Evaluation of dapoxetine treatment success in lifelong premature ejaculation patients with penile sympathetic skin response

Hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system may play an important role in primary premature ejaculation (PPE), and dapoxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, plays a role in its treatment. We evaluated the success of dapoxetine treatment in PPE patients with a penile sympathetic skin response (PSSR). Of 63 patients who were admitted to our outpatient clinic between March 2017 and December 2017 with a complaint of premature ejaculation and diagnosed with PPE, 56 completed treatment (minimum 12 tablets) with on‐demand use 30 mg of dapoxetine and returned for a follow‐up appointment. Before and after treatment, the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF‐5) and Arabic index PE (AIPE) scores, intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT), testosterone values and PSSR values were compared. The IELT and AIPE values increased significantly in the 56 patients who were re‐evaluated after dapoxetine treatment. No significant changes were observed in testosterone levels and IIEF‐5. In the PSSR measurement, while the amplitude decreased, the latency was prolonged significantly. PSSR may be an important determinant in the measurement of dapoxetine treatment success for PPE patients, but additional studies are needed.