Billy L K Wong1, Sachin Malde. 1. Department of Urology, Medway Maritime Hospital, Gillingham, United Kingdom.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of tramadol in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) by systematically reviewing the results of randomized controlled trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All studies evaluating the efficacy of tramadol for the treatment of PE published in peer reviewed medical journals between 2006 and March 2012 were identified by searching for the keywords "premature ejaculation" and "tramadol" in the PubMed database. Only randomized controlled trials published in the English language were included. RESULTS: A total of 5 articles, comprising 823 patients, met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. Overall, tramadol on-demand results in a significant improvement in mean intravaginal ejaculatory latency time and symptom scores compared with placebo and in an improvement in partner sexual satisfaction scores. The rate of short-term adverse effects is low. CONCLUSION: Tramadol is an effective treatment for patients with PE and represents a promising alternative to the currently used oral pharmacologic agents. Longer-term safety studies, and those comparing tramadol with the selective serotonin receptor inhibitors, are essential to determine the place of tramadol in the treatment of this distressing condition.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy and safety of tramadol in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE) by systematically reviewing the results of randomized controlled trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All studies evaluating the efficacy of tramadol for the treatment of PE published in peer reviewed medical journals between 2006 and March 2012 were identified by searching for the keywords "premature ejaculation" and "tramadol" in the PubMed database. Only randomized controlled trials published in the English language were included. RESULTS: A total of 5 articles, comprising 823 patients, met the inclusion criteria for further analysis. Overall, tramadol on-demand results in a significant improvement in mean intravaginal ejaculatory latency time and symptom scores compared with placebo and in an improvement in partner sexual satisfaction scores. The rate of short-term adverse effects is low. CONCLUSION:Tramadol is an effective treatment for patients with PE and represents a promising alternative to the currently used oral pharmacologic agents. Longer-term safety studies, and those comparing tramadol with the selective serotonin receptor inhibitors, are essential to determine the place of tramadol in the treatment of this distressing condition.