Non-randomised trial, 1991
Does atenolol help depression that comes before periods?
No. Atenolol at 100 mg daily did not improve mood compared to placebo. This suggests that if bright light helps PMS depression, it may work through other mechanisms besides melatonin reduction.
What they did
11 women with prospectively documented premenstrual depression took either 100 mg atenolol or placebo daily during the symptomatic premenstrual phase.
What they found
There was no significant improvement in mood following treatment with atenolol compared to placebo.
What it means for you
Atenolol does not appear to be an effective treatment for premenstrual depression. The study was very small, so results need confirmation in larger trials.
11
patients studied
100 mg
atenolol dose
About the study
- Original title
- Atenolol in premenstrual syndrome: a test of the melatonin hypothesis
- Authors
- Parry BL, Rosenthal NE, James SP et al.
- Journal
- Psychiatry research
- Year
- 1991
- Study design
- Non-randomised trial
- What was tested
- Atenolol 100 mg daily
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/0165-1781(91)90070-6
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