The pain reliever Tramadol has been shown to be effective in treating premature ejaculation in men, clinical trials conducted in Europe have shown.
The drug company Ampio, the manufacturer of the drug, says the results of the research have been encouraging enough to be able to apply for a market approval. A preparation called Zertane has the advantage that you don’t have to use it every day, like some medications for premature ejaculation. It is enough to use it before the planned sexual intercourse.
Prof. Zbigniew Lew-Starowicz, a sexologist, told PAP that he does not expect a breakthrough in the treatment of premature ejaculation in men after the introduction of this drug, as it is already well-treated using available antidepressants.
These are preparations of the so-called serotonin reuptake, often used to treat depression, but also useful in men suffering from premature ejaculation, explained the professor. He added that most antidepressants must be taken daily, but there is a drug of this type available in Poland that can only be used before intercourse to delay ejaculation.
The active substance in Zertane is tramadol, a synthetic opioid that is less potent and has less potential for dependence. It also affects the reuptake of serotonin and norepinephrine, which enhances the analgesic effect, but also reduces the intensity of the perceived tactile stimuli.
In the treatment of premature ejaculation, lidocaine, a painkiller used for procedures under local anesthesia, has also been used for several years. However, it is troublesome to use because it is used in the form of an ointment. Such measures require the use of a condom, because they can also weaken the partner’s perception of sexual stimuli – emphasized prof. Lew-Starowicz.
Advanced research is also carried out on a drug containing lidocaine and an admixture of prilocaine, an anesthetic with less toxic effects than lidocaine. Both substances are used in one preparation in the form of an ointment for local anesthesia. For the treatment of premature ejaculation, a spray must be available.
According to Ampio, premature ejaculation is a common ailment. It occurs in 23 percent. men aged 23 to 75.
Zbigniew Wojtasiński (PAP)