---
title: Does low-dose valproate help premenstrual syndrome? | Niyora
description: In this small trial, only 3 of 8 women with premenstrual syndrome (38%) reported good response to low-dose valproate, while 5 reported no response. The medica
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/low-dose-valproate-a-new-treatment-for-cyclothymia-mild-rapid-cycling-disorders-1993/
---

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- Does low-dose valproate help premenstrual syndrome?

Non-randomised trial, 1993

# Does low-dose valproate help premenstrual syndrome?

In this small trial, only 3 of 8 women with premenstrual syndrome (38%) reported good response to low-dose valproate, while 5 reported no response. The medication worked much better for mood disorders than for PMS.

 Early or limited evidence

8 women with menstrually-related mood cycling

## What they did

Open trial with 33 patients total. Eight were women with menstrually-related mood cycling. They started on 125 to 250 mg daily and doses were adjusted upward based on response. Doses and blood levels were tracked over time.

## What they found

Of 8 women with menstrually-related PMS, 3 (38%) had good responses to low-dose valproate. Doses ranged from 125 to 500 mg with a mean of 351 mg. Five women reported no response. Mean blood level was 32.5 mcg/mL.

## What it means for you

Low-dose valproate does not appear effective for PMS in this study, unlike for bipolar disorders. Main limitation is the very small sample of only 8 women with PMS, no control group, and no blinding.

3 of 8 (38%)

women with good response

351 mg

mean daily dose

32.5 mcg/mL

mean blood level

## About the study

Original title Low-dose valproate: a new treatment for cyclothymia, mild rapid cycling disorders, and premenstrual syndrome Authors Jacobsen FM Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 1993 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 33 What was tested Low-dose valproate 125 to 500 mg daily Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8331092/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8331092/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiolytics and other psychotropics](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-anxiolytics/)[Bipolar disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-bipolar/)[Epilepsy](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-epilepsy/)

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## Related studies

Review, 2003

How do menstrual cycle hormones affect the brain and cause mood disorders like PMDD?

Systematic review, 2019

Do lithium and valproate levels change during the menstrual cycle?

Cohort study, 2011

Does premenstrual symptom worsening change how bipolar disorder develops over time?

Review, 2010

Can neurosteroids help with anxiety and brain disorders?

Cohort study, 2004

Do women with bipolar disorder on mood-stabilizing medication experience premenstrual symptom worsening?

Survey study, 2026

Among women with bipolar I disorder, who is more likely to also have PMDD?

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