Introduction: The sleep-related painful erection (SRPE) is a well-established parasomnia characterized by episodes of penile pain during an erection and typically appears during REM sleep. It is associated with nocturnal awakenings, anxiety, and irritability.
Aim: To report a case study that highlights the successful treatment of SRPE with cinitapride.
Methods: We present a case report of a 50-year-old man suffering from SRPE that was studied by polysomnography.
Results: Severe fragmentation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep was observed, and nine episodes of sleep-related erections were observed through the night; they were associated with REM sleep, and five of them were classified as SRPE. Cinitapride before the onset of sleep was started. Both the frequency and intensity of SRPE gradually decreased during a period of 6 months with the maintenance of normal sexual function.
Conclusion: Cinitapride can play a role in reducing SRPE at night probably due to central modulation of neurotransmitters mediating erection.
© 2010 International Society for Sexual Medicine.