Female Orgasmic Disorder (FOD) and Wellbutrin XL
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00248209 |
Recruitment Status :
Completed
First Posted : November 3, 2005
Last Update Posted : July 20, 2011
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Orgasmic Disorder | Drug: Wellbutrin XL | Phase 2 Phase 3 |
Background:
Female orgasmic disorder is characterized by a recurrent or persistent difficulty in achieving orgasm during sexual activity. A study of sexual activity in a representative sample of the US population ages 18-59 found that 24% of US females complained of significant difficulty achieving orgasm in the preceding year (Laumann et al, 2000). Epidemiological studies in Sweden and the United Kingdom have found similar rates of orgasm disorder.
Studies of drugs with actions of increasing genital vasodilation in response to sexual stimulation (eg alprostadil, sildenafil, or phentolamine) have generally been found to be unsuccessful or to have extremely limited efficacy in reversing female sexual dysfunction (Basson, 2001; Segraves, 2002). High doses of androgen have been shown to increase various parameters of sexual interest and activity in women after hysterectomy and bilateral oophorectomy (Schifren et al, 2000) and there is some evidence that oral dehydroepiandrosterone may increase responsiveness to sexual stimuli in postmenopausal women (Hackbert & Heiman, 2002).
There have been fewer studies of pharmacological treatment for hypoactive sexual desire disorder in premenopausal women. Extensive literature indicates that bupropion has a very low incidence of drug-induced sexual dysfunction (Clayton et al, 2002; Croft et al, 1999; Segraves & Balon, 2003) and that bupropion may reverse sexual dysfunction associated with serotonergic antidepressants (Rosen et al, 1999; Kennedy et al, 2002). In addition one controlled study (Crenshaw et al, 1987) and several clinical series indicate that bupropion may have prosexual effects in non-depressed females (Modell et al, 2000). A single blind study (Segraves et al, 2001) found that bupropion increased the frequency of episodes of sexual arousal and desire for sexual activity in women diagnosed with hypoactive sexual desire disorder.
A recent multicenter, double-blind, fixed dose study of females with global, acquired hypoactive sexual desire disorder found evidence that an exposure to 300 to 400 mg bupropion XL increased orgasm and pleasure as measured by the CSFQ-F. In this pilot study, all women had total serum testosterone levels within normal limits and were in stable, non-conflictual relationships. All patients had no evidence of psychiatric disorder and no evident etiology to their sexual complaint. All were pre-menopausal. The pilot study observed the effects of drug treatment for four months. Significant change in measures of sexual orgasm occurred as early as day 28. There are no currently approved pharmacological treatments for women with orgasmic disorder.
Specific Aims:
The purpose of this study is to delineate the effects of bupropion XL in women with global orgasmic disorder, using double blind conditions in an 8 week flexible dose multisite comparison of bupropion XL and placebo. It is hypothesized that bupropion XL will increase orgasm completion.
The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of bupropion XL on the ease and frequency of achieving orgasm in sexual activity.
Secondary objectives will be to investigate the effects of bupropion XL on changes in sexual arousal and sexual pleasure.
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 48 participants |
Allocation: | Randomized |
Intervention Model: | Parallel Assignment |
Masking: | Double (Participant, Investigator) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | A Multi-center, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Study of Bupropion XL in Females With Orgasmic Disorder |
Study Start Date : | May 2004 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | April 2007 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | April 2007 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Placebo Comparator: Wellbutrin XL or placebo
1 arms - Wellbutrin XL or placebo
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Drug: Wellbutrin XL
Patients randomized to the bupropion treatment group will receive bupropion XL150 mg in the AM for 7 days increasing to 300mg/day (single daily dose). The investigator can increase the dose to 450mg per day at Day 28 if clinically indicated.
Other Name: bupropion XL, Wellbutrin XL |
- The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of bupropion XL on the ease and frequency of achieving orgasm in sexual activity. [ Time Frame: 8 weeks of treatment ]
- Secondary objectives will be to investigate the effects of bupropion XL on changes in sexual arousal and sexual pleasure. [ Time Frame: 8 weeks of treatment ]

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Ages Eligible for Study: | 20 Years to 50 Years (Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | Female |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
A subject must:
- Be able to understand and sign a written informed consent
- Be a premenopausal female between 20 and 50 years of age, inclusive
- Use active birth control, and be non-lactating, with a negative urine pregnancy test
- Have no evidence of mood or anxiety disorder
- Have a sexual partner who is without sexual dysfunction
- Be in a stable, monogamous, sexual relationship of at least 6 months duration, and be willing to engage in sexual activity with a steady partner once a week for the duration of the study
- Have no active psychiatric diagnosis
- Have FOD which is not secondary to hypoactive sexual desire disorder or dyspareunia
- Have English as first language or be fluent in English language
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Meet operational definition of global female orgasmic disorder:
- Frequency of orgasm during sexual activity of less than 50% of sexual encounters
- Presence of disorder for at least six months
- At least 3 orgasms achieved in past 6 months
- Have Beck Anxiety Disorder (BAI) scores less than 10
- Have Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) scores less than 10
- Have a CSFQ orgasm score of less than 11
- Patient may have female arousal disorder as well as female orgasmic disorder
Exclusion Criteria:
- Presence of organic condition known to cause sexual dysfunction (multiple sclerosis, diabetes mellitus, spinal cord injury)
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Presence of hypoactive sexual desire disorder as defined below:
- Frequency of subjective sexual desire (interest in any type of sexual activity) less than or equal to once every two weeks
- Low intensity of sexual desire
- Frequency of self-initiated sexual activity less than or equal to once every two weeks
- Absence or low frequency of thoughts about sex (do not include thoughts of wishing for return of sexual interest): thoughts less than or equal to 4 times per month
- Presence of disorder for at least six months
- Absence of sexual desire includes all types of sexual activity
- Taking psychiatric drugs other than study medication (zolpidem can be taken for a total of 10 days in trial for nighttime sedation)
- Significant marital discord
- Presence of sexual aversion disorder, dyspareunia, vaginismus, gender identity disorder, paraphilia
- Drug or alcohol abuse in past year
- History of seizure disorder or significant head injury
- History of anorexia or bulimia
- Taking any pharmacological agents known to be associated with sexual dysfunction (chronic opiate use, beta-blockers, alpha-adrenergic blockers, psychotropic medications)
- Have an onset of orgasmic disorder within two months of beginning current hormonal contraceptive agent, if applicable
- Have a cessation of menses for the three consecutive months prior to study entry
- History of bilateral oophorectomy
- Presence of dyspareunia

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT00248209
United States, Ohio | |
MetroHealth Medical Center | |
Cleveland, Ohio, United States, 44109 |
Principal Investigator: | Robert T Segraves, MD, PhD | MetroHealth Medical Center/Case Western Reserve University |
Responsible Party: | Segraves, R.T. M.D., Ph.D, MetroHealth Medical Center |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT00248209 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
GSK FOD |
First Posted: | November 3, 2005 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | July 20, 2011 |
Last Verified: | April 2007 |
Female Orgasmic Disorder Female Sexual Dysfunction |
Disease Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological Pathologic Processes Mental Disorders Bupropion Antidepressive Agents, Second-Generation Antidepressive Agents Psychotropic Drugs Dopamine Uptake Inhibitors |
Neurotransmitter Uptake Inhibitors Membrane Transport Modulators Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Dopamine Agents Neurotransmitter Agents Physiological Effects of Drugs Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 Inhibitors Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors |