---
title: Do spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate help premenstrual tension?
description: Yes, both medications significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo. However, placebo itself also significantly improved symptoms, which is important to
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-tension-a-placebo-controlled-efficacy-study-with-spironolactone-and-1991/
---

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- Do spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate help premenstrual tension?

Randomised trial, 1991

# Do spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate help premenstrual tension?

Yes, both medications significantly reduced symptoms compared to placebo. However, placebo itself also significantly improved symptoms, which is important to know.

 Moderate study design

43 healthy women with premenstrual tension

## What they did

43 women with premenstrual tension participated in a placebo-controlled crossover study. The effects of spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate on 10 premenstrual tension symptoms were evaluated.

## What they found

Placebo, spironolactone, and medroxyprogesterone acetate all significantly improved a mood index score. Spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate were both significantly better than placebo (P < 0.05).

## What it means for you

Both medications work better than placebo for premenstrual tension. The large placebo effect is notable - many women improved even on sugar pills. This is a small study that should be confirmed in larger research.

43

women

P < 0.05

both drugs better than placebo

10

premenstrual symptoms evaluated

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual tension: a placebo-controlled efficacy study with spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate Authors Hellberg D, Claesson B, Nilsson S Journal International journal of gynaecology and obstetrics: the official organ of the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Year 1991 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Spironolactone and medroxyprogesterone acetate Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(91)90357-b](https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-7292(91)90357-b)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

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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