Randomised trial, 1999
Is taking sertraline just during the premenstrual phase as effective as taking it year-round for severe PMS?
Half-cycle dosing worked about as well as full-cycle dosing for overall symptoms. However, some mood symptoms like nervous tension and feeling out of control improved more with half-cycle dosing.
What they did
A randomized double-blind trial comparing half-cycle versus full-cycle dosing of sertraline in women with severe PMS. Some had improved during a prior treatment trial and some had not. Both groups received their assigned dosing schedule for 3 months.
What they found
Total premenstrual scores were lower in the half-cycle group each month but not significantly different overall. Mood swings, nervous tension, feeling out of control, and confusion were significantly lower (p < 0.05) at endpoint in the half-cycle group. About half the subjects who were unimproved at entry improved, regardless of dosing regimen.
What it means for you
Taking sertraline only during the premenstrual phase may work about as well as taking it continuously, potentially reducing side effects and cost. This is a small preliminary study, so the finding needs confirmation in larger trials.
31
women in the study
3 months
treatment duration
p < 0.05
significance for mood symptoms
About the study
- Original title
- Full- or half-cycle treatment of severe premenstrual syndrome with a serotonergic antidepressant
- Authors
- Freeman EW, Rickels K, Arredondo F et al.
- Journal
- Journal of clinical psychopharmacology
- Year
- 1999
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 31
- What was tested
- Sertraline half-cycle dosing versus full-cycle dosing for 3 months
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00004714-199902000-00002
Topics
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