Randomised trial, 2005
Does fluoxetine improve sexual drive and desire in women with PMDD?
Fluoxetine showed a trend toward improving sexual drive compared to placebo, though the difference wasn't statistically significant. This suggests SSRIs might help rather than harm sexual drive in women with PMDD.
What they did
Randomized, double-blind, controlled trial where women with PMDD took fluoxetine 20 or 60 mg per day or placebo. They rated their sexual drive and desire in the two weeks before their period and in the other part of their cycle during two baseline cycles and two treatment cycles.
What they found
More women on fluoxetine reported improvement in sexual drive during the two weeks before their period compared to women on placebo, although this trend did not reach statistical significance (P equals 0.057).
What it means for you
This study hints that fluoxetine might actually help sexual drive in women with PMDD, rather than harming it as some worry. The evidence is weak because the difference wasn't quite statistically significant, and the study focused on one specific outcome rather than examining sexual function in detail.
184
women with PMDD
P = 0.057
comparison of fluoxetine versus placebo (not statistically significant)
20 or 60 mg/day
fluoxetine doses tested
About the study
- Original title
- Assessment of sexual drive and desire in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder who have been treated with fluoxetine
- Authors
- Steiner M, MacDougall M, Berger C et al.
- Journal
- International journal of psychiatry in clinical practice
- Year
- 2005
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 184
- What was tested
- Fluoxetine 20 or 60 mg per day
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1080/13651500510029002
Topics
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