---
title: Does clonidine help women with PMS who have low endorphin levels?
description: Yes, clonidine significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo in women with low beta-endorphin levels. However, this was a very small study in a specifi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/clonidine-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-a-subgroup-study-1988/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Does clonidine help women with PMS who have low endorphin levels?

Randomised trial, 1988

# Does clonidine help women with PMS who have low endorphin levels?

Yes, clonidine significantly reduced PMS symptoms more than placebo in women with low beta-endorphin levels. However, this was a very small study in a specific subgroup, so we're less certain it applies to all women with PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

24 women aged 19-41 with moderate to severe cyclic decreases in beta-endorphin

## What they did

A double-blind crossover study where 24 women aged 19 to 41 with moderate to severe cyclic decreases in beta-endorphin (a hormone the body makes) received both clonidine and placebo over 4 menstrual cycles in random order. Women didn't know which was which.

## What they found

Clonidine was significantly more effective than placebo in reducing symptoms in this group of women with low endorphin cycles.

## What it means for you

Clonidine may help a specific subgroup of women with PMS who have low endorphin levels. The main limitations are the very small sample of only 24 women and the fact it was only tested in a specialized subgroup, so results may not apply to all women with PMS.

24

women in study

4

menstrual cycles studied

## About the study

Original title Clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome: a subgroup study Authors Giannini AJ, Sullivan B, Sarachene J et al. Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 1988 Study design Randomised trial Participants 24 What was tested Clonidine versus placebo in double-blind crossover trial Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2962993/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2962993/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)

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.

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗