---
title: Does serotonin play a role in PMS and can a drug acting on serotonin help?
description: Yes, a serotonin-acting drug improved PMS symptoms when given during the premenstrual phase, suggesting serotonin is involved. However, serotonin appears to b
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/effect-of-menstrual-cycle-phase-on-neuroendocrine-and-behavioral-responses-to-1997/
---

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- Does serotonin play a role in PMS and can a drug acting on serotonin help?

Randomised trial, 1997

# Does serotonin play a role in PMS and can a drug acting on serotonin help?

Yes, a serotonin-acting drug improved PMS symptoms when given during the premenstrual phase, suggesting serotonin is involved. However, serotonin appears to be a modulating factor rather than the primary cause.

 Early or limited evidence

10 women with PMS and 10 healthy controls

## What they did

A double-blind study with 10 women with PMS and 10 healthy controls. Each received a single oral dose of m-CPP (0.5 mg/kg), a drug that acts on serotonin, during both the follicular and luteal phases. Hormone levels and behavioral responses were measured.

## What they found

m-CPP during the luteal phase resulted in acute improvement of PMS symptoms. The cortisol and ACTH hormone responses to m-CPP were blunted in women with PMS compared with controls in both phases. Data suggest dysregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis but little evidence for luteal phase-specific serotonergic dysfunction.

## What it means for you

Serotonin appears involved in PMS as a modulating factor, not the primary cause. The hormone regulation system may also play a role. This is a very small single-dose study, so findings are preliminary.

10

women with PMS

10

healthy controls

0.5 mg/kg

m-CPP dose

## About the study

Original title Effect of menstrual cycle phase on neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to the serotonin agonist m-chlorophenylpiperazine in women with premenstrual syndrome and controls Authors Su TP, Schmidt PJ, Danaceau M et al. Journal The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism Year 1997 Study design Randomised trial Participants 10 What was tested Single oral dose of m-CPP (0.5 mg/kg) given during follicular and luteal phases Read the paper [doi.org/10.1210/jcem.82.4.3905](https://doi.org/10.1210/jcem.82.4.3905)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Stress](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-stress/)

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