---
title: Can antidepressants help reduce severe PMS symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. When antidepressants called serotonergic antidepressants are carefully prescribed, approximately 60 to 70 percent of women with severe PMS report signifi
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/can-antidepressants-be-used-to-tame-psychological-symptoms-of-pms-1996/
---

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- Can antidepressants help reduce severe PMS symptoms?

Study, 1996

# Can antidepressants help reduce severe PMS symptoms?

Yes. When antidepressants called serotonergic antidepressants are carefully prescribed, approximately 60 to 70 percent of women with severe PMS report significant symptom reduction.

 Moderate study design

Women of reproductive age with PMS

## What they did

This is a review of research on PMS and its treatments. The authors examined clinical studies on how antidepressants work for PMS symptoms.

## What they found

Up to 80 percent of women of reproductive age experience premenstrual physical and behavioral changes, and these are predominantly normal. Between 20 to 40 percent of women experience premenstrual disorders. For 2 to 10 percent of women, symptoms are severe enough to impair work and relationships. Approximately 60 to 70 percent of women with severe PMS who receive careful diagnostic evaluation report significant symptom reduction with serotonergic antidepressants.

## What it means for you

Serotonergic antidepressants can help reduce severe PMS symptoms in most women with thorough evaluation. No antidepressant has FDA approval specifically for PMS yet. This is a review summarizing other research, not a new original study.

80%

Women experiencing any premenstrual changes

20-40%

Women with premenstrual disorders

60-70%

With severe PMS who improve with antidepressants

## About the study

Original title Can Antidepressants be Used to Tame Psychological Symptoms of PMS? Authors Freeman EW Journal Medscape women's health Year 1996 Study design Study What was tested Serotonergic antidepressants Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9746652/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9746652/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Relationships and partners](https://niyora.com/research/topics/life-area-relationships/)

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

Randomised trial, 2023

Does taking sertraline when PMDD symptoms start improve how well women function?

Survey study, 2011

Is premenstrual syndrome related to major depression?

Review, 2002

What treatments work best for PMDD?

Review, 2007

What is PMS and what treatments work?

Guideline, 2006

What is the best treatment for PMDD and severe PMS?

Survey study, 1994

How do food, serotonin, and mood relate in PMS and other conditions?

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