---
title: Does clonidine help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: No. Clonidine showed no benefit compared to placebo for mood or PMDD symptoms in this small study and caused more side effects.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/lack-of-beneficial-effects-of-clonidine-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-2005/
---

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- Does clonidine help PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2005

# Does clonidine help PMDD symptoms?

No. Clonidine showed no benefit compared to placebo for mood or PMDD symptoms in this small study and caused more side effects.

 Early or limited evidence

12 women with confirmed PMDD, free of psychiatric disorders and other medications

## What they did

12 women with confirmed PMDD were randomly assigned in a double-blind crossover design to take either clonidine (0.3 mg per day) or loratadine as active placebo (10 mg per day) for 2 months each. Researchers measured symptom ratings, mood scales, and norepinephrine levels.

## What they found

There were no significant differences between clonidine and placebo for mood scales or symptom ratings. Clonidine did suppress norepinephrine concentration and produced more side effects than placebo.

## What it means for you

Clonidine does not help PMDD symptoms despite affecting norepinephrine levels. The main limitation is the very small sample (12 women), so findings need confirmation in larger studies.

12

women in study

2 months

duration per treatment in crossover

0.3 mg/day

clonidine dose tested

## About the study

Original title Lack of beneficial effects of clonidine in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder: results of a double-blind, randomized study Authors Bunevicius R, Hinderliter AL, Light KC et al. Journal Human psychopharmacology Year 2005 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Clonidine 0.3 mg per day versus loratadine 10 mg per day Read the paper [doi.org/10.1002/hup.652](https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.652)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Cognition, concentration and memory](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-cognition/)

Research tells you what helps on average. Niyora helps on the day it hits.

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