Prolonged Post-Treatment Genital Anesthesia and Sexual Dysfunction Following Discontinuation of Citalopram and the Atypical Antidepressant Nefazodone
SSRI therapy is commonly associated with sexual side effects, but it is
assumed that these distressing symp-toms resolve with termination of
therapy. The atypical antidepressant nefazodone is infrequently
associated with sexual dysfunction and may be substituted for SSRI's
when sexual symptoms are intolerable. Recently, scattered case reports
of persistent sexual dysfunction and genital anesthesia persisting well
after termination of SSRI antidepressant therapy have surfaced. In each
case, the underlying depressive disorder was in remission. Case: A
32-year old women with major depression was treated with citalopram but
switched to nefazodone after 4 weeks of therapy due to genital
anesthesia and orgasmic dysfunction. These symptoms continued following
institution of nefa-zodone therapy and have persisted for over a year
since termination of antidepressant treatment. Her depression remains in
full remission. Discussion: It is likely that persistent post-treatment
genital anesthesia and other sexual side effects are underreported, and
physicians should be aware of this bothersome phenomenon. Formal
post-treatment surveillance for this condition is war-ranted.
Pharmacogenomic research may ultimately allow physicians to predict who
is at risk for antidepressant induced sexual side effects.
FULL TEXT:
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228663300_Prolonged_Post-Treatment_Genital_Anesthesia_and_Sexual_Dysfunction_Following_Discontinuation_of_Citalopram_and_the_Atypical_Antidepressant_Nefazodone
