Dapoxetine
duh-POS-uh-teen
Category
Compound type
Phase / Status
Approved in many countries for PE
Standard Dose
As directed
Half-life
Plasma elimination
Route(s)
Oral, Injectable or Topical
Research Stage
Research phase not specified; exercise appropriate caution.
Overview
Dapoxetine is an SSRI designed specifically for premature ejaculation. Unlike many antidepressants that are taken daily, it's typically used on-demand, with effects that start relatively quickly and wear off sooner than chronic SSRI regimens. In practice, people often notice side effects early on (like nausea or headache), and those effects may improve as your body adjusts. If you're considering it, follow a clinician's plan rather than self-experimenting - especially if you take other serotonergic medicines.
Plain-language summary
Dapoxetine is an SSRI designed specifically for premature ejaculation. Unlike many antidepressants that are taken daily, it's typically used on-demand, with effects that start relatively quickly and wear off sooner than chronic SSRI regimens. In practice, people often notice side effects early on (like nausea or headache), and those effects may improve as your body adjusts. If you're considering it, follow a clinician's plan rather than self-experimenting - especially if you take other serotonergic medicines.
Administration Routes
- Oral
- Injectable
- Topical
Also known as
Mechanisms
Short-acting SSRI
Detailed mechanism
Dapoxetine inhibits the serotonin reuptake transporter (SERT) with rapid absorption, reaching peak plasma concentrations within 1-2 hours and clearing to sub-therapeutic levels within 24 hours, enabling on-demand rather than chronic daily dosing. By transiently elevating synaptic serotonin in central nervous system pathways - particularly spinal and supraspinal circuits - that regulate ejaculatory latency and reflex threshold, it delays the ejaculatory reflex without the persistent serotonergic burden of conventional SSRIs. Its rapid elimination also minimizes accumulation-related adverse effects and drug interaction windows that would otherwise make as-needed use impractical.
Safety
Side effects
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Diarrhea
Reported benefits
- Treats premature ejaculation
- Fast acting
- Short duration
Safety profile
Consult medical professional before use
Clinical trials
See research status
Structure
Verified structure
Dapoxetine
Exact 2D structure can be rendered from a PubChem-backed canonical SMILES string.
- Chemical Formula
- C21H23NO
- Molecular Weight
- 305.4 g/mol
- CAS Number
- 119356-77-3
- InChIKey
- USRHYDPUVLEVMC-FQEVSTJZSA-N
Stack Context
No stack data available.
References
- 1View source
Dapoxetine for the treatment of premature ejaculation: results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial in 22 countries (Eur Urol)
2009
- 2View source
Dapoxetine for the treatment of premature ejaculation: meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials with trial sequential analysis (J Sex Med)
2018
- 3View source
A double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 study of dapoxetine HCl for premature ejaculation (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00439335)
2009
This profile summarizes research literature for education only. It is not medical advice, and it does not diagnose, treat, or recommend a dose. Consult a qualified professional before changing a protocol.