Randomised trial, 1994
Does depot leuprolide relieve premenstrual syndrome, and does depression affect how well it works?
Depot leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo for women without severe depression. For those with moderate depression it helped somewhat, but for those with severe depression it did not work at all.
What they did
Double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month crossover trial. 25 women with PMS received either depot leuprolide 3.75 mg intramuscularly monthly or saline for 3 cycles. Doctors assessed symptoms, side effects, and hormone levels at each visit.
What they found
Leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo on all rating scales. Irritability, neurologic symptoms, breast tenderness, and fatigue responded best. Symptoms were reduced to normal (follicular phase) levels only in women without depression. Those with moderate depression improved but remained symptomatic. Those with severe depression showed no improvement. Leuprolide suppressed estradiol and progesterone in most groups.
What it means for you
This medication works well if PMS symptoms are mainly physical or mood-related without serious depression. If you have moderate or severe depression alongside PMS, it will not help and you are more likely to experience side effects. Women need depression screening before starting. The study suggests there may be different subtypes of PMS.
25
women with PMS
3.75 mg
monthly dose
6 months
trial duration
About the study
- Original title
- Efficacy of depot leuprolide in premenstrual syndrome: effect of symptom severity and type in a controlled trial
- Authors
- Brown CS, Ling FW, Andersen RN et al.
- Journal
- Obstetrics and gynecology
- Year
- 1994
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Depot leuprolide 3.75 mg intramuscularly monthly for 3 cycles
- Read the paper
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7936512/
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