The effect of sustainable low-dose sildenafil and cognitive-behavioral training on sexual function in methadone-treated men–a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Background

Sexual dysfunction caused by opioids is one of the serious problems of drug misusers.

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of continuous low-dose sildenafil treatment alongside psychological training on the sexual function of methadone-treated patients.

Method

This randomized clinical trial was conducted on methadone-treated men with sexual dysfunction. Patients were randomly divided into two treatment groups: sildenafil 25 mg and psychological training. Sexual Quality of Life-Men, Sexual Self-Efficacy Scale–Erectile, and the International Index of Erectile Function were used before and 4 weeks after the end of the intervention.

Results

A total of 67 couples were included in the study (34 psychological interventions vs. 33 sildenafil group). After 4 weeks of treatment, the mean of male erectile function (33.73 ± 8.114 and 27.62 ± 6.238, p = 0.003) and sexual self-efficacy score (78.36 ± 12.713 and 69.62 ± 14.940, p < 0.0001) in the sildenafil group were statistically significant compared to the psychological group, however, the sexual quality score of the two groups was not statistically significant (31.48 ± 9.216 and 31.71 ± 11.333, p = 0.342).

Conclusions

The sexual function of methadone-treated men in both groups was significantly improved, yet this difference was significantly greater in the pharmaceutical treatment group than the trainings. As a result, due to the high need for treatment, any type of intervention (medication or psychotherapy) will be effective in these patients.

Keywords:

• Sexual dysfunction
• methadone
• cognitive-behavioral therapy
• sildenafil

Acknowledgments

We sincerely thank all the patients and staff of the addiction treatment centers who cooperated in the implementation of this project. We also thank the Vice Chancellor for Research of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences for the financial support of this project.

Ethical approval

In this study, the principles of the Helsinki Declaration were followed. The Ethics Committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences has approved the current study (IR.MUI.MED.REC.1400.404).

Consent for publication

All participants were told that their information would be reported in the articles and they expressed their consent. After explaining the objectives and method of this study, informed consent was obtained from all Participants.

Author contributions

ZA participated in design, data analysis, and manuscript writing and NT participated in the study design, data collection, and manuscript writing.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

We will make the data set generated in this study and their analysis available to applicants by the corresponding author.

Additional information

Funding

Vice Chancellor for Research of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences was supported this study.