Randomised trial, 2001
Does citalopram help women with PMS who did not respond to other antidepressants?
Yes. 80% of women taking citalopram intermittently and 66% taking it daily showed at least 50% improvement in PMS symptoms.
What they did
Pilot study of 16 women with PMS who had tried other antidepressants without improvement. They received citalopram (20-40 mg per day), either every day or only during specific phases of their menstrual cycle. Symptom severity was measured daily.
What they found
Symptom scores improved significantly in both groups (P=0.02). 80% of women on intermittent dosing and 66% on daily dosing showed at least 50% improvement. Mood and appetite improved significantly (P=0.01 for both). 60% of the intermittent group improved to postmenstrual symptom levels.
What it means for you
This is a very small pilot study, so results should be seen as preliminary. It suggests citalopram may help women whose PMS did not respond to other antidepressants, but larger studies are needed. Intermittent dosing appears to work as well as daily.
16
women studied
80%
intermittent dosing showed ≥50% improvement
P=0.01
mood and appetite improvement
About the study
- Original title
- A pilot study of the effectiveness of citalopram in patients with premenstrual syndrome with prior selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment failure
- Authors
- Ellen W. Freeman
- Journal
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Year
- 2001
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Citalopram 20-40 mg per day, taken intermittently (luteal phase only) or daily
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0029-7844(01)01169-3
Topics
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