Randomised trial, 1992
Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome?
Bromocriptine helped significantly with physical symptoms like abdominal tension, water retention, weight gain, and breast tenderness. It was less clear whether it helped with mood symptoms like depression and irritability.
What they did
Double-blind, randomized, crossover trial. 21 women with PMS took either bromocriptine 5 mg daily from cycle day 10 until menstruation for 2 cycles, then placebo for 2 cycles, or vice versa. Women completed a symptom scale every 3 days.
What they found
Statistically significant improvement in physical symptoms: abdominal tension, edema (water retention), weight gain, and breast tenderness. For mood symptoms (depression and irritability), women's self-ratings showed improvement, but the formal scale scores and doctors' assessments did not show a difference between bromocriptine and placebo.
What it means for you
Bromocriptine is better at treating the physical bloating and water retention side of PMS than the mood side. The conflicting results for mood symptoms mean we cannot be sure if it actually helps with depression and irritability or if the improvement was perceived only. The study is small.
21
women with PMS
5 mg
daily dose
score 20+
premenstrual symptom severity
About the study
- Original title
- Bromocriptine (Bromergon, Lek) in the management of premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Meden-Vrtovec H, Vujić D
- Journal
- Clinical and experimental obstetrics & gynecology
- Year
- 1992
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 21
- What was tested
- Bromocriptine 5 mg daily from cycle day 10 to menstruation for 2 cycles
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/1294345/
Topics
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