Influence of modafinil on early ejaculation - Results from a double-blind randomized clinical trial

Mohammad Haghighi; Leila Jahangard; Azadeh Mazahri Meybodi; Mehran Shayganfard; Mohammad Ahmadpanah; Mohammad Faryadres; Kenneth M Dürsteler; Annette Beatrix Brühl; Dena Sadeghi-Bahmani; Serge Brand

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.015

Influence of modafinil on early ejaculation - Results from a double-blind randomized clinical trial

J Psychiatr Res. 2022 Feb:146:264-271. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.015. Epub 2021 Nov 9.

Affiliations

¹ Behavioral Disorder and Substance Abuses Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
² Taleghani Hospital Research Development Committee and Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
⁵ Psychiatric Clinics, Division of Substance Use Disorders, University of Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; Center for Addictive Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, 8001, Zurich, Switzerland.
⁶ Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland.
⁷ Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 67146, Iran.
⁸ Center for Affective, Stress and Sleep Disorders (ZASS), Psychiatric University Hospital Basel, 4002, Basel, Switzerland; Sleep Disorders Research Center, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 67146, Iran; Substance Abuse Prevention Research Center, Health Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, 67146, Iran; Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, Division of Sport Science and Psychosocial Health, University of Basel, 4052, Basel, Switzerland; School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 25529, Iran. Electronic address: serge.brand@unibas.ch.

PMID: 34799125
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.11.015

Abstract

Background: For men, early ejaculation is a serious health concern. Here, we tested the influence of modafinil (Profinil®) on early ejaculation. To this end, we performed a double-blind randomized clinical trial among men with early ejaculation.

Methods: A total of 46 men with early ejaculation (mean age: 37.35 years) and in stable marital relationships with regular weekly penile-vaginal intercourse were randomly assigned either to the modafinil (100 mg) or to the placebo condition. Compounds were taken about 4-6h before intended penile-vaginal intercourse. At baseline and four weeks later at the end of the study, participants completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering early ejaculation. Female partners also rated their male partners' early ejaculation profile.

Results: Dimensions of early ejaculation improved over time, but only so in the modafinil condition, while no improvements were observed in the placebo condition.

Conclusions: Among male adults in stable marital relationships with regular weekly penile-vaginal intercourse modafinil improved dimensions of early ejaculation, always compared to placebo. Given the strong effect of modafinil on cognitive-executive processes, it is conceivable, that modafinil acted both via physiological and cognitive-executive pathways.

Keywords: Double-blind clinical trial; Early ejaculation; Male sexual dysfunction; Modafinil; Placebo.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial

MeSH terms

Adult
Coitus*
Double-Blind Method
Ejaculation*
Female
Humans
Male
Modafinil / pharmacology
Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

Modafinil