--- title: Does taking more ADHD medication during the premenstrual week help women with ADHD? description: Yes. All 9 women with ADHD who took a higher medication dose during the premenstrual week experienced better focus, mood, and energy during those weeks. url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/female-specific-pharmacotherapy-in-adhd-premenstrual-adjustment-of-2025/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Does taking more ADHD medication during the premenstrual week help women with ADHD? Study, 2025 # Does taking more ADHD medication during the premenstrual week help women with ADHD? Yes. All 9 women with ADHD who took a higher medication dose during the premenstrual week experienced better focus, mood, and energy during those weeks. Early or limited evidence 9 women with ADHD and depression or PMDD ## What they did Nine women with ADHD and depression (some also with PMDD) increased their prescribed stimulant medication dose during the premenstrual week. Doctors monitored them for 6 to 24 months to track how their ADHD symptoms, mood, and any side effects changed with the higher dose. ## What they found All 9 women reported clear improvements in attention, irritability, and energy levels during the premenstrual weeks when they took the higher dose. Their symptoms in premenstrual weeks became similar to their symptoms in other weeks of the cycle. All 9 women chose to continue taking the higher dose during premenstrual weeks. Side effects were minimal. ## What it means for you For women with ADHD whose symptoms worsen before their period, increasing medication during that week might help. However, this is a small study of just 9 women who were closely monitored by their doctors. Any change to medication dose should only be done with a doctor, and more research is needed. 9 women who tried higher premenstrual dose 6-24 months monitoring period 9 women who continued with higher dose ## About the study Original title Female-specific pharmacotherapy in ADHD: premenstrual adjustment of psychostimulant dosage Authors De Jong M, Wynchank D Journal European psychiatry : the journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists Year 2025 Study design Study What was tested Increased stimulant medication dose during premenstrual week Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.224](https://doi.org/10.1192/j.eurpsy.2025.224) Original abstract Abstract: Objective Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition which is underdiagnosed and undertreated in women. For decades, the ADHD field has called for more insight into female-specific therapy. Preliminary findings postulate that changes in sex hormones during the menstrual cycle may influence the effectiveness of psychostimulant medication. Yet, pharmacotherapeutic interventions tailored to women with ADHD remain scarce. Previously, our group showed an increase in mood symptoms in the premenstrual week in women with ADHD. Premenstrual worsening of depressive and ADHD symptoms represent a treatment challenge. In our adult ADHD clinic, we noted several women describing exacerbation of their ADHD and depressive symptoms in the premenstrual week and/or insufficient effect of their established dosage of psychostimulant. We responded to the need expressed by these women by increasing their stimulant dosage in the premenstrual week, while monitoring the response and side effects. Methods This community case study of nine consecutive women being treated for ADHD and co-occurring conditions (including depression and premenstrual dysphoric disorder), reports our local experience of increasing the individually prescribed psychostimulant dosage during the premenstrual period. We methodically monitored the effect of this increased dosage on ADHD symptoms, mood and somatic symptoms for the following 6-24 months. Results With premenstrual dose elevation, all nine women experienced improved ADHD and mood symptoms with minimal adverse events. Premenstrual inattention, irritability and energy levels improved, and now resembled the other non-premenstrual weeks more closely. All women decided to continue with the elevated premenstrual pharmacotherapy. Discussion Our preliminary results demonstrate potential benefits of increasing premenstrual psychostimulant dosage in women with ADHD, experiencing premenstrual worsening of ADHD and mood symptoms. The results concur with previous findings of diminished response to amphetamines in the late luteal phase. Increased dosage may help combat premenstrual worsening of cognitive and emotional symptoms in women with ADHD, with significant clinical implications. Better management of premenstrual ADHD and mood symptoms in vulnerable women can improve treatment outcome and meet an unmet need. However, implementation should be individually explored. Further investigation of luteal phase psychostimulant dose adjustment is required for safe, optimal and individualised treatment for women with ADHD. Specifically, we are currently applying for funding to set up the ADAPT-trial (Adjusting Premenstrual Psychostimulant Dosage for Women with ADHD: Enhancing Efficacy). Disclosure of Interest None Declared Reproduced under CC-BY. ## Topics [ADHD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-adhd/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual exacerbation (PME)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pme/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/) 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, 2023 Is PMDD a valid medical diagnosis? Survey study, 2026 Do people with ADHD traits have higher rates of PMDD than others? Survey study, 2026 Are PMDD and ADHD linked in women with bipolar disorder? Survey study, 2026 Do women with ADHD and autism have more premenstrual problems than women without these conditions? Case-control study, 2024 Do women with PMDD have more attention and memory problems than other women? Randomised trial, 2022 Do hormone pills prevent suicidal thoughts from getting worse around menstruation? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗