Priligy

What is Priligy?

Priligy (dapoxetine) is an oral selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medication used to treat premature ejaculation. When taken 1–3 hours before sexual activity, Priligy can delay ejaculation by a few minutes or longer.

How does Priligy work?

Priligy contains the active ingredient dapoxetine, a type of medication known as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). While SSRIs are usually used to treat depression, they also have the effect of delaying ejaculation, and dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI developed specifically for this use. It works by increasing the activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that helps pass messages between nerve cells, including those responsible for ejaculation. Increasing serotonin activity increases the time it takes to ejaculate and helps the man control his ejaculation.

How effective is Priligy?

Different couples have different expectations of performance time, so results on the effectiveness of Priligy vary. Priligy is considered to be the most popular treatment for premature ejaculation, with 58% of users reporting increased control over their ejaculation time with a dose of 30mg in clinical trials.

How long does it take for Priligy to work?

Priligy should be taken 1–3 hours before sexual activity is expected to begin, as it reaches its peak concentration after around 1–2 hours after ingestion. 

How long does Priligy last?

Priligy’s effects typically last for up to 3 hours, however may last longer in some people.

Active ingredients

The active ingredient in Priligy is dapoxetine.

Inactive ingredients

The inactive ingredients in Priligy are lactose monohydrate, microcrystalline cellulose, croscarmellose sodium, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), triacetin, iron oxide black (E172) and iron oxide yellow (E172).

Which ingredients can cause an allergic reaction?

You should avoid taking Priligy if you are allergic to the active ingredient dapoxetine or any of the inactive ingredients in the medication. However, you should seek immediate medical attention if you notice any symptoms of a serious allergic reaction. The symptoms include rash, itching/swelling of the face, severe dizziness, trouble breathing, and shortness of breath.

How to take Priligy?

Swallow one Priligy tablet whole with water, about 1–3 hours before sexual activity. Check-in with your doctor after 4 weeks of treatment, or after the first 6 doses.

Priligy Dosage

The recommended dose of Priligy is 30mg no more than once every 24 hours. If this is not strong enough, your doctor may increase your dose to 60mg. You should not take more than one tablet in a 24-hour period.

When should I take Priligy?

You should take Priligy 1–3 hours before sexual activity. Do not take Priligy more than once every 24 hours.

What should I do if I take too much Priligy?

If you take too much Priligy, contact a doctor or pharmacist. You may feel nauseous or experience some sickness.

If Priligy doesn’t work for me, can I take more?

A doctor will usually begin by prescribing Priligy at 30mg. If you feel this is not strong enough for you, tell your doctor and they may increase your dose to 60mg. Do not take a higher dose of Priligy without consulting a doctor or pharmacist first.

Priligy side effects

Like all medications, Priligy can cause side effects in some patients. If you experience any of the following rare but serious side effects, stop taking Priligy and seek medical help immediately:

• Seizures
• Feeling faint or lightheaded when you stand up
• Mood changes
• Thoughts of suicide or self-harm

More than 1 in 10 men may experience dizziness, headaches or nausea. 

Other common side effects, affecting up to 1 in 10 men, include:

• Feeling irritable, anxious, agitated or restless
• Feeling numb or experiencing pins and needles
• Difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection
• Sweating more than normal or flushing
• Diarrhoea, constipation or wind
• Stomach pain, bloating or sickness
• Strange dreams or difficulty sleeping
• Feeling sleepy or tired
• Nasal congestion
• A rise in blood pressure
• Difficulty concentrating
• Shaking or trembling
• Reduced libido
• Ringing in the ers
• Blurred vision
• Indigestion
• Dry mouth

Uncommon side effects, affecting up to 1 in 100 men, include:

• Fainting or feeling dizzy when standing up
• Change in mood, feeling over-excited or feeling paranoid
• Feeling confused, disoriented or unable to think clearly
• Changes in heart rate
• Loss of sex drive, problems reaching orgasm
• Feeling weak, sedated, lethargic or fatigued
• Feeling depressed, nervous or indifferent
• Feeling hot, jittery, abnormal or drunk
• Vision problems, eye pain or dilated pupils
• Low or high pressure
• Feeling itchy or cold sweat
• Spinning sensation
• Abnormal taste
• Teeth grinding

Rarely (up to 1 in 1 000 cases), men may experience dizziness following exertion, sudden onset of sleep, or urgency of bowel action.

Contraindications

Do NOT take Priligy if:

• You are allergic to dapoxetine or any other ingredients of this medication
• You have heart problems, such as heart failure or problems with your heart rhythm
• You have a history of fainting
• You have ever had mania or severe depression
• You have moderate or severe liver problems
• You are female

Drug interactions

Do NOT take Priligy at the same time as, or within 14 days of taking any of the following medicines:

• Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) for depression
• Thioridazine for schizophrenia
• Other medicines for depression
• Lithium for bipolar disorder
• Linezolid, and antibiotic
• Tryptophan for sleep problems
• St John’s wort, a herbal medicine
• Tramadol for pain
• Medicines used to treat migraines

Before taking Priligy, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medications, including those purchased over the counter without a prescription. In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:

• Medicines for mental health problems other than depression
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen or acetylsalicylic acid
• Blood-thinners such as warfarin
• Certain medicines used to treat erectile dysfunction, such as sildenafil, tadalafil or vardenafil
• Certain medicines used to treat high blood pressure and chest pain, such as verapamil and diltiazem, or enlarged prostate
• Certain other medicines for fungal infections such as fluconazole, ketoconazole and itraconazole
• Certain medicines for HIV, including ritonavir, saquinavir, nelfinavir, atazanavir, amprenavir and fosamprenavir
• Certain antibiotics such as telithromycin, erythromycin, and clarithromycin
• Nefazodone, an antidepressant
• Aprepitant for nausea

Priligy and Erectile Dysfunction Treatments

While suffering from both premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction is rare, it is possible. By increasing the activity of serotonin, Priligy works by inhibiting the ejaculatory reflex and therefore, should not affect a man’s ability to achieve an erection. It can, therefore, be used in combination with PDE-5 inhibitors such as Viagra, used to treat erectile dysfunction, with neither medication inhibiting the others. However, you should inform your doctor of any other medications you are taking before starting Priligy. PDE-5 inhibitors do carry a small risk of lowering blood pressure upon standing up, which can be increased by taking Priligy.

Can I drink alcohol when taking Priligy?

You should avoid drinking alcohol when taking this medication, as this can increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness, risk of injury from fainting, sleepiness, and slow reactions. Alcohol can also affect your ability to achieve erection and can contribute to ejaculation problems.

Priligy vs EMLA Cream

While Priligy is an oral medication, EMLA cream is a numbing agent containing lidocaine and prilocaine that is applied topically to the head of the penis to reduce sensitivity. It is not licenced specifically for premature ejaculation but is widely used in this capacity and is available prescription-free. Priligy, which is an SSRI, requires a prescription. If you are using EMLA cream, be mindful that this can also cause loss of sensation for your partner, so you might wish to use a condom. 

How can you tell l if your Priligy is genuine?

Priligy is licenced in the UK as a prescription-only medication. It should, therefore, only be purchased from a registered pharmacy, such as Dr Felix. When buying products prescription-free from an unlicensed and most likely illegal source, you can never be sure if it is genuine.

Can I use Priligy with EMLA cream?

You can use EMLA cream along with Priligy. It’s best, however, to try each treatment separately, to see which is most effective. If EMLA cream does not seem to work for you, it is best not to continue using it. EMLA cream can cause localised side effects and may be transferred to your sexual partner and limit their sensation of pleasure.

Does Priligy work for everyone?

Priligy is thought to be effective in roughly 58% of users. However, different couples have different expectations of sexual performance time and satisfaction with the results of Priligy therefore varies.