In the first placebo-controlled comparison of these two
drugs, patients taking sertraline (marketed as Zoloft(R) by Pfizer, Inc.)
reported greater orgasm dysfunction than patients taking bupropion SR
(marketed as Wellbutrin ® by Glaxo Wellcome Inc.) or a placebo.
A study in the current issue of the journal Clinical
Therapeutics demonstrates that while two commonly prescribed
medications for depression are equally effective in treating the symptoms of
depression, Zoloft causes a significantly higher rate of orgasm dysfunction
(lack or delayed orgasm) than either the other drug or placebo.
More patients taking sertraline reported orgasm dysfunction after only one
week of treatment compared with bupropion SR or placebo. At the end of the
study, 41 percent of patients taking Zoloft reported orgasm dysfunction. There
was no statistically significant difference between Wellburtin and the
placebo. Researchers suggest that the serotonin effect of SSRIs like Zoloft
may create sexual function problems. Wellbutrin is not an SSRI and has no
appreciable effect on serotoniin levels. The study was financed by the makers
of Wellbrutin.
"While doctors have known about the anti-sexual side effects of some
antidepressants, many don't realize the prevalence of the problem," said R
Taylor Segraves, M.D., Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at Case Western Reserve
University School of Medicine and chair of the Department of Psychiatry at
MetroHealth Medical Center, and one of the study's investigators.
In the study, 355 patients with moderate to severe clinical depression were
randomly selected to bupropion (Wellbutrin) or SR, sertraline (Zoloft) or a
placebo in this double-blind, placebo-controlled eight-week trial. Each of the
three treatment arms included similar numbers of men and women.
"One reason adverse sexual side effects have been under-reported is that
patients, unaware that the medication may be causing the problem, blame
themselves or their partner for the problem and they don't talk to their
doctor about it," said a researcher on the project. "At the same time, doctors
may be reluctant to bring up sexual functioning with their patients. Open
communication about side effects is critical to successful antidepressant
treatment."
Alternative medicine's answer to synthetic drugs like Zoloft and Wellbutrin
can be found in herbs like St. John's Wort with clinically proven
anti-depressant properties. These herbs and supplelements do not induce
impotence or create other negative side effects. For information on flower
essences that fight depression, see our feature on it in Prescribing
for Yourself
Male Cyclists Suffer High Rates of Impotence
An alarming number of competitive male cyclists suffer
from impotence, according to German study. However, one of the researchers has
provided reassurance to recreational Bikers. Udo Engelmann, MD, told the 94th
scientific meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA) yesterday that
he and co-researcher Ulrich Schwarzer, MD, both from the University of
Cologne, found that 13 percent of 1,800 competitive male cyclists from bicycle
clubs in Cologne, Germany,suffered from impotence. The problem -- apparently
caused by compression of arteries in the perineal area behind the scrotum --
may lead to arterial sclerosis, although the authors caution that more
research is needed.
The erectile dysfunction rate among the athletes studied was triple the
rate of a similar group of swimmers. In addition, nearly 70 percent of the
cyclists suffered from temporary genital numbness. In an interview with
Medcast News Networks Engelman said, "I think the recreational biker has
nothing to fear, and if he's worried he should take a look at his saddle, and
use a wider saddle, one that is padded, or change position (frequently) during
cycling."
