Dapoxetine is a type of antidepressant drug called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. It is only approved (in select countries) for treating premature ejaculation, NOT depression. By contrast, other SSRI antidepressants are only approved for treating depression and NOT premature ejaculation. This may seem like a strange paradox but there are some unique qualities of Dapoxetine which make it suitable for premature ejaculation whereas other antidepressants are not. These qualities include:
•The time it takes for Dapoxetine to enter the body
•Half-life, or the time it takes for half of Dapoxetine to exit the body
Absorption of Dapoxetine
Compared to other antidepressant drugs, Dapoxetine enters the body very quickly. After just 30 minutes of taking the medicine, it is already at its peak, very-high levels in the body. Compare this to other antidepressants like Prozac which takes 6 to 8 hours to enter the body. When Prozac does get absorbed into the body, it only reaches peak plasma levels of about 72%. That is why you have to take Prozac and other antidepressants regularly for several weeks before you get the full effects; the drugs need to build up in the system. This is not the case with Dapoxetine.
Other antidepressants would be unsuitable for treating premature ejaculation simply because it would be impossible to time the dosage correctly. Further, you would have to take them regularly for several weeks before getting any benefits. Because Dapoxetine enters the body so quickly and almost immediately causes benefits, it is very suitable as an as-needed treatment for premature ejaculation.
Half-Life of Dapoxetine
In order for any drug to be approved, it must meet one essential requirement: its benefits outweigh the risks. While premature ejaculation is a serious condition, it is generally not considered serious enough to merit the risks associated with long-term use of antidepressants. Antidepressant drugs (along with the unserious side effects) can cause severe complications like liver damage, serotonin syndrome, impotence, tremors, fainting, changes in blood pressure, tardive dyskinesia, withdrawal symptoms, and even death.
Most antidepressants have very long half-lives, meaning that they stay in the body for a long time. Prozac, for example has a half-life of 1-3 days when taken just once and 4-6 days when it has been used for an extended period of time. The longer the half-life, the more likely that side effects will occur and that they will be severe. This is why antidepressants which are suitable for treating depression are not suitable for treating premature ejaculation.
By contrast, Dapoxetine has an incredibly short half-life of just about 1 ? hours. That means the drug is mostly out of your symptom very quickly. If you do have any side effects from Dapoxetine, you can feel happy knowing that they should dissipate quickly. Since the risk of side effects from Dapoxetine is so much lower compared to those long half-life antidepressants, Dapoxetine is suitable for premature ejaculation. Note that this short half-life also makes Dapoxetine unsuitable for treating depression. To be effective, patients would have to take a pill of Dapoxetine every few hours in order to maintain a steady supply of the medicine in the bloodstream.
Don’t Take Other Antidepressants for Premature Ejaculation!
There have been a lot of incidences of men taking antidepressants like Prozac and Zoloft for premature ejaculation. Sometimes these antidepressants are even sold at bars as “last longer” pills. Do not take them for premature ejaculation! Aside from being very risky, they aren’t going to help you on an as-needed basis. Talk to your doctor about getting a prescription for Dapoxetine instead.