Having trouble delaying ejaculation during sexual activity is more than just frustrating, it can also be dangerous. Luckily, most cases of PE can be treated using prescription medication and behavioral therapy.
In particular, sertraline hydrochloride (Zoloft) has shown to be effective in helping treat PE. Read on to learn more about how long does it take for sertraline to work for PE and how to use it.
How to take
Premature ejaculation can be caused by a number of factors, including anxiety and diet. It’s typically treated through a combination of behavioral techniques and prescription medications.
Many men who suffer from PE find that a daily dose of sertraline (Zoloft) helps to decrease their symptoms. This is because of how the drug affects serotonin levels. In addition, the medication has been shown to help improve sexual functioning.
If SSRIs don’t work, your health care provider might prescribe a tricyclic antidepressant such as clomipramine (Anafranil). This drug is more effective than SSRIs and doesn’t cause the same side effects, such as nausea, perspiration, drowsiness and decreased libido. It might take 2 to 3 weeks before it starts to help with PE, however.
Another option is to use a delay spray, which contains a topical anesthetic such as lidocaine or benzocaine that reduces sensitivity in the penis and slows down ejaculation. These sprays usually take 5 to 10 minutes to start working and can be used before sex.
The most common treatment for PE is sertraline hydrochloride. This medication is an antidepressant and is normally prescribed to treat depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety and panic attacks. In one study, a 25-milligram (mg) dose of sertraline helped to lengthen the average ejaculatory interval by 1 minute in 46 men between the ages of 22 and 63.
Dosage
While sertraline is best known as an antidepressant, it’s also used to treat off-label conditions such as premature ejaculation. Studies have shown that this medication significantly increases ejaculation latency in men with this condition. The drug does this by increasing dopamine input to the ejaculatory spinal cord, which decreases penile sensitivity and prolongs sex.
To determine if sertraline is the right treatment for you, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your sexual history and may do a physical exam. Your doctor may also order lab tests to check your hormone levels.
You can take sertraline to treat PE on a daily basis or on an as-needed basis. If you choose the former, your doctor will prescribe a specific dose of the medication to take each day. You can then use the drug at the same time each day, regardless of whether or not you plan to have sex that night.
Some other medications can be used to treat PE, including SSRIs such as citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro) and paroxetine (Paxil), as well as PDE-5 inhibitors such as tadalafil (Cialis) and sildenafil (Viagra). However, these drugs aren’t usually as effective as sertraline in reducing sex-related anxiety. They also don’t address the underlying reasons for your anxiety, which is a key part of any treatment for PE. In addition to medications, behavioral techniques such as masturbation before sex and the squeeze-stop-start technique are often effective in treating this condition.
Side effects
Sertraline works to treat PE by increasing dopamine input at the ejaculatory spinal cord. This causes a decrease in penile sensitivity and lengthens ejaculation latency time (IELT). It’s one of the most popular pills for treating PE, and multiple studies show that it can increase partner sexual satisfaction by up to 57%.
Premature ejaculation is a disorder that can be very uncomfortable for both partners and may lead to relationship problems. It’s also a very common problem that’s often overlooked by doctors and health care providers. The best treatment for PE involves a combination of behavioral techniques and medications. Medications such as topical sprays, SSRIs, or benzodiazepines are often effective in decreasing PE. In some cases, it might be necessary to seek counseling to get to the root of the problem.
A prescription medication known as sertraline hydrochloride, or Zoloft, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). It’s primarily used as an antidepressant, but it can be prescribed off-label to treat a variety of other conditions and disorders. These include panic disorder, OCD, PTSD, and social anxiety. SSRIs have several side effects, including delayed orgasms. One study found that a daily 25-mg dose of sertraline increased the average ejaculation time from 1 minute to 7.6 minutes. It should be noted that the drug does not work immediately and will require consistent use to see results.
Overdose
Premature ejaculation is not only uncomfortable, but it can lead to serious consequences like erection problems and depression. Fortunately, there are prescription medication options available to help treat PE. One of these is sertraline, a type of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that is used to treat depression and mood disorders. Over the years, it’s been discovered that sertraline can also help people suffering from delayed orgasm and ejaculation.
Multiple studies have shown that sertraline is effective in reducing the frequency of PE and increasing climax latency. The typical ejaculatory latency period in these studies increased from one minute to more than seven minutes, with some participants experiencing up to 20 minutes. In most cases, men who took a daily dose of sertraline experienced only minor side effects such as dyspepsia, anxiety and transient drowsiness.
Depending on the individual’s situation, sertraline can be taken as a daily pill to prevent PE or on an as-needed basis prior to sexual activity. In the latter case, dosages are typically between 50 and 100 mg. Regardless of the dosage, the most important thing is to stick with your prescription regimen and not take extra pills.
It’s not uncommon for doctors to prescribe SSRI medications like Zoloft as a treatment for PE. But in many cases, there are other ways to address the condition that are much safer and less expensive than drug therapy. Delay sprays, which are lidocaine or benzocaine-based liquids that reduce sensitivity levels in the penis, can be highly effective. Another option is the squeeze technique, in which men firmly squeeze their penis to delay orgasm and ejaculation.
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