Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology

Psychopharmacology Priapism associated with trazodone therapy

Psychiatry and Clinical Psychopharmacology 2013; 23: Supplement S281-S281
Keywords : priapism, trazodone
Read: 2176 Published: 17 March 2021

Priapism is defined as prolonged and painful erection that is unrelated to erotic stimuli. This situation is considered as a urological emergency and may occur as a side effect of medications used during psychopharmacological treatment. In this article, we discuss a case of priapism associated with trazodone due to suffering from depressive symptoms and insomnia. A 39-year-old, male, married, working as a security guard was our case. He was admitted with the complaints of reluctance, difficulty in falling asleep and frequent interruptions in his sleep and difficulty in concentration. Clinical interview did not reveal previously existing psychiatric and medical illness. According to the diagnosis of ‘mild depressive episode’ and ‘insomnia’ trazodone 50 mg/day was started. Patient admitted to the emergency service because of painful penile erection prolonged for one hour. Trazodone was discontinued upon medical examination. Priapism associated with trazodone use is well known and has been reported with the presentation of a large number of cases. Trazodone works as a postsynaptic 5-HT2a antagonist with only weak presynaptic serotonin reuptake inhibition and also alpha-adrenergic antagonist effects. Decreased venous outşow from the corpora cavernosa causes rigidity. Side effects of psychotropic drugs, prevents unraveling of this rigidity and priapism occurs. The treatment should be discontinued priorly and appropriate treatment should be used. Due to priapism is a clinical emergency, patients should be informed before prescribing trazodone.
 

EISSN 2475-0581