Celexa and Premature Ejaculation

Citalopram and Premature Ejaculation: An Overview

Celexa^® (citalopram hydrobromide) is a prescription medicine used for the treatment of depression (also known as major depression or clinical depression). However, Celexa is sometimes used to treat premature ejaculation, although it is not approved for this use. This is known as an "off-label" use.

 

How Does Celexa Work for Premature Ejaculation?

It is not entirely clear how Celexa works for premature ejaculation. Premature ejaculation is when a man uncontrollably ejaculates too soon (either before or just after sexual penetration). As with other similar antidepressants, Celexa is known to cause sexual side effects, including delayed ejaculation. While these sexual side effects are usually undesired, in the case of men with premature ejaculation, the Celexa sexual side effects can help to delay their ejaculation.

 

When Celexa is used for premature ejaculation, it is considered an off-label use. "Off-label" refers to when a prescription medicine is used to treat a disease or condition for which the drug has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although the FDA regulates how a medication can be advertised or promoted by the manufacturer, these regulations do not restrict a healthcare provider's ability to prescribe the medication for different conditions, in different doses, or for different lengths of time. Your healthcare provider will prescribe a medicine for off-label use when he or she feels that the medicine is appropriate for your situation.