In this review, guidelines for the treatment of PMDD are provided.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the most widely used pharmacologic agents for treating depression and anxiety disorders, and several have also emerged as first-line treatment for premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). In numerous clinical trials, SSRIs have demonstrated efficacy in reducing the physical and behavioral symptoms of PMDD and improving social and occupational functioning.
SSRIs may be given either intermittently or continuously.
The authors described 3 dosing strategies for SSRI use — continuous dosing (daily throughout the month), intermittent (luteal phase only) dosing, and semi-intermittent dosing (continuous with increased dose in the luteal phase) — and reviewed the results of 2 placebo-controlled studies that compared the efficacy of these dosing strategies. They also described the candidates who would be best suited for each dosing strategy.
3 Comments
I feel that as soon as the health global care profession stop treating PMS and PMDD as a psychological /psychiatric problem and start treating it as a physiological disease we will actually be on the way to getting some kind of effective treatment and relief for millions of handicapped and incapacitated women. I also, truly believe that if there were a disease or syndrome that affected and debilitated men in the same way as this horrible condition effects women we would be a lot further down the part to finding and actual cure or at least some form of effective treatment.
[Reply]
Lara, can i ask you what your systems are and what you have tried to treat PMDD. I suffer and would like your comments…thanks lin
[Reply]
While not diagnosed as PMDD I see an increasing number of women aged 35 to 55 that are treated with Lexapro at low doses and have great success in treating the symptoms associated with PMDD. Because of insurance they are forced to try other less expensive generics usually with very poor results. Are there any studies out there for Lexapro on PMDD? Do not get me wrong as soon as a product is available generically I recommend it full force but….
[Reply]