---
title: Why do women stop taking antidepressants prescribed for PMS? | Niyora
description: Most women who stop do so because of side effects, especially sexual dysfunction. 54% continued treatment for more than 6 months, but 13% never started.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/compliance-to-antidepressant-drug-therapy-for-treatment-of-premenstrual-syndrome-2000/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- Why do women stop taking antidepressants prescribed for PMS?

Survey study, 2000

# Why do women stop taking antidepressants prescribed for PMS?

Most women who stop do so because of side effects, especially sexual dysfunction. 54% continued treatment for more than 6 months, but 13% never started.

 Early or limited evidence

202 women prescribed SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants for premenstrual symptoms at three gynecologic practices, 1994-1997

## What they did

Sent questionnaires to 202 women who were prescribed SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants for premenstrual symptoms at three gynecologic practices between 1994 and 1997. 84.2% responded.

## What they found

13% never started treatment. 54% continued for more than 6 months. Of those who stopped, reasons included: negative side effects (43%), other reasons (29%), wanting to handle it naturally (23%), not wanting to take drugs (20%), fear of dependence (19%), and wanting to see if symptoms had ended (18%). Sexual dysfunction was the most common side effect.

## What it means for you

Side effects, especially sexual dysfunction, are a major reason women stop antidepressants for PMS. Doctors need better education of patients and closer monitoring during early treatment. The study looked at one time period and location.

84.2%

responded to questionnaire

54%

continued treatment for more than 6 months

43%

stopped due to negative side effects

## About the study

Original title Compliance to antidepressant drug therapy for treatment of premenstrual syndrome Authors Sundström-Poromaa I, Bixo M, Björn I et al. Journal Journal of psychosomatic obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2000 Study design Survey study Participants 202 What was tested SSRIs or tricyclic antidepressants Read the paper [doi.org/10.3109/01674820009085589](https://doi.org/10.3109/01674820009085589)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)

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, 2026

How well do SSRIs treat PMS?

Systematic review, 2024

What are the best treatments for PMDD and PMS?

Review, 2024

What are the most effective treatments for PMDD?

Systematic review, 2024

Do SSRI antidepressants help treat PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2023

Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?

Guideline, 2023

How are GnRH agonists used to treat PMDD that doesn't respond to standard medications?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗