---
title: Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria? | Niyora
description: Yes. Fluoxetine at 20 mg or 60 mg per day significantly reduced tension, irritability, and dysphoria compared to placebo. The 20 mg dose had fewer side effect
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fluoxetine-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-dysphoria-canadian-fluoxetine-1995/
---

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- Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria?

Randomised trial, 1995

# Does fluoxetine help premenstrual dysphoria?

Yes. Fluoxetine at 20 mg or 60 mg per day significantly reduced tension, irritability, and dysphoria compared to placebo. The 20 mg dose had fewer side effects than the 60 mg dose.

 Strong study design

Healthy women with premenstrual dysphoria at Canadian university clinics

## What they did

Double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Women completed a 2-cycle placebo washout, then 6 cycles of fluoxetine at 20 mg or 60 mg per day or placebo. They rated their tension, irritability, and dysphoria daily using visual scales.

## What they found

Fluoxetine at both doses significantly reduced tension, irritability, and dysphoria (P < 0.001). Women on 60 mg reported significantly more side effects than those on 20 mg or placebo (P < 0.001). Of 405 women enrolled, 313 entered the treatment phase and 180 completed it.

## What it means for you

Fluoxetine at 20 mg per day is effective for premenstrual dysphoria and has fewer side effects than 60 mg. The study was done at Canadian university clinics, so results may vary in other populations.

405

Women enrolled in the study

180

Women who completed the study

20 or 60

Fluoxetine dose tested (mg per day)

## About the study

Original title Fluoxetine in the treatment of premenstrual dysphoria. Canadian Fluoxetine/Premenstrual Dysphoria Collaborative Study Group Authors Steiner M, Steinberg S, Stewart D et al. Journal The New England journal of medicine Year 1995 Study design Randomised trial Participants 405 What was tested Fluoxetine 20 mg or 60 mg per day Read the paper [doi.org/10.1056/nejm199506083322301](https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm199506083322301)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Anxiety and tension](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-anxiety/)[Irritability and anger](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-irritability-anger/)[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

Randomised trial, 2017

Does Sepranolone reduce symptoms of severe premenstrual syndrome (PMDD)?

Cohort study, 2012

How quickly does fluoxetine start working for PMDD symptoms?

Review, 1999

Is premenstrual dysphoric disorder a distinct clinical disorder?

Survey study, 2001

How common is premenstrual dysphoric disorder and how is it related to other psychiatric conditions?

Randomised trial, 2003

Are SSRI antidepressants effective for PMDD?

Randomised trial, 1999

Do SSRIs reduce premenstrual dysphoria symptoms?

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