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.
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
Topics
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