---
title: What is the best treatment approach for PMS and PMDD? | Niyora
description: About 5 percent of women have premenstrual symptoms severe enough to affect their daily lives. Start with lifestyle changes, then serotonin-based antidepressa
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/current-management-of-premenstrual-syndrome-and-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2001/
---

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- What is the best treatment approach for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2001

# What is the best treatment approach for PMS and PMDD?

About 5 percent of women have premenstrual symptoms severe enough to affect their daily lives. Start with lifestyle changes, then serotonin-based antidepressants if needed, preferably taken during just the luteal phase.

 Moderate study design

Review article addressing women of reproductive age

## What they did

Review of management approaches for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD.

## What they found

About 5 percent of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual symptoms that markedly influence work, social activities, or relationships. Prospective charting of symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles is required for accurate diagnosis. The optimal treatment plan begins with lifestyle modifications, followed by pharmacotherapy. Low-dose serotonin reuptake inhibitors with intermittent or continuous administration have excellent efficacy with minimal side effects. Modification of the menstrual cycle should be considered only after all other treatment options have failed.

## What it means for you

Severe premenstrual symptoms affect about 1 in 20 women. Treatment should start simple and intensify if needed. Taking serotonin antidepressants just during the luteal phase works well with fewer side effects than daily use. Tracking symptoms for two cycles helps confirm the diagnosis.

5%

Percentage of women with severe premenstrual symptoms

## About the study

Original title Current management of premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Born L, Steiner M Journal Current psychiatry reports Year 2001 Study design Review What was tested Lifestyle modifications, serotonin reuptake inhibitors, menstrual cycle modification Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s11920-001-0039-5](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-001-0039-5)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Magnesium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-magnesium/)[Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitex/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)[Light therapy and sleep deprivation](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-light-therapy/)

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

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Review, 2023

Can herbs and supplements help with PMS symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2013

What treatments work for PMDD?

Review, 2017

What causes PMDD and what are the best treatments?

Review, 2015

What treatments work best for PMDD and PMS?

Review, 2015

What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated?

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