--- title: Is saffron as effective as fluoxetine for treating PMDD? | Niyora description: This review examines whether the herbal remedy saffron works as well as fluoxetine, an antidepressant used for PMDD. Both work through similar brain mechanism url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/comparing-the-efficacy-of-saffron-with-fluoxetine-for-the-effective-management-2024/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is saffron as effective as fluoxetine for treating PMDD? Review, 2024 # Is saffron as effective as fluoxetine for treating PMDD? This review examines whether the herbal remedy saffron works as well as fluoxetine, an antidepressant used for PMDD. Both work through similar brain mechanisms, but the review doesn't conclude which is more effective. Early or limited evidence Literature review (no specific population studied) ## What they did A critical literature review comparing how well saffron and fluoxetine work for PMDD treatment. ## What they found Fluoxetine is a standard treatment for PMS and PMDD and appears more effective and better tolerated for both physical and psychological symptoms of severe PMS and PMDD. Saffron contains three active compounds (procrocin, safranal, and crocin) and works similarly to antidepressants in the brain, and is also used for PMS and PMDD. ## What it means for you Both treatments work through similar brain mechanisms. This review was written to help compare treatment options, but the abstract doesn't present the actual evidence or conclusion about which works better. To know which treatment might suit you, you would need to read the full review or talk to your doctor. 20-40% Percentage of women with PMS 3-5% Percentage of women with PMDD 3 Active compounds in saffron ## About the study Original title Comparing the efficacy of saffron with fluoxetine for the effective management of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: A review Authors M G Rajkumar, VAISHNAVI S, S. Shribalaji et al. Journal International Journal of Science and Research Archive Year 2024 Study design Review What was tested Saffron versus fluoxetine comparison Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2024.12.2.1484](https://doi.org/10.30574/ijsra.2024.12.2.1484) Original abstract Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly impacts the emotional and physical well-being of women of reproductive age. Various theories have been proposed about its etiology but still, it is unknown. The PMS starts from the luteal stage of women’s menstrual cycle and affects 20% to 40% of women in their reproductive phase. The severe form of PMS is PMDD which typically affects 3% - 5% of women in their reproductive phase. Standard treatments for these conditions include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Fluoxetine is mainly used for the treatment of Premenstrual syndrome and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Fluoxetine appears to be more effective and better tolerated for treating physical and psychological symptoms associated with severe Premenstrual syndrome and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Herbal remedies like saffron (crocus sativus) consist of three bioactive compounds: procrocin, safranal, and crocin. Saffron exhibits SSRIs-like actions and is also used in the management of PMS and PMDD. This review critically evaluates the comparative effectiveness of saffron and fluoxetine in the management of PMDD, aiming to provide valuable insights for treatment decisions. Reproduced under CC-BY. ## 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/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Saffron](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-saffron/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Work and productivity](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-work/) 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 Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Study, 2025 Can saffron extract help with PMS or PMDD symptoms? Systematic review, 2013 Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms? Review, 2008 What medications are FDA-approved for treating PMDD? Survey study, 2026 What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD? Review, 2026 Can traditional Chinese medicine help treat PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗