Randomised trial, 1998
Does alprazolam improve mood and task performance in women with PMDD?
No. Alprazolam did not improve premenstrual mood and actually worsened mood in the follicular phase. It also impaired task performance.
What they did
A double-blind study testing placebo and three doses of alprazolam (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 mg) in women with confirmed PMDD, given during both the follicular and luteal phases of the menstrual cycle.
What they found
Women with PMDD showed substantial changes in mood across the menstrual cycle. Acute alprazolam doses did not improve negative premenstrual mood but increased negative mood in the follicular phase. Alprazolam impaired task performance in both phases when baseline differences were considered.
What it means for you
Benzodiazepines like alprazolam are not helpful for PMDD and may actually make mood worse and impair cognitive function. This contradicts earlier thinking about their potential use.
0.25-0.75 mg
alprazolam doses tested
two phases
follicular and luteal phases tested
About the study
- Original title
- Mood and performance changes in women with premenstrual dysphoric disorder: acute effects of alprazolam
- Authors
- Evans SM, Haney M, Levin FR et al.
- Journal
- Neuropsychopharmacology : official publication of the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology
- Year
- 1998
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Acute doses of alprazolam (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 mg) versus placebo tested in both follicular and luteal phases
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1016/s0893-133x(98)00064-5
Topics
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