Antidepressant-Induced Sexual Dysfunction Treated with Vardenafil

Dear Editor: The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are used to treat a wide array of psychiatric conditions (1). Patients experience fewer side effects, compared with the older antidepressants (2). However, sexual dysfunction may occur in up to 75% of patients taking antidepressants (3). I report a case in which a patient taking sertraline experienced decreased to almost nonexistent erections, with a return to his baseline functioning following treatment with vardenafil. To my knowledge, this is the first reported case of vardenafil used to treat antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction.

Mr A, aged 32 years, was diagnosed with dysthymic disorder according to DSM-IV …