---
title: Does duloxetine help PMDD symptoms? | Niyora
description: In this small study, 78% of women had at least half their symptoms improve. But there was no comparison group, so we cannot be sure the improvement came from
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/duloxetine-for-premenstrual-dysphoric-disorder-a-pilot-study-2008/
---

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- Does duloxetine help PMDD symptoms?

Non-randomised trial, 2008

# Does duloxetine help PMDD symptoms?

In this small study, 78% of women had at least half their symptoms improve. But there was no comparison group, so we cannot be sure the improvement came from the drug rather than from attention or expectation.

 Early or limited evidence

55 women with PMDD (50 completed)

## What they did

55 women with PMDD took 60 mg per day of duloxetine for 2 menstrual cycles. Researchers measured their mood, anxiety, and overall symptoms using several rating scales.

## What they found

50 women completed the study. All showed significant improvement in depression and anxiety. 39 women (78%) had a 50% or greater decrease in daily symptom scores. The improvement appeared in the first treatment cycle. Side effects like nausea, insomnia, and poor appetite were reported as low.

## What it means for you

Duloxetine may help PMDD symptoms quickly and could be useful if confirmed in larger studies. However, this was an open-label pilot study without placebo control, so the results are preliminary and need confirmation.

50

Women completed study

39 (78%)

Had 50% or more symptom improvement

60 mg/day

Dose

## About the study

Original title Duloxetine for premenstrual dysphoric disorder: a pilot study Authors Mazza M, Harnic D, Catalano V et al. Journal Expert opinion on pharmacotherapy Year 2008 Study design Non-randomised trial What was tested Duloxetine 60 mg per day for 2 menstrual cycles Read the paper [doi.org/10.1517/14656566.9.4.517](https://doi.org/10.1517/14656566.9.4.517)

## 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/)

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

Systematic review, 2008

What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2003

Are SSRI antidepressants effective for PMDD?

Randomised trial, 1999

Do SSRIs reduce premenstrual dysphoria symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1995

Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria?

Study, 2026

Do anxiety and depression get worse before your period if you already have a mental health condition?

Cohort study, 2019

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

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