---
title: What treatments do doctors prescribe for PMS? | Niyora
description: Hormone treatments were prescribed most often, used in over 40% of cases. Antidepressants rose from 2% to 16% of prescriptions, while vitamin B6 fell from 22%
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/prescribing-patterns-in-premenstrual-syndrome-2002/
---

- [Niyora](https://niyora.com/)
- [Research](https://niyora.com/research/)
- [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/)
- What treatments do doctors prescribe for PMS?

Survey study, 2002

# What treatments do doctors prescribe for PMS?

Hormone treatments were prescribed most often, used in over 40% of cases. Antidepressants rose from 2% to 16% of prescriptions, while vitamin B6 fell from 22% to 11%. Overall PMS diagnoses halved over five years.

 Moderate study design

282,600 women in UK West Midlands region, 1993-1998

## What they did

Researchers reviewed prescription records from 282,600 women in the UK between 1993 and 1998 to see what doctors prescribed for PMS.

## What they found

Progestogens (a hormone treatment) were the most common prescription throughout, accounting for over 40% of all PMS prescriptions. Antidepressants increased from 2% of prescriptions in 1993 to over 16% by 1998. Vitamin B6 decreased from 22% of prescriptions in 1993 to 11% between 1997 and 1998. The overall number of women receiving a PMS diagnosis halved over the five-year period.

## What it means for you

Treatment for PMS has shifted over time from vitamin B6 to antidepressants, though progestogens remain most common. Progestogens are widely prescribed despite limited evidence they work well for PMS. The decline in PMS diagnoses may reflect changes in how doctors diagnose or label the condition.

40%

of progestogens prescriptions

2% to 16%

antidepressants 1993 to 1998

22% to 11%

vitamin B6 1993 to 1997-98

## About the study

Original title Prescribing patterns in premenstrual syndrome Authors Wyatt KM, Dimmock PW, Frischer M et al. Journal BMC women's health Year 2002 Study design Survey study Participants 282,600 What was tested PMS prescribing patterns Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-2-4](https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-2-4)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Vitamin B6](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-vitamin-b6/)[Diagnosis experience and healthcare access](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-healthcare-access/)

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.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2025

Do nutritional interventions help with emotional symptoms of PMS?

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

Review, 2011

What are PMS and PMDD, and how common are they?

Systematic review, 2009

Which herbs, vitamins and minerals help treat PMS?

Randomised trial, 1985

Does vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) help premenstrual syndrome?

Survey study, 2026

What are the causes, diagnosis, and treatments for PMS and PMDD?

Ask AI about this page

Copy prompt

ChatGPT

↗

Claude

↗

Perplexity

↗

Google AI Mode

↗

Grok

↗