Affiliations: North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine, Bangor, Wales, UK | David Braley & Nancy Gordon Chair of Family Medicine, Department of Family Medicine, McMaster University, ON, Canada
Note: [] Address for correspondence: David Healy, MD FRCPsych, North Wales Department of Psychological Medicine, Bangor, Wales LL57 2PW, UK. Tel.: +44 1248 384453; Fax: +44 1248 371397; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: There have been reports for over a decade linking serotonin reuptake inhibitors, finasteride and isotretinoin with enduring sexual dysfunction after treatment stops. OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical pictures linked to all 3 drugs. METHODS: We have selected 120 reports to RxISK.org reporting the problem and mined these for data on age, gender, drug of use, and impact of the problem. RESULTS: The data make it clear that the three drugs show extensive overlap in symptom profile, regardless of sex or country of origin. CONCLUSIONS: The availability of 120 reports from over 20 countries add to the case for the validity of the syndrome. This is severe and enduring condition can result in death. An understanding of its physiology and an approach to treatment are needed.
Keywords: SSRIs, finasteride, isotretinoin, erectile dysfunction, loss of libido, genital anesthesia
