---
title: Does naproxen sodium help premenstrual symptoms? | Niyora
description: Yes. Naproxen sodium reduced premenstrual and menstrual pain much more effectively than placebo. It also improved behavioral symptoms, likely because pain rel
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/naproxen-sodium-in-the-treatment-of-premenstrual-symptoms-a-placebo-controlled-1989/
---

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- Does naproxen sodium help premenstrual symptoms?

Randomised trial, 1989

# Does naproxen sodium help premenstrual symptoms?

Yes. Naproxen sodium reduced premenstrual and menstrual pain much more effectively than placebo. It also improved behavioral symptoms, likely because pain relief helped women function better.

 Moderate study design

34 women with premenstrual syndrome (28 completed)

## What they did

Double-blind crossover trial with 34 women with premenstrual syndrome. Fourteen women took placebo for 3 cycles then naproxen sodium; 14 took naproxen from the start. The dose was 550 mg twice daily, starting 7 days before the period and continuing until the 4th day of the cycle. Six women dropped out.

## What they found

Naproxen sodium reduced both premenstrual and menstrual pain much more effectively than placebo. Behavioral changes also improved, probably because pain relief improved women's ability to function.

## What it means for you

Naproxen sodium is useful and safe for premenstrual pain-related symptoms. Six women dropped out and the sample is small, which limits confidence in the results.

34

women enrolled

550 mg

naproxen dose, twice daily

3 cycles

placebo phase duration

## About the study

Original title Naproxen sodium in the treatment of premenstrual symptoms. A placebo-controlled study Authors Facchinetti F, Fioroni L, Sances G et al. Journal Gynecologic and obstetric investigation Year 1989 Study design Randomised trial Participants 34 What was tested Naproxen sodium 550 mg twice daily from 7 days before period until 4th day of cycle Read the paper [doi.org/10.1159/000293579](https://doi.org/10.1159/000293579)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Dysmenorrhea and period pain](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-dysmenorrhea/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)

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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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