Is saffron as effective as fluoxetine for treating PMDD?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) significantly impacts the emotional and physical well-being of women of reproductive age. Various theories have been proposed about its etiology but still, it is unknown. The PMS starts from the luteal stage of women’s menstrual cycle and affects 20% to 40% of women in their reproductive phase. The severe form of PMS is PMDD which typically affects 3% - 5% of women in their reproductive phase. Standard treatments for these conditions include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors such as fluoxetine, paroxetine, and sertraline. Fluoxetine is mainly used for the treatment of Premenstrual syndrome and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Fluoxetine appears to be more effective and better tolerated for treating physical and psychological symptoms associated with severe Premenstrual syndrome and Premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Herbal remedies like saffron (crocus sativus) consist of three bioactive compounds: procrocin, safranal, and crocin. Saffron exhibits SSRIs-like actions and is also used in the management of PMS and PMDD. This review critically evaluates the comparative effectiveness of saffron and fluoxetine in the management of PMDD, aiming to provide valuable insights for treatment decisions.

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