Randomised trial, 1979
Does bromocriptine help premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
It tended to lessen PMS symptoms, especially breast pain, and it lowered high prolactin levels, but this was a small, older cross-over trial so the evidence is limited.
What they did
A random, double-blind cross-over trial tested bromocriptine, 2.5 mg twice a day, against the usual treatment pattern for premenstrual tension. Researchers also measured hormone levels (prolactin, FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone) and checked whether cycles were ovulatory using basal temperature.
What they found
Bromocriptine tended to lessen symptoms, especially mastodynia (breast pain). Serum prolactin levels near the upper normal limit fell significantly with treatment, and women who started with the highest prolactin levels had the most severe symptoms and the biggest drop in prolactin. Serum FSH and LH changed in the opposite direction to prolactin. Estradiol and progesterone did not change. All bromocriptine-treated cycles were ovulatory, and the luteal phase was longer when FSH was raised.
What it means for you
This suggests bromocriptine may ease some PMS symptoms, particularly breast tenderness, possibly by lowering prolactin, without disrupting ovulation. The abstract does not give the number of women studied or the trial length, and this is a 1979 cross-over study, so modern, larger trials would be needed to confirm these effects.
2.5mg 2x/day
Bromocriptine dose
About the study
- Original title
- Bromocriptine treatment of the premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Kullander S, Svanberg L
- Journal
- Acta obstetricia et gynecologica Scandinavica
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Bromocriptine, 2.5 mg twice a day
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.3109/00016347909154599
Topics
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