---
title: Does paroxetine controlled-release help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes, paroxetine CR was more effective than placebo for PMDD symptoms and caused less nausea than regular paroxetine in the first week. This summary reviews mu
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/paroxetine-controlled-release-2004/
---

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- Does paroxetine controlled-release help PMDD symptoms?

Randomised trial, 2004

# Does paroxetine controlled-release help PMDD symptoms?

Yes, paroxetine CR was more effective than placebo for PMDD symptoms and caused less nausea than regular paroxetine in the first week. This summary reviews multiple well-designed trials.

 Moderate study design

Patients with PMDD in multiple clinical trials

## What they did

Reviews multiple placebo-controlled trials of paroxetine CR in patients with depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PMDD. Treatment duration was 12 weeks for most conditions, or three menstrual cycles for PMDD given either continuously or intermittently.

## What they found

In PMDD trials, paroxetine CR was superior to placebo on the Visual Analogue Scale-Mood score. Recipients experienced significantly less nausea than those on immediate-release paroxetine in the first week. The adverse-event profile was typical of SSRIs.

## What it means for you

Paroxetine CR may reduce PMDD mood symptoms with fewer side effects like nausea. This is a review of multiple studies rather than one single trial, so specific sample sizes from individual studies are not detailed here.

12 weeks

Treatment duration for depression and anxiety

3 cycles

Treatment duration for PMDD (menstrual)

4-5 hours

Paroxetine CR release time in body

## About the study

Original title Paroxetine controlled release Authors Bang LM, Keating GM Journal CNS drugs Year 2004 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Paroxetine CR vs placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200418060-00003](https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200418060-00003)

## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

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.

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