---
title: Do different types of PMS symptoms respond better to different medicines?
description: Yes. Different medications work best for different symptoms. SSRIs help irritability and anxiety. Birth control works broadly. Other drugs target specific sym
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/are-there-differential-symptom-profiles-that-improve-in-response-to-different-2006/
---

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- Do different types of PMS symptoms respond better to different medicines?

Randomised trial, 2006

# Do different types of PMS symptoms respond better to different medicines?

Yes. Different medications work best for different symptoms. SSRIs help irritability and anxiety. Birth control works broadly. Other drugs target specific symptoms. However, current treatments help fewer than 60% of women.

 Moderate study design

Multiple studies on women with PMS and PMDD (literature review)

## What they did

Literature review of research on which symptoms respond to which PMS/PMDD treatments, including SSRIs, birth control pills (ovulation suppression), anti-anxiety medications, and dopamine agonists like bromocriptine.

## What they found

Birth control that stops ovulation helps both physical and behavioral symptoms broadly. SSRIs work best for irritability and anxiety but less well for other symptoms. Anti-anxiety medications work for anxiety and depressed mood. Bromocriptine works best for breast pain. Overall, fewer than 60% of women respond to any single treatment, regardless of type.

## What it means for you

No single medicine works for everyone with PMS. Doctors might get better results by matching treatment to a woman's specific symptoms. The main limit is that most original studies were not designed to examine symptom-specific responses, so the evidence for this approach is incomplete.

<60%

of women respond to current treatments

## About the study

Original title Are there differential symptom profiles that improve in response to different pharmacological treatments of premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder? Authors Halbreich U, O'Brien PM, Eriksson E et al. Journal CNS drugs Year 2006 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Various pharmacological treatments: SSRIs, birth control (ovulation-suppressing medications), anti-anxiety drugs, and dopamine agonists Read the paper [doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200620070-00001](https://doi.org/10.2165/00023210-200620070-00001)

## 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/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Surgical menopause](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-surgery/)

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.

## Related studies

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Review, 2018

What are the most effective treatments for premenstrual syndrome and PMDD?

Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2004

What is PMDD and how is it treated?

Review, 2004

How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2003

What treatments work for PMS and PMDD?

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