Relief of SSRI-Induced Sexual Dysfunction With Mirtazapine Treatment

Letter to the Editor

Sir: Sexual dysfunction is a known integral component of depressive illnesses, and most antidepressant drugs have been associated with sexual dysfunction, especially those agents with increased serotonergic activity. In fact, the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) has been associated with significant ejaculatory dysfunction and orgasm-related difficulties. However, the incidence of sexual dysfunction varies with SSRIs. The package inserts report a range from 2% (fluoxetine) up to 20% (sertraline, paroxetine), and in the clinical setting, sexual dysfunction has been reported to occur in 7.8% to 75% of depressed patients.