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.
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/
Topics
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