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.
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
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