Study, 1979
Do dydrogesterone and pyridoxine improve premenstrual syndrome symptoms?
Yes. Dydrogesterone led to 73% sustained improvement and pyridoxine led to 63% sustained improvement. However, placebo also caused 43% improvement in the dydrogesterone trial, which shows the mind-body effect is substantial.
What they did
Researchers conducted single-blind, placebo-controlled trials of two treatments for PMS. Dydrogesterone was given as 10 mg twice daily from days 12 to 26 of the cycle. Pyridoxine long-acting was given as 100 mg daily from day 10 to day 3 of the next cycle. The trial design was specially suited to the variable nature of PMS.
What they found
73% of women on dydrogesterone had sustained improvement of symptoms. 63% of women on pyridoxine had sustained improvement. In the dydrogesterone trial, 43% of women on placebo also improved. No serious side effects were reported. The authors discuss how counselling compared to active treatment and placebo.
What it means for you
Both dydrogesterone and pyridoxine may help PMS symptoms. However, the high placebo response (43%) shows that the mind-body effect is a major part of improvement. It is difficult to know how much benefit comes from the actual drug versus the placebo effect. Main limitations are that trials were single-blind not double-blind, and exact sample sizes are not stated.
73%
sustained improvement with dydrogesterone
63%
sustained improvement with pyridoxine
43%
improvement with placebo
About the study
- Original title
- Clinical trials in the premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Jennell Day
- Journal
- Current Medical Research and Opinion
- Year
- 1979
- Study design
- Study
- What was tested
- Dydrogesterone 10 mg twice daily from days 12 to 26, and pyridoxine long-acting 100 mg daily from day 10 to day 3 of next cycle
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1185/03007997909110097
Topics
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