Background: Several recent studies have investigated the therapeutic role of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors in premature ejaculation (PE) used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Objectives: In the present research, the efficacy of paroxetine alone and paroxetine plus tadalafil was compared in patients referred because of premature ejaculation.

Patients and methods: This quasi-experimental study was performed on 100 consecutive 17 to 49-year-old potent men with premature ejaculation and without any clear organic disease. All patients had lifelong PE with an intravaginal ejaculation latency time (IELT) shorter than 1.5 minutes. Informed consent was obtained from all patients who were randomly divided into two groups using a computer-generated random tabulation list. In group A, patients received 10 mg paroxetine daily, in addition to four hours before planned sexual activity. In group B, 10 mg paroxetine was taken daily, plus 10 mg tadalafil one hour before planned sexual activity. The duration of the intervention was six months and patients were evaluated for IELT three and six months after the beginning of therapy.

Results: The mean age of patients in groups A and B were 33 ± 9.6 and 31.2 ± 9.3 years, respectively (P = 0.368). The mean number of intercourses were 1.08 ± 0.6 and 1.12 ± 0.6 per week in groups A and B, respectively (P = 0.791). Mean IELT at the 3-month follow up in groups A and B was 4.5 ± 1.5 and 5 ± 2.4 minutes, respectively (P = 0.285) and at the 6-month follow up was 4.8 ± 1 and 5.3 ± 2 minutes, respectively (P = 0.278).

Conclusions: The results of the study show that tadalafil can increase the mean IELT and can be used for treatment of premature ejaculation in combination with paroxetine.