Randomised trial, 1995
Is paroxetine better than other antidepressants for treating severe PMS?
Yes. Paroxetine reduced symptoms much more than placebo. It also worked better than maprotiline for most symptoms.
What they did
Women with severe PMS took either paroxetine, maprotiline, or placebo every day for three menstrual cycles. They rated six symptoms daily: irritability, depressed mood, tension and anxiety, increased appetite and carbohydrate craving, bloating, and breast tenderness.
What they found
Paroxetine reduced all six symptoms much more than placebo. Paroxetine also worked better than maprotiline for irritability, appetite and carbohydrate craving, bloating, breast tenderness, and overall symptom rating.
What it means for you
Not all antidepressants work the same way for PMS. Antidepressants that work on serotonin work better for PMS than those that work on noradrenaline. This study was small and only looked at three menstrual cycles.
22
paroxetine group
3
menstrual cycles
6
symptoms tracked
About the study
- Original title
- The serotonin reuptake inhibitor paroxetin is superior to the noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor maprotiline in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Eriksson E, Hedberg MA, Andersch B et al.
- Journal
- Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- Participants
- 22
- What was tested
- Paroxetine (serotonin reuptake inhibitor) versus maprotiline (noradrenaline reuptake inhibitor) versus placebo
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0893-133x(94)00076-c
Topics
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