---
title: What drugs work for PMDD? | Niyora
description: Serotonin-based antidepressants, especially SSRIs taken only during the luteal phase, are the first-line treatment for PMDD. Progesterone is not effective.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/current-update-of-hormonal-and-psychotropic-drug-treatment-of-premenstrual-2002/
---

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- What drugs work for PMDD?

Review, 2002

# What drugs work for PMDD?

Serotonin-based antidepressants, especially SSRIs taken only during the luteal phase, are the first-line treatment for PMDD. Progesterone is not effective.

 Moderate study design

Review of PMDD research literature

## What they did

Review of medical literature from 2001 to 2002 on PMDD diagnosis and treatment.

## What they found

Serotonergic antidepressants are effective first-line treatment for PMDD. SSRIs taken only during the luteal phase are effective. One study reported efficacy for slow-release fluoxetine taken twice during the menstrual cycle. Oral contraceptives lack definitive evidence of efficacy, though a new formulation showed promise for mood and behavioral symptoms. A meta-analysis showed progesterone and progestins are not effective.

## What it means for you

If you have PMDD, serotonin antidepressants taken just during your luteal phase are a proven treatment. Progesterone and birth control pills have not been shown to work. This review synthesizes published studies, so the strength depends on the quality of those studies.

## About the study

Original title Current update of hormonal and psychotropic drug treatment of premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Freeman EW Journal Current psychiatry reports Year 2002 Study design Review What was tested SSRIs, fluoxetine, oral contraceptives, progesterone, progestins Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0071-0](https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-002-0071-0)

## 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/)[SSRIs and antidepressants](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-ssri/)[Oral contraceptives and drospirenone](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-hormonal-contraceptives/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[Other herbal medicine](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-herbal-other/)

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.

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