INTRODUCTION: Opioid-dependent men suffer from sexual dysfunctions in the short and long term. The medications used for long-term pharmacotherapy of opioid dependence also affect sexual functioning, though this has been a poorly investigated area so far. AIM: To study the sexual dysfunction in opioid-dependent men receiving buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance therapy. METHODS: A semistructured questionnaire and Brief Male Sexual Functioning Inventory (BMFSI) was administered to a sample of 60 sexually active men, receiving buprenorphine (n = 30) and naltrexone (n = 30) maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, low sexual desire, weakness due to semen loss, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: About 83% of the men on buprenorphine and 90% on naltrexone reported at least one of the sexual dysfunction symptoms. The commonly reported dysfunctions were premature ejaculation (83% in buprenorphine and 87% in naltrexone), erectile dysfunction (43% in buprenorphine and 67% in naltrexone), and loss/reduction in sexual desire (33% in buprenorphine and 47% in naltrexone). On BMSFI however, there were no significant differences among both the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Opioid dependence as well as its pharmacological treatment is associated with sexual dysfunctions, which has clinical implication. Future research should explore this further using biochemical analyses.
INTRODUCTION: Opioid-dependent men suffer from sexual dysfunctions in the short and long term. The medications used for long-term pharmacotherapy of opioid dependence also affect sexual functioning, though this has been a poorly investigated area so far. AIM: To study the sexual dysfunction in opioid-dependent men receiving buprenorphine and naltrexone maintenance therapy. METHODS: A semistructured questionnaire and Brief Male Sexual Functioning Inventory (BMFSI) was administered to a sample of 60 sexually active men, receiving buprenorphine (n = 30) and naltrexone (n = 30) maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, low sexual desire, weakness due to semen loss, and overall satisfaction. RESULTS: About 83% of the men on buprenorphine and 90% on naltrexone reported at least one of the sexual dysfunction symptoms. The commonly reported dysfunctions were premature ejaculation (83% in buprenorphine and 87% in naltrexone), erectile dysfunction (43% in buprenorphine and 67% in naltrexone), and loss/reduction in sexual desire (33% in buprenorphine and 47% in naltrexone). On BMSFI however, there were no significant differences among both the groups. CONCLUSIONS:Opioid dependence as well as its pharmacological treatment is associated with sexual dysfunctions, which has clinical implication. Future research should explore this further using biochemical analyses.