OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of Shugan Yiyang Capsules combined with sertraline in the treatment of premature ejaculation (PE).

METHODSWe randomly assigned 192 PE patients to receive sertraline hydrochloride 50 mg qd (control group, n = 96) or sertraline hydrochloride 50 mg qd plus Shugan Yiyang Capsules at the dose of 4 capsules tid ( combination therapy group, n = 96) , both for 6 weeks. We compared the intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT) and Chinese Index of Premature Ejaculation ( CIPE) scores between the two groups of patients before and after medication and at 6 weeks after drug withdrawal.

RESULTSCompared with the baseline, the IELT was significantly increased after 6 weeks of medication in the combination therapy group ([1.41 ± 0.53] vs [6.69 ± 3.56] min, P < 0.05) and the control group ([1.43 ± 0.48] vs [5.37 ± 2.91] min, P < 0.05), and so was the CIPE score in the former (9. 80 ± 2.06 vs 21.62 ± 4.76, P < 0.05) and the latter group ([9.41 ± 1.97] vs [20.85 ± 4.83] , P < 0.05). In comparison with the pre-medication indexes, the IELT ([3.77 ± 1.63] min) and CIPE score (16.92 ± 3.37) of the combined therapy group were remarkably improved at 6 weeks after drug withdrawal (P < 0.05), but not those of the control ([1.19 ± 1.34] min and 10.59 ± 2.38, P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONShugan Yiyang Capsules combined with sertraline have a definite and lasting effect on premature ejaculation.