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Dapoxetine, sold in Europe as Priligy, is a short-acting tablet for premature ejaculation in men aged 18 to 64 that is taken one to three hours before sex rather than every day. Unlike a daily SSRI, it is designed to work and clear the body fast so it does not build up between uses. It has been authorised for use in the EU since 6 February 2009.
Active ingredient: dapoxetine · Dosages: 30–60 mg · Form: film-coated tablet · Frequency: on demand, maximum once daily · Status: prescription only.

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Can I get it?

Yes, if a doctor decides it is right for you. Dapoxetine is authorised in EU countries including Spain, and can be prescribed after a medical review that checks your heart history, mood history and other medicines — fainting is a recognised risk, which is why that check comes first.

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What it is

Dapoxetine is a short-acting selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI), used on demand for a persistent pattern of premature ejaculation that causes distress, not an occasional early ejaculation. It acts on the serotonin transporter (SERT).

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How it works

Dapoxetine briefly raises serotonin signalling involved in the ejaculatory reflex. Because it acts and clears the body quickly, a single tablet taken shortly before sex can delay ejaculation for the following few hours, rather than needing to be taken daily like a standard SSRI.

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What the studies reported

Every NCT identifier links to its ClinicalTrials.gov record. A trial readout is not the same as peer-reviewed publication.
In the integrated trials, the average time to ejaculation was about 0.9 minutes before treatment. It rose to 2.8 minutes on 30 mg and 3.3 minutes on 60 mg, compared with 1.8 minutes on a dummy tablet.
Both trials ran only at US sites, in men in stable heterosexual relationships. A stopwatch measurement of latency does not capture how satisfied either partner felt.

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What has been reported

Rates below are from the phase 3 trials, comparing the 30 mg and 60 mg doses.
EU regulators reviewed severe fainting episodes reported with the 60 mg tablet. The European Commission decision of 20 January 2012 requires treatment to start at 30 mg, moving to 60 mg only if 30 mg was not enough and no moderate or severe reactions occurred.

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Who it is not suitable for

The EU product information lists these as contraindications:
  • Any history of fainting
  • Significant heart disease: heart failure (NYHA II–IV), conduction disorders such as AV block or sick sinus syndrome, ischaemic heart disease, or significant valve disease
  • A history of mania or severe depression
  • Moderate or severe liver impairment
  • Treatment with a MAO inhibitor or with thioridazine, now or in the last 14 days
  • Treatment with any other serotonergic medicine — SSRIs, SNRIs, tricyclics, tramadol, triptans, linezolid, lithium, tryptophan or St John’s wort — now or in the last 14 days
  • Treatment with a strong CYP3A4 inhibitor such as ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, saquinavir, telithromycin, nefazodone, nelfinavir or atazanavir
  • Hypersensitivity to dapoxetine or to any of the tablet’s ingredients

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Taking it day to day

1

First prescription

30 mg is always the starting dose when dapoxetine is suitable; treatment is never started at 60 mg.
2

Each use

Take it 1–3 hours before sex, swallowed whole with at least a full glass of water — this lowers the risk of fainting. Never take more than one dose in any 24-hour period.
3

Review

Your doctor reassesses whether to continue after the first four weeks or six doses, and at least every six months.
Practical, day-to-day guidance — taking it with or without food, limiting alcohol, and storage — is covered in the dapoxetine treatment guide.

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Common questions

Dapoxetine starts working within one to three hours of taking the tablet. It is taken on demand shortly before sexual activity, not every day. The effect lasts for a few hours and then clears from the body.
Limit alcohol consumption while taking dapoxetine. Alcohol can increase the risk of side effects such as dizziness and drowsiness, and may also increase the risk of fainting, which is a recognised safety concern with this medicine.
Not everyone responds the same way. In the phase III trials, the average time to ejaculation rose from about 0.9 minutes before treatment to 2.8 minutes on 30 mg and 3.3 minutes on 60 mg, compared with 1.8 minutes on placebo. The doctor reassesses whether to continue after four weeks or six doses.
No. Dapoxetine is prescription only. A licensed doctor reviews your history, including heart and mood history, before deciding whether it is safe for you.
Dapoxetine is a short-acting SSRI, but it is not an antidepressant — it was developed specifically for premature ejaculation. Unlike antidepressants that are taken daily, dapoxetine acts and clears the body quickly so it is used on demand.

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How Hi-Doctor handles it

A licensed EU doctor reviews your questionnaire, checking cardiovascular and mood history before deciding whether dapoxetine or another option fits. See how the consultation works and how we handle safety and eligibility. Pricing for sexual health consultations is on the pricing page. For a related concern, see erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Related: premature ejaculation · erectile dysfunction · Safety

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Start a consultation

Sexual health consultation

Answer the sexual health questionnaire and a registered doctor reviews it. They decide whether treatment is appropriate, which one, and at what dose — and declining is a normal outcome. See what it costs and how the review works.
This page is reference information, not medical advice and not a prescription. Whether a medicine is appropriate for you is decided by a registered doctor after reviewing your consultation.