---
title: For PMDD, is it better to take escitalopram throughout the luteal phase or starting when symptoms appear?
description: Both approaches significantly improved PMDD symptoms by about 50-57%. Luteal phase dosing may work better for women with severe symptoms.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/a-preliminary-study-of-luteal-phase-versus-symptom-onset-dosing-with-2005/
---

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- For PMDD, is it better to take escitalopram throughout the luteal phase or starting when symptoms appear?

Randomised trial, 2005

# For PMDD, is it better to take escitalopram throughout the luteal phase or starting when symptoms appear?

Both approaches significantly improved PMDD symptoms by about 50-57%. Luteal phase dosing may work better for women with severe symptoms.

 Moderate study design

27 women with PMDD

## What they did

27 women with PMDD were randomly assigned to take escitalopram 10-20 mg per day either during the entire luteal phase (13 women) or starting when symptoms appeared (14 women). Treatment lasted 3 menstrual cycles and symptoms were tracked using several rating scales.

## What they found

Both approaches significantly improved symptoms overall (p=.003). The luteal phase dosing group had a 57% decrease in symptoms and 11 of 13 women improved by more than 50%. The symptom-onset group had a 51% decrease and 9 of 14 women improved by more than 50%. Among women who started medication when symptoms appeared, those with more severe PMDD were less likely to respond.

## What it means for you

Both dosing schedules work for PMDD, but starting medication before symptoms appear may be more reliable, especially for severe PMDD. This is a small preliminary study.

27

women randomized

57%

symptom decrease with luteal phase dosing

51%

symptom decrease with symptom-onset dosing

## About the study

Original title A preliminary study of luteal phase versus symptom-onset dosing with escitalopram for premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Freeman EW, Sondheimer SJ, Sammel MD et al. Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 2005 Study design Randomised trial Participants 14 What was tested Escitalopram 10-20 mg per day, luteal phase throughout or starting when symptoms appeared, 3 cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v66n0616](https://doi.org/10.4088/jcp.v66n0616)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)

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