---
title: Does depot leuprolide relieve premenstrual syndrome, and does depression affect how well it works?
description: Depot leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo for women without severe depression. For those with moderate depression it helped somewhat, but
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/efficacy-of-depot-leuprolide-in-premenstrual-syndrome-effect-of-symptom-severity-1994/
---

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- Does depot leuprolide relieve premenstrual syndrome, and does depression affect how well it works?

Randomised trial, 1994

# Does depot leuprolide relieve premenstrual syndrome, and does depression affect how well it works?

Depot leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo for women without severe depression. For those with moderate depression it helped somewhat, but for those with severe depression it did not work at all.

 Moderate study design

25 women with premenstrual syndrome diagnosed by strict criteria

## What they did

Double-blind, placebo-controlled, 6-month crossover trial. 25 women with PMS received either depot leuprolide 3.75 mg intramuscularly monthly or saline for 3 cycles. Doctors assessed symptoms, side effects, and hormone levels at each visit.

## What they found

Leuprolide was significantly more effective than placebo on all rating scales. Irritability, neurologic symptoms, breast tenderness, and fatigue responded best. Symptoms were reduced to normal (follicular phase) levels only in women without depression. Those with moderate depression improved but remained symptomatic. Those with severe depression showed no improvement. Leuprolide suppressed estradiol and progesterone in most groups.

## What it means for you

This medication works well if PMS symptoms are mainly physical or mood-related without serious depression. If you have moderate or severe depression alongside PMS, it will not help and you are more likely to experience side effects. Women need depression screening before starting. The study suggests there may be different subtypes of PMS.

25

women with PMS

3.75 mg

monthly dose

6 months

trial duration

## About the study

Original title Efficacy of depot leuprolide in premenstrual syndrome: effect of symptom severity and type in a controlled trial Authors Brown CS, Ling FW, Andersen RN et al. Journal Obstetrics and gynecology Year 1994 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Depot leuprolide 3.75 mg intramuscularly monthly for 3 cycles Read the paper [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7936512/](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7936512/)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)

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