Randomised trial, 2001
Do buspirone and nefazodone help premenstrual dysphoria?
Buspirone reduced premenstrual irritability and overall symptoms more than placebo. Nefazodone did not work better than placebo. Both had good tolerability with no excess sexual side effects.
What they did
Women with premenstrual dysphoria were screened for 3 menstrual cycles, then randomly assigned to buspirone (19 women), nefazodone (22 women), or placebo (22 women). They took medication during the luteal phase for 2 cycles, then daily for 2 more cycles.
What they found
Buspirone worked better than placebo for overall improvement and for reducing irritability. Nefazodone was not significantly better than placebo. Side effects were mild in all groups, and sexual dysfunction was no more common with buspirone or nefazodone than with placebo.
What it means for you
Buspirone may help premenstrual irritability, especially for women who experience sexual side effects from other antidepressants. Nefazodone did not work in this small study.
19
Women in buspirone group
22
Women in nefazodone group
22
Women in placebo group
About the study
- Original title
- Compounds with affinity for serotonergic receptors in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoria: a comparison of buspirone, nefazodone and placebo
- Authors
- Landén M, Eriksson O, Sundblad C et al.
- Journal
- Psychopharmacology
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 22
- What was tested
- Buspirone vs nefazodone vs placebo, given during luteal phase then daily over 4 treatment cycles
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1007/s002130100718
Topics
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