Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate (Vyvanse) for the Treatment of Neurogenic Anejaculation

Abstract

We report the first successful pharmacologic treatment of neurogenic anejaculation with lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) in a 22 year-old Caucasian male with a history of pediatric pelvic neuroblastoma. At 2 years of age, the patient was found to have a pelvic mass abutting the sacrum and iliac vessels. Surgical excision required dissection along the sacral prominence and sacral nerve roots. He did not undergo chemotherapy or radiation as part of his treatment course for neuroblastoma. The patient was referred to our fertility clinic for a lifelong history of anejaculation and aspermia with normal sensation of climax. The patient described a single small volume ejaculation several years prior following administration of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse). The patient denied problems with libido, erectile dysfunction, and orgasm. Physical exam was unremarkable and revealed normal testicular volume of 20 cc bilaterally. He underwent hormonal evaluation and was found to have normal serum total testosterone of 720 ng/dL, follicle-stimulating hormone 5.8 mIU/mL, and luteinizing hormone 3.8 mIU/mL. A postejaculate urinalysis did not reveal sperm. A pelvic magnetic resonance imaging study was unremarkable. Given his history, we elected to try a short course of intermittent dosing of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) 60 mg 2 hours prior to masturbation. With the first use of the medication he produced an antegrade ejaculate. Following a short trial of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate, he returned to clinic for a semen analysis, which demonstrated low volume asthenoteratospermia (Table 1). He reported no adverse events, but did note a subjective temporary decrease in his erectile rigidity, which reversed after the drug was metabolized. This case is the first reported use of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse) for the treatment of neurogenic anejaculation. Anejaculation is a rare cause of male factor infertility and can result in significant psychoemotional distress. Etiologies of neurogenic anejaculation include spinal cord injury, low abdominal or pelvic surgery such as retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases causing peripheral neuropathy, myelodysplasia, multiple sclerosis, and stroke or traumatic brain injury.Treatment approaches include pharmacologic strategies, penile vibratory stimulation, and electroejaculation, often tried in that order.Off-label pharmacologic treatments have been attempted based on knowledge of anatomic and physiologic considerations. Emission is under neural control originating from the thoracolumbar spine at the T10-L2 level. Sympathetic efferent fibers form the lumbar sympathetic trunk ganglia then travel posterior to the inferior vena cava in the interaortocaval region and continue inferiorly and coalesce to form the superior hypogastric plexus anterior to L5 and the sacrum. Ultimately, postganglionic fibers travel to their target organs including the seminal vesicles, bladder neck, prostate, and vasa deferentia to combine to mediate sympathetic ...

Influence of Lisdexamfetamine Dimesylate on Early Ejaculation—Results from a Double-Blind Randomized Clinical Trial

“…Despite the sparse literature on the effect of lisdexamfetamine on early ejaculation, we expected that compared to placebo, dimensions of early ejaculation would improve after regular intake of lisdexamfetamine during four consecutive weeks, and data did partially confirm this assumption. As such, the present data confirmed what has been observed in a case study of a 22-year-old Caucasian male with a history of pediatric pelvic neuroblastoma who suffered from anejaculation and aspermia with normal sensation of climax [ 28 ]: 60 mg of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate two hours before masturbation led to an antegrade ejaculate.…”

“…In the present study we focused on the influence of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate on early ejaculation for the following two reasons. First, Lyons et al [ 28 ] reported in their case study that a 22 year-old Caucasian male with a history of pediatric pelvic neuroblastoma suffered from anejaculation and aspermia with normal sensation of climax. When the patient took lisdexamfetamine dimesylate 60 mg two hours prior to masturbation, he produced an antegrade ejaculate with the first use of the medication.…”

“…When the patient took lisdexamfetamine dimesylate 60 mg two hours prior to masturbation, he produced an antegrade ejaculate with the first use of the medication. Second, while the exact neurophysiological mechanism of neurotransmitter control over ejaculation is not fully understood, it appears that the dopaminergic pathway is associated with ejaculatory function [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Given this, we hypothesized that the intake of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate six hours prior to penile–vaginal intercourse might have a favorable effect on early ejaculation, compared to placebo.…”

Delayed Ejaculation: Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Treatment

“…Attempts have been made to treat DE/AE using off-label medications based on pharmacological and physiologic considerations [ 91 92 93 ]. However, an approved drug does not exist.…”

“…Of interest is the recent single-case report of the successful oral administration of 60 mg of lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (a prodrug that is converted by the liver to the active dextroamphetamine. which is a noncatecholamine, sympathomimetic amine) 2 hours prior to masturbation in a patient with neurogenic AE [ 92 ]. In contrast, a recent double-blind randomized placebo-controlled small study [ 94 ] showed that midodrine was similar to placebo in inducing antegrade ejaculation in patients with SCI.…”