Study, 1996
Can antidepressants help reduce severe PMS symptoms?
Yes. When antidepressants called serotonergic antidepressants are carefully prescribed, approximately 60 to 70 percent of women with severe PMS report significant symptom reduction.
What they did
This is a review of research on PMS and its treatments. The authors examined clinical studies on how antidepressants work for PMS symptoms.
What they found
Up to 80 percent of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual physical and behavioral changes, and these are predominantly normal. Between 20 to 40 percent of women experience premenstrual disorders. For 2 to 10 percent of women, symptoms are severe enough to impair work and relationships. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of women with severe PMS who receive careful diagnostic evaluation report significant symptom reduction with serotonergic antidepressants.
What it means for you
Serotonergic antidepressants can help reduce severe PMS symptoms in most women with thorough evaluation. No antidepressant has FDA approval specifically for PMS yet. This is a review summarizing other research, not a new original study.
80%
Women experiencing any premenstrual changes
20-40%
Women with premenstrual disorders
60-70%
With severe PMS who improve with antidepressants
About the study
- Original title
- Can Antidepressants be Used to Tame Psychological Symptoms of PMS?
- Authors
- Freeman EW
- Journal
- Medscape women's health
- Year
- 1996
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Serotonergic antidepressants
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9746652/
Topics
Related studies
Randomised trial, 2023
Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?
Survey study, 2011
Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression?
Review, 2002
What treatments work best for PMDD?
Review, 2007
What is PMS and what treatments work?
Guideline, 2006
What is the best treatment for PMDD and severe PMS?
Survey study, 1994
How do food, serotonin, and mood relate in PMS and other conditions?