---
title: Can an antidepressant called nortriptyline help with depression that happens before a period?
description: In this very small early study, most women who took nortriptyline felt a lot better, but this was not a strong or well-controlled test, so it cannot prove the
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/treatment-of-premenstrual-depression-with-nortriptyline-a-pilot-study-1989/
---

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- Can an antidepressant called nortriptyline help with depression that happens before a period?

Non-randomised trial, 1989

# Can an antidepressant called nortriptyline help with depression that happens before a period?

In this very small early study, most women who took nortriptyline felt a lot better, but this was not a strong or well-controlled test, so it cannot prove the drug works.

 Early or limited evidence

11 women with severe premenstrual depression (late luteal phase dysphoric disorder) who had not responded to earlier treatment

## What they did

Researchers gave the antidepressant nortriptyline to 11 women who met strict criteria for severe premenstrual depression (late luteal phase dysphoric disorder). This was an open pilot study, meaning everyone knew they were getting the real drug, with no placebo comparison group in this part. The women had already tried a placebo or another medicine without improving.

## What they found

8 out of 11 women had a good response to nortriptyline.

## What it means for you

The result looked promising, but with only 11 women and no blinding or placebo comparison, the authors said it needed confirmation with proper double-blind studies before anyone could trust it. This is a very old (1989) and very small study, so it should not guide treatment decisions on its own.

8 of 11

Women who responded well

11

Total participants

## About the study

Original title Treatment of premenstrual depression with nortriptyline: a pilot study Authors Harrison WM, Endicott J, Nee J Journal The Journal of clinical psychiatry Year 1989 Study design Non-randomised trial Participants 11 What was tested Nortriptyline (an older type of antidepressant) Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2647713/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2647713/)

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

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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