--- title: Is sertraline more effective than other antidepressants for severe PMS or PMDD? description: Yes. Sertraline was significantly more effective than both placebo and desipramine at reducing severe PMS and PMDD symptoms, with 65% of women improving by mo url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/differential-response-to-antidepressants-in-women-with-premenstrual-syndrome-1999/ --- - [Niyora](https://niyora.com/) - [Research](https://niyora.com/research/) - [Library](https://niyora.com/research/library/) - Is sertraline more effective than other antidepressants for severe PMS or PMDD? Randomised trial, 1999 # Is sertraline more effective than other antidepressants for severe PMS or PMDD? Yes. Sertraline was significantly more effective than both placebo and desipramine at reducing severe PMS and PMDD symptoms, with 65% of women improving by more than 50%. Strong study design 189 women with severe premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual dysphoric disorder ## What they did 189 women with severe PMS or PMDD were randomly assigned to take sertraline, desipramine, or placebo for 3 months after a 3-month screening period. Doses ranged from 50 to 150 mg daily. Symptoms were measured using multiple scales. ## What they found Sertraline was much more effective than placebo or desipramine. In the sertraline group, 65% of women had symptoms decrease by more than 50%, compared to 36% with desipramine and 29% with placebo. Sertraline helped especially with mood and pain. Whether women had a history of depression did not change these results. ## What it means for you Sertraline appears to work specifically for PMS and PMDD, not just because it is an antidepressant. This supports SSRIs as a first-line treatment for severe PMS or PMDD. This was a large, well-designed study. 189 Women in study 65% Improved with sertraline 29% Improved with placebo ## About the study Original title Differential response to antidepressants in women with premenstrual syndrome/premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a randomized controlled trial Authors Freeman EW, Rickels K, Sondheimer SJ et al. Journal Archives of general psychiatry Year 1999 Study design Randomised trial Participants 189 What was tested Sertraline 50 to 150 mg daily, desipramine 50 to 150 mg daily, or placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.56.10.932](https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.56.10.932) ## 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/)[Major depressive disorder](https://niyora.com/research/topics/comorbidity-major-depression/) 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 Review, 2024 What are the most effective treatments for PMDD? Randomised trial, 2004 Does dosing sertraline continuously or just before the period work better for severe PMS? Randomised trial, 2004 What medications work for PMDD when taken only during the second half of the menstrual cycle? Review, 2004 How should doctors diagnose and treat PMS and PMDD? Randomised trial, 2000 How should PMDD be diagnosed and treated? Randomised trial, 2000 Does sertraline improve how women with PMDD feel and function? Ask AI about this page Copy prompt ChatGPT ↗ Claude ↗ Perplexity ↗ Google AI Mode ↗ Grok ↗