxetine use produces acceptable improvement in the IELT and PGIC with on-demand use. Thus, we also believe it is probably better suited as an on-demand treatment option for PE26. Our systematic review and meta-analysis has many drawbacks, the primary one being that this was a heterogeneous trial. In an attempt to reduce the high heterogeneity, we carried out a subgroup analysis among studies involving the drug dosage used (30 mg versus 60 mg groups). The heterogeneity was significantly decreased when comparing dapoxetine with placebo in the IELT by subgroup analysis. However, this heterogeneity of data still exists in the PGIC and AEs analyses, which we were unable to improve. We believe this heterogeneity might have resulted in the evaluation of the PGIC value using a 7-point scale (from −3 = much worse to 3 = much better) and AEs that were assessed using a subjective evaluation by individual patients. Additional factors might have been potentially amplified heterogeneity; these include differences in treatment duration, individual differences and mental or physical conditions. Secondly, some of the included studies did not report the outcome measures; hence, the statistical results might be influenced by the statistical parameters used for calculations. Additionally, nearly all trials included in this study lacked a clear description of the allocation concealment, but all trials included in this meta-analysis were RCTs, the methods were designed well. Thus, the data from the studies included in our meta-analysis were reliable. In summary, our meta-analysis has shown that either 30 mg or 60 mg dapoxetine on-demand orally was associated with a significantly greater increase in mean IELT and PGIC compared placebo.