Premature Ejaculation and Lexapro

Lexapro^® (escitalopram oxalate) is a prescription medication that is licensed to treat the following conditions:

 

Lexapro is also sometimes used to treat premature ejaculation, even though it is not approved for this use. This is known as an "off-label" use.

 

How Does Lexapro Work for Premature Ejaculation?

It is not entirely clear how Lexapro 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, Lexapro 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 Lexapro sexual side effects can help to delay their ejaculation.

 

Using Lexapro to treat premature ejaculation is considered an off-label use for the medicine. When a prescription medicine is used "off-label," it means that it is being used to treat a disease or condition for which it 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.