As-needed administration of tricyclic and other non-SRI antidepressant drugs to treat premature ejaculation

1. A method for treating premature ejaculation, which comprises systemically administering to a male individual in need of such treatment, less than 3.5 hours prior to anticipated sexual activity, a rapid-release pharmaceutical formulation containing a therapeutically effective amount of an antidepressant drug selected from the group consisting of tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, azaspirone antidepressants, and atypical non-SRI antidepressants, wherein the formulation releases the drug at a rate that provides a systemically effective level of the drug within 3.5 hours of adminstration.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is contained within a pharmaceutical formulation.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is a unit dosage form.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered immediately prior to anticipated sexual activity.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered about 0.25 to about 3.5 hours prior to anticipated sexual activity.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered about 0.5 to about 3.0 hours prior to anticipated sexual activity.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered about 1 to about 2.5 hours prior to anticipated sexual activity.

8. The method of any one of claims 4 , 5 , 6 and 7 , wherein the sexual activity is sexual intercourse.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein the formulation is a rapid-release dosage form.

10. The method of claim 3 , wherein the formulation is a rapid-release unit dosage form.

11. The method of claim 2 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is administered orally.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is selected from the group consisting of tablets, capsules, caplets, solutions, suspensions syrups granules, beads, powders and pellets.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation comprises a tablet.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation comprises a capsule.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered transmucosally.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered sublingually.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered buccally.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered intranasally.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered transurethrally.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered rectally.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered by inhalation.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is administered transdermally.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein the active agent is administered parenterally.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressant drugs, and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 24 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of amitryptiline, amoxapine, butriptyline, demexiptiline, desipramine, dibenzepin, dimetacrine, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, maprotiline, melitracen, metapramine, mianserin, mirtazapine, nortryptiline, propizepine, protriptyline, quinupramine, setiptiline, tianeptine, trimipramine, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is a monoamine oxidase inhibitor.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the monoamine oxidase inhibitor is selected from the group consisting of amiflamine, brofaromine, clorgyline, α-ethyltryptamine, iproclozide, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, mebanazine, moclobemide, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, pheniprazine, pirlindole, safrazine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcypromine, and combinations thereof.

28. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is an azaspirone antidepressant.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein the azaspirone antidepressant is selected from the group consisting of buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone, tandospirone, tiaspirone, and combinations thereof.

30. The method of claim 1 , wherein the antidepressant drug is an atypical non-SRI antidepressant selected from the group consisting of amesergide, amineptine, benactyzine, bupropion, fezolamine, levoprotiline, medifoxamine, mianserin, minaprine, oxaflozane, oxitriptan, rolipram, teniloxazine, tofenacin, trazodone, tryptophan, viloxazine, and combinations thereof.

31. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering at least one additional active agent with the antidepressant drug.

32. The method of claim 31 , wherein the additional active agent is a vasoactive agent selected from the group consisting of nitroglycerin, isosorbide dinitrate, erythrityl tetranitrate, amyl nitrate, sodium nitroprusside, molsidomine, linsidomine chlorhydrate, S-nitroso-N-acetyl-d,l-penicillamine, S-nitroso-N-cysteine and S-nitroso-N-glutathione, diazenium diolates (“NONOates”), phenoxybenzamine, dibenamine, doxazosin, terazosin, phentolamine, tolazoline, prazosin, trimazosin, alfuzosin, tamsulosin, indoramin, ergotamine, acetergamine, brazergoline, bromerguride, cianergoline, delorgotrile, disulergine, ergonovine maleate, ergotamine tartrate, etisulergine, lergotrile, lysergide, mesulergine, metergoline, metergotamine, nicergoline, pergolide, propisergide, proterguride, diazoxide, hydralazine, minoxidil nimodepine, pinacidil, cyclandelate, dipyridamole, isoxsuprine, chlorpromazine, haloperidol, yohimbine, prostaglandin E 0 , prostaglandin E 1 , prostaglandin A 1 , prostaglandin B 1 , prostaglandin F 1α , 19-hydroxy-prostaglandin A 1 , 19-hydroxy-prostaglandin B 1 , prostaglandin E 2 , prostaglandin A 2 , prostaglandin B 2 , 19-hydroxy-prostaglandin A 2 , 19-hydroxy-prostaglandin B 2 , prostaglandin E 3 , prostaglandin F 3α , carboprost tromethamine, dinoprost tromethamine, dinoprostone, lipoprost, gemeprost, metenoprost, sulprostone, tiaprost, vasoactive intestinal peptide, and combinations thereof.

33. The method of claim 31 , wherein the additional active agent is a phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

34. The method of claim 34 , wherein the phosphodiesterase inhibitor is a Type III, Type IV, Type V, or nonspecific phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

35. The method of claim 31 , wherein the additional active agent is selected form the group consisting of cianopramine, citalopram, femoxetine, fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, ifoxetine, milnacipran, nomifensine, oxaprotiline, paroxetine, sertraline, sibutramine, venlafaxine, viqualine, zimeldine, clovoxamine, etoperidone, methylphenidate, nefazodone, opipramol, 2-methyl serotonin, lysergic acid diethylamide, ergot alkaloids, 8-hydroxy-(2-N,N-dipropylamino)-tetraline, 1-(4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-2-aminopropane, cisapride, sumatriptan, m-chlorophenylpiperazine, zacopride, mezacopride, ondansetron, granisetron, metoclopramide, tropisetron, dolasetron, trimethobenzamide, methysergide, risperidone, ketanserin, ritanserin, clozapine, R(+)--(2,3-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-[2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethyl]-4-piperidine-methanol, azatadine, cyproheptadine, fenclonine, dexfenfluramine, fenfluramine, chlorpromazine, methoxamine, methpentermine, metaraminol, mitodrine, clonidine, apraclonidine, guanfacine, guanabenz, methyldopa, amphetamine, methamphetamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, ethylnorepinephrine, phenylephrine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, pemoline, naphazoline, tetrahydrozoline, oxymetazoline, xylometazoline, phenylpropanolamine, phenylethylamine, dopamine, dobutamine, colterol, isoproterenol, isotharine, metaproterenol, terbutaline, tyrarnine, hydroxyamphetamine, ritodrine, prenalterol, albuterol, isoetharine, pirbuterol, bitolterol, fenoterol, formoterol, procaterol, salmeterol, mephenterine, propylhexedrine, phenoxybenzamine, phentolamine, tolazoline, prazosin, terazosin, doxazosin, trimazosin, yohimbine, labetalol, urapidil, alfuzosin, bunazosin, tamsulosin, haloperidol, phenothiazines, butyrophenones, propranolol, nadolol, timolol, pindolol, metoprolol, atenolol, esmolol, acebutolol, bopindolol, carteolol, oxprenolol, penbutolol, carvedilol, medroxalol, naftopidil, bucindolol, levobunolol, metipranolol, bisoprolol, nebivolol, betaxolol, carteolol, celiprolol, sotalol, propafenone, indoramin, bethanidine, debrisoquine, guabenxan, guanadrel, guanazodine, guanethidine, guanoclor, guanoxan, alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazepam, clonazepam, clorazepate, demoxepam, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, nordazapam, oxazepam, prazepam, quazepam, temazepam, triazolam, pharmacologically acceptable salts thereof, and combinations of any of the foregoing.

36. The method of claim 35 , wherein the additional active agent is selected from the group consisting of alprazolam, brotizolam, chlordiazepoxide, clobazepam, clonazepam, clorazepate, demoxepam, diazepam, estazolam, flurazepam, halazepam, lorazepam, midazolam, nitrazepam, nordazapam, oxazepam, prazepam, quazepam, temazepam, triazolam, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

37. The method of claim 35 , wherein the additional active agent is selected from the group consisting of fluoxetine, fluvoxamine, paroxetine, sertraline, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.

38. A pharmaceutical formulation for treating premature ejaculation, comprising a rapid-release formulation of a therapeutically effective amount of an antidepressant drug selected from the group consisting of tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, azaspirone antidepressants, and atypical non-SRI antidepressants, in an amount to delay the onset of ejaculation by the individual during sexual activity, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, wherein the formulation releases the drug at a rate effective to provide a systemically effective level of the drug within 3.5 hours of adminstration to a patient.

39. The formulation of claim 38 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressant drugs, and combinations thereof.

40. The formulation of claim 39 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of amitryptiline, amoxapine, butriptyline, demexiptiline, desipramine, dibenzepin, dimetacrine, dothiepin, doxepin, imipramine, iprindole, lofepramine, maprotiline, melitracen, metapramine, mianserin, mirtazapine, nortryptiline, propizepine, protriptyline, quinupramine, setiptiline, tianeptine, trimipramine, and combinations thereof.

41. The formulation of claim 38 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of monoamine oxidase inhibitors.

42. The formulation of claim 41 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of amiflamine, brofaromine, clorgyline, α-ethyltryptamine, iproclozide, iproniazid, isocarboxazid, mebanazine, moclobemide, nialamide, pargyline, phenelzine, pheniprazine, pirlindole, safrazine, selegiline, toloxatone, tranylcyprornine, and combinations thereof.

43. The formulation of claim 38 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of azaspirone antidepressants.

44. The formulation of claim 43 , wherein the antidepressant drug is selected from the group consisting of buspirone, gepirone, ipsapirone, tandospirone, tiaspirone, and combinations thereof.

45. The formulation of claim 38 , wherein the antidepressant drug is an atypical non-SRI antidepressant selected from the group consisting of amesergide, amineptine, benactyzine, bupropion, fezolamine, levoprotiline, medifoxamine, mianserin, minaprine, oxaflozane, oxitriptan, rolipram, teniloxazine, tofenacin, trazodone, tryptophan, viloxazine, and combinations thereof.

46. The formulation of claim 38 , in unit dosage form.

47. The formulation of claim 46 , wherein the antidepressant drug is present in an amount of about 0.1 mg to about to about 300 mg.

48. The formulation of claim 47 , wherein the amount is in the range of about 1 mg to about 100 mg.

49. The formulation of claim 48 , wherein the amount is in the range of about 1 mg to about 50 mg.

50. The formulation of claim 38 , in the form of a rapidly disintegrating tablet.

51. The formulation of claim 38 , in the form of an effervescent tablet.

52. The formulation of claim 38 , in the form of an open matrix network tablet.

53. A formulation of claim 38 , adapted for transmucosal drug administration, wherein the carrier is suitable for transmucosal drug delivery buccally, sublingually, intranasally, rectally, or by inhalation.

54. The formulation of claim 53 , comprising a solid dosage form for application to the buccal mucosa, and wherein the carrier is suitable for buccal drug delivery.

55. The formulation of claim 54 , wherein the carrier is a hydrolyzable polymer.

56. The formulation of claim 55 , wherein the dosage form further comprises an adhesive suitable for affixing the dosage form to the buccal mucosa.

57. The formulation of claim 53 , comprising a dosage form for application to the sublingual mucosa, and wherein the carrier is suitable for sublingual drug delivery.

58. The formulation of claim 53 , comprising a dosage form for application to the rectal mucosa, and the carrier is suitable for rectal drug delivery.

59. The formulation of claim 58 , comprising a rectal suppository.

60. The formulation of claim 53 , comprising a dosage form suitable for inhalation.

61. The formulation of claim 60 , comprising a liquid.

62. The formulation of claim 60 , comprising a dry powder.

63. The formulation of claim 60 , comprising an aerosol composition.

64. The pharmaceutical formulation of claim 38 , comprising an intranasal solution.

65. The formulation of claim 38 , in the form of a gum.

66. The formulation of claim 38 , in the form of a transdermal drug delivery device adapted to be affixed to an individual's body surface.

67. A packaged kit for a patient to use in the treatment of premature ejaculation, comprising: a rapid-release pharmaceutical formulation of an antidepressant drug selected from the group consisting of tricyclic antidepressants, tetracyclic antidepressants, MAO inhibitors, azaspirone antidepressants, and atypical non-SRI antidepressants, wherein the formulation releases the drug at a rate effective to provide a systemically effective level of the drug within 3.5 hours of adminstration to a patient; a container housing the pharmaceutical formulation during storage and prior to administration; and instructions for carrying out drug administration in a manner effective to treat premature ejaculation.

68. The packaged kit of claim 67 , wherein the pharmaceutical formulation is a rapid-release dosage form containing a unit dosage of the antidepressant drug, the unit dosage being a therapeutically effective dosage for treatment of premature ejaculation.