---
title: Do SSRIs help women who have both PMS and panic disorder? | Niyora
description: Yes. After six months of SSRI treatment, most symptoms improved though they persisted in reduced form. About 40 percent of women recovered completely.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/clinical-characteristics-of-premenstrual-syndrome-premenstrual-dysphoric-2019/
---

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- Do SSRIs help women who have both PMS and panic disorder?

Cohort study, 2019

# Do SSRIs help women who have both PMS and panic disorder?

Yes. After six months of SSRI treatment, most symptoms improved though they persisted in reduced form. About 40 percent of women recovered completely.

 Moderate study design

30 women with both PMS or PMDD and panic disorder

## What they did

A study following 30 women diagnosed with both PMS and panic disorder. They received SSRI medication for six months and were assessed before and after treatment.

## What they found

Before treatment, the most common symptoms were irritability, mood swings, anxiety, breast tension and tenderness, appetite changes, headaches, heart palpitations, and abdominal bloating. Physical symptoms were more than twice as common as psychological symptoms. After six months, most symptoms were still present but less severe. 40 percent of women recovered completely.

## What it means for you

SSRIs can help treat both PMS and panic disorder when they occur together. Women are likely to improve but may not return to normal. Physical symptoms like bloating and heart palpitations are more common than emotional symptoms in this group. The main limit is the small sample of 30 women.

30

women studied

6

months of treatment

40%

women who recovered completely

## About the study

Original title Clinical Characteristics of Premenstrual Syndrome/Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder Co-Morbid with Panic Disorder and the Effectiveness of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors in Its Treatment Authors Rossitza K. Iakimova, Daniil Aptalidis, Milena S. Pandova et al. Journal Journal of Biomedical and Clinical Research Year 2019 Study design Cohort study Participants 30 What was tested SSRI medication for six months Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.2478/jbcr-2019-0006](https://doi.org/10.2478/jbcr-2019-0006)

## 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/)[Anxiety disorders and OCD](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-anxiety-disorders/)

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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Randomised trial, 2002

Is fluoxetine or cognitive-behavioral therapy more effective for PMDD?

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