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.
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/