---
title: Does fluvoxamine help menstrually related mood disorders? | Niyora
description: No, this small study found that fluvoxamine did not work better than placebo for menstrually related mood disorders. Both improved symptoms equally.
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/fluvoxamine-in-the-treatment-of-menstrually-related-mood-disorders-1990/
---

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- Does fluvoxamine help menstrually related mood disorders?

Randomised trial, 1990

# Does fluvoxamine help menstrually related mood disorders?

No, this small study found that fluvoxamine did not work better than placebo for menstrually related mood disorders. Both improved symptoms equally.

 Early or limited evidence

20 women with premenstrual complaints

## What they did

A double-blind placebo-controlled trial in 20 women with premenstrual complaints. Women were treated with fluvoxamine or placebo over two consecutive menstrual cycles.

## What they found

Both fluvoxamine and placebo produced beneficial effects on physical and emotional symptoms. Fluvoxamine was not different from placebo.

## What it means for you

This study suggests that serotonin may not be the main cause of menstrually related mood symptoms. However, the study was very small with only 20 women and just two menstrual cycles, so larger studies are needed before drawing firm conclusions.

20

Women with premenstrual complaints

2

Consecutive menstrual cycles tested

## About the study

Original title Fluvoxamine in the treatment of menstrually related mood disorders Authors Veeninga AT, Westenberg HG, Weusten JT Journal Psychopharmacology Year 1990 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Fluvoxamine vs placebo Read the paper [doi.org/10.1007/bf02244113](https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02244113)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[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.

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