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Objective: Antidepressant drugs may lead to sexual dysfunction. It was aimed to research the effect of a 6-month intake of venlafaxine on sexual function during the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder.
Methods: Forty-eight major depressive disorder cases who had been admitted to the psychiatry clinic consecutively were included in the study. The clinical scales were applied in the first month, second month and sixth month of the treatment before the venlafaxine treatment. The study was completed with 36 cases.
Results: Sexual dysfunction was identified in 58.3% (21/36) of the patients taking venlafaxine at the beginning. A significant difference could not be found between the scores of Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale comparing the beginning and the first month, and the beginning and sixth month (p<0.231 and p<0.622, respectively). The decline differences observed in the scores of Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale between the beginning and second month and second month and sixth month were found statistically significant (p<0.006 and p<0.003, respectively). All patients went into remission at the end of the 6-month treatment.
Discussion: The high rates of sexual dysfunction before the venlafaxine treatment were significantly decreased in the second month of the treatment. The depression remitted after a 6-month treatment but the rate of sexual dysfunction increased to pre-treatment levels. The results of this research show that sexual dysfunction lasts during the venlafaxine treatment and gets very close to the initial rate at the end of six months.