Trial Information

Summary: Study to evaluate whether a change in medication will lessen the sexual side effects caused by many antidepressants

The purpose of this research is to get information on the effectiveness of switching to duloxetine (Cymbalta) from a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to relieve sexual dysfunction in patients with depression. Duloxetine has been approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of depression. Some research evidence indicates that sexual side effects are less likely with duloxetine than with some other antidepressants, including SSRIs.

This research study will require 10 visits to the Stanford Psychiatry Clinic across 13 weeks. At each visit participants will be interviewed about their symptoms of depression or dysthymia and about their sexual function, and their heart rate, blood pressure, and weight will be obtained.

Patient Inclusion Criteria

• Adult age 18 or over
• Able to come to Stanford weekly
• Currently being treated with an SSRI for depression or dysthymia
• Suffering from sexual dysfunction related to the SSRI

Patient Exclusion Criteria

• Suffering from a medical disorder or taking a medicaion that could be the cause of the sexual dysfunction
• Need ongoing treatment with a mood stabilizer or antipsychotic

If you would like to learn more about participating in this study, please send an e-mail message using the form below.