--- title: What treatments work for PMDD? | Niyora description: PMDD affects 2 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age. Try lifestyle changes first, and if that does not work, SSRIs taken just during the luteal phase ar url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/diagnosis-and-treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-2002/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - What treatments work for PMDD? Review, 2002 # What treatments work for PMDD? PMDD affects 2 to 10 percent of women of reproductive age. Try lifestyle changes first, and if that does not work, SSRIs taken just during the luteal phase are very effective with minimal side effects. Moderate study design Review article addressing women of reproductive age with PMDD or PMS ## What they did Review article discussing treatment options for PMDD in women of reproductive age. ## What they found 2 to 10 percent of women have PMDD. Mild to moderate PMS may benefit from education, lifestyle changes, and nutrition. PMDD may require SSRIs, which reduce emotional, cognitive-behavioral, and physical symptoms and improve functioning. Serotoninergic antidepressants (fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, clomipramine) are effective when used intermittently during the luteal phase. Intermittent use reduces cost, side effects, and discontinuation risk. Low-dose alprazolam may be second-line treatment. Hormone agonists or danazol are considered when SSRIs fail, but serious side effects and cost limit use. ## What it means for you Start with lifestyle and nutrition changes. If that does not help, SSRIs taken just during the bad half of your cycle work well and reduce side effects and costs compared to daily use. Stronger treatments exist but are reserved for cases that do not respond to SSRIs. 2-10% Percentage of women of reproductive age with PMDD ## About the study Original title Diagnosis and treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Bhatia SC, Bhatia SK Journal American family physician Year 2002 Study design Review What was tested Lifestyle changes, SSRIs, alprazolam, hormone treatments Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12387436/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12387436/) ## 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/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Cognitive behavioral therapy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-cbt/)[Psychotherapy, counselling and education](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-psychotherapy/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Economic burden](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-economic-burden/) 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 Cohort study, 2010 How do anxiety disorders differ across different life stages? Review, 1991 What treatments are available for late luteal phase dysphoric disorder? Review, 2015 What do we know about PMS and PMDD and how are they treated? Cohort study, 2022 What are PMS and PMDD and how should they be diagnosed and treated? Review, 2003 What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? Study, 2022 What are the symptoms, causes, and treatments of PMS and PMDD? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗