--- title: Does clomipramine taken only during the luteal phase help premenstrual syndrome symptoms? description: Yes, clomipramine during the luteal phase significantly reduced irritability and depression compared to placebo. The effect was notably larger than placebo, t url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/clomipramine-administered-during-the-luteal-phase-reduces-the-symptoms-of-1993/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does clomipramine taken only during the luteal phase help premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Randomised trial, 1993 # Does clomipramine taken only during the luteal phase help premenstrual syndrome symptoms? Yes, clomipramine during the luteal phase significantly reduced irritability and depression compared to placebo. The effect was notably larger than placebo, though the study was small. Moderate study design 29 nondepressed women with severe premenstrual irritability and depressed mood ## What they did Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial where 29 nondepressed women with severe premenstrual irritability and depression took either 25 to 75 mg of clomipramine or placebo daily from ovulation until menstruation began, for three consecutive cycles. Women rated their symptoms daily. Nine women dropped out during the study. ## What they found Placebo reduced symptoms by about 45%, while clomipramine reduced symptoms by more than 70%. The clomipramine group had significantly lower irritability and depression ratings than placebo throughout the three cycles. Global improvement was also significantly better with clomipramine. ## What it means for you Clomipramine works better than placebo for premenstrual irritability and depression when taken only during the luteal phase. However, the study was small (15 women per group) and some women dropped out, so results need confirmation in larger studies. 15 women in clomipramine group >70% symptom reduction with clomipramine 45% symptom reduction with placebo ## About the study Original title Clomipramine administered during the luteal phase reduces the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome: a placebo-controlled trial Authors Sundblad C, Hedberg MA, Eriksson E Journal Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Year 1993 Study design Randomised trial Participants 15 What was tested Clomipramine 25 to 75 mg daily during the luteal phase Read the paper [doi.org/10.1038/npp.1993.52](https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.1993.52) ## Topics [Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/) 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 Cohort study, 2012 How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms? Review, 1999 Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder? Randomised trial, 1995 Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS? Survey study, 2001 How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder and how is it related to other psychiatric conditions? Review, 2001 What causes PMS and PMDD, and how are they treated? Randomised trial, 1999 Do SSRIs reduce premenstrual dysphoria symptoms? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗