---
title: Is bromocriptine or norethisterone more effective for premenstrual syndrome?
description: Bromocriptine reduced breast engorgement, irritability, and total symptoms more than placebo, while norethisterone only helped breast tenderness. Bromocriptin
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/bromocriptine-and-norethisterone-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-1982/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Is bromocriptine or norethisterone more effective for premenstrual syndrome?

Randomised trial, 1982

# Is bromocriptine or norethisterone more effective for premenstrual syndrome?

Bromocriptine reduced breast engorgement, irritability, and total symptoms more than placebo, while norethisterone only helped breast tenderness. Bromocriptine worked better but had more side effects.

 Moderate study design

36 women with premenstrual syndrome

## What they did

A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind study with 36 women with premenstrual syndrome. Women received either bromocriptine, norethisterone, or placebo.

## What they found

Bromocriptine decreased breast engorgement and irritability (P less than .01), decreased total symptom scores (P less than .05), and reduced weight gain during the luteal phase (P less than .05). Norethisterone alleviated breast tenderness (P less than .05). Bromocriptine caused side effects in 6 women and norethisterone in 3 women.

## What it means for you

Bromocriptine appears more effective than norethisterone for multiple premenstrual symptoms, but it causes more side effects. The study is small (36 women) and from 1982. Norethisterone caused more hormonal changes, which might be a concern for long-term use.

36

Women in the study

6

Women with side effects from bromocriptine

3

Women with side effects from norethisterone

## About the study

Original title Bromocriptine and norethisterone in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Ylöstalo P, Kauppila A, Puolakka J et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 1982 Study design Randomised trial Participants 3 What was tested Bromocriptine or norethisterone versus placebo Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6804900/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6804900/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

Calm down, see it another way, and decide what to say, with a PMS and PMDD app built by a doctor.

## Related studies

Randomised trial, 2014

Does the combination of sumatriptan and naproxen sodium reduce menstrual symptoms and migraine?

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2008

Does drospirenone with ethinyl estradiol birth control help PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2003

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 1995

Does spironolactone help PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1983

Is bromocriptine effective for premenstrual syndrome?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗