Objective: Decline in sexual activities caused by medication affecting the functions of the central nervous system has often been described, but there are few reports on medications causing hypersexuality. In this article, mirtazapine induced erotic dreams related ejaculation in four elderly depressed patients were represented, and studies which report antidepressants induced hypersexuality were briefly reviewed. Method: Four male depressed patients aged 65-73 were included in the study. The diagnosis of major depression was made according to DSM-IV criteria. The severity of depression and sexual experience levels of the patients were evaluated by using Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) and Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX). Results: Mean HDRS and ASEX points before mirtazapine treatment were found 31±2.4 and 21.2±2.2, and after 6-week treatment were 20.2±2.6 and 20.5±1.0, respectively. Dream related ejaculation side effect was reported in the first 10th day. This side effect has repeated once a week during first month of the treatment, and disappeared even though mirtazapine intake continued. Conclusion: This finding suggest that mirtazapine induce dream related ejaculation, which is related due to mirtazapine's blockage alpha-2 adrenoceptor properties, in elderly depressed patients; and that clinicians should be aware of this unreported side effect of mirtazapine in elderly.
展开▼
