Indian Journal of Private Psychiatry

Register      Login

VOLUME 16 , ISSUE 2 ( July-December, 2022 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Escitalopram Associated with Priapism: A Rare Case Report

Ankit Halder, Navna Panchami, Gurudas Harshe

Keywords : Escitalopram, Priapism, Rare

Citation Information : Halder A, Panchami N, Harshe G. Escitalopram Associated with Priapism: A Rare Case Report. Ind J Priv Psychiatry 2022; 16 (2):95-96.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10067-0123

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

Published Online: 31-08-2022

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2022; The Author(s).


Abstract

Priapism is a pathologic condition characterized by the penile erection that persists beyond or is unrelated to sexual stimulation. A 35-year-old male patient presented to the Surgery Emergency Unit with a painful erection for the past 15 hours. This was his third episode in the past 2 months. The last 2 episodes being for 5–6 hours each within intervals of 3 weeks. The patient was diagnosed to be in major depression 6 months back and was placed on escitalopram 10 mg for the first 2 months and then was raised to 20 mg once daily dose. Priapism episodes started 4 months following an increase in dosing. Escitalopram was cross-tapered to nortriptyline over a 1 month. In subsequent follow-up visits for 3 months, the patient experienced no further such episodes. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), mostly escitalopram, are frequently prescribed nowadays for their better tolerability profile. So, while prescribing such medications, psychoeducation of the patients regarding such side effects and meticulous monitoring of the same can be lifesaving many a time.


PDF Share
  1. Bivalacqua TJ, Burnett AL. Priapism: new concepts in the pathophysiology and new treatment strategies. Curr Urol Rep 2006;7(6):497–502. DOI: 10.1007/s11934-006-0061-6.
  2. Thompson JW Jr, Ware MR, Blashfield RK. Psychotropic medication and priapism: a comprehensive review. J Clin Psychiatry 1990;51(10):430–433. PMID: 2211542.
  3. Weiner DM, Lowe FC. Psychotropic drug-induced priapism incidence, mechanism and management. CNS Drugs 1998;9(5):371–379. https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-199809050-00004.
  4. Schatzberg AF, Nemeroff CB (eds.). The American Psychiatric Publishing Textbook of Psychopharmacology. 4th ed. Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing, Inc.;2009.
  5. Javed MA. Priapism associated with fluoxetine therapy: a case report. J Pak Med Assoc 1996;46(2):45–46. PMID: 8683851.
  6. Ahmad S. Paroxetine-induced priapism. Arch Intern Med 1995;155(6):645. PMID: 7887764.
  7. Naranjo CA, Busto U, Sellers EM, et al. A method for estimating the probability of adverse drug reactions. Clin PharmacolTherap 1981;30(2):239–245. DOI: 10.1038/clpt.1981.154.
  8. Tulachan P, Chapagain M, Ojha SP, et al. Escitalopram induced priapism. J Inst Med 2014:115.
PDF Share
PDF Share

© Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) LTD.