Review, 2026
How well do SSRIs treat PMS?
SSRIs like sertraline and fluoxetine are first-line treatments for severe PMS. They work at low doses, are safe with few side effects, and reduce symptoms by affecting serotonin and brain chemistry related to mood.
What they did
Systematic review of PubMed studies from the last decade examining how SSRIs treat PMS, excluding studies in children.
What they found
PMS affects 47% of women of reproductive age and involves hormone changes, brain chemistry problems, inflammation and genetics. SSRIs have good safety profiles and few side effects. They work at low doses whether taken continuously or on certain days only. Sertraline and fluoxetine are the most studied. They increase serotonin and improve brain chemistry that controls mood, which directly reduces PMS symptoms. More research is needed to fully understand how they work.
What it means for you
SSRIs are a safe, effective first choice for treating severe PMS, working through multiple brain chemistry changes. PMS is more common than most people realize: nearly half of women have it. Main limit: we don't yet understand all the ways SSRIs help, and more research is needed.
47%
of women of reproductive age with PMS
About the study
- Original title
- A Review of Recent reports on the Role of SSRI Use in Understanding the Pathomechanism and Treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) as a Significant Clinical and Health Problem in Reproductive-Age Women
- Authors
- Patrycja Jarczyńska, Knieszko Fahim, Jakub Franaszek et al.
- Journal
- Quality in Sport
- Year
- 2026
- Study design
- Review
- What was tested
- SSRI antidepressants (sertraline, fluoxetine, and others)
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.12775/qs.2026.54.70304
Topics
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