Use of Methylphenidate in Coexisting Major Depression, Loss of Libido and Erectile Dysfunction

Abstract

Erectile dysfunction and low sexual desire in males are frequently encountered sexual function disorders. Reduced sexual desire or libido is defined as the low frequency of sexual union or achieving orgasm and reduced motivation to initiate or respond to a sexual activity. Individuals with major depression are very frequently observed to have sexual function disorders. It is known that antidepressant agents used for depression treatment are insufficient to regulate sexual function disorder most of the time, whereas some antidepressant agents themselves have side effects of developing a sexual function disorder. Methylphenidate, frequently used for attention-deficit and hyperactivity disorder, is known to affect sexual behavior. Methylphenidate increases dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE) neurotransmission through DA and NE reuptake inhibition. Increases in DA have long been known to increase sexual desire. This article presents the case of a 40-year-old male patient treated with antidepressants who had improvements in erectile dysfunction and loss of libido accompanying depression with the addition of methylphenidate to the treatment.