Some women who experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome may benefit from treatment with low doses of anti-depressant medication, according to a new study led by a Virginia Commonwealth University researcher.

Researchers reported that low doses of sertraline taken for two weeks before the onset of the menstrual period may be an effective and well-tolerated treatment for some women who experience moderate-to-severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

The researchers also tested and found two other anti-depressant dosing strategies to be effective. One of those dosing strategies was taking medication daily throughout the menstrual cycle. The other was waiting until PMS symptoms begin to start medication each cycle, which is known as ’symptom-onset’ dosing. Sertraline is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) approved for the treatment of depression and anxiety, as well as for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of premenstrual syndrome.

This study is the first to evaluate the use of low-dose antidepressant medication for women who have moderate-to-severe PMS. The findings suggest that women with less severe forms of PMS than PMDD may also benefit from treatment with antidepressant medication, and they may be able to take medication only on the days that they are symptomatic.

Up to 60 percent of women suffer from PMS, while only about 5 percent of women suffer from PMDD. PMS symptoms may include irritability, depressed mood, anxiety and mood swings, in addition to physical symptoms such as bloating and breast tenderness. PMDD is characterized by severe mood symptoms that interfere with functioning.

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    Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 18 Oct 2006