---
title: What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD? | Niyora
description: There is no single best treatment. For mild PMS, lifestyle changes help. For moderate symptoms, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetin
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/premenstrual-syndrome-2003/
---

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- What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

Review, 2003

# What treatments work best for PMS and PMDD?

There is no single best treatment. For mild PMS, lifestyle changes help. For moderate symptoms, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) like fluoxetine and sertraline are most effective. Calcium and evening primrose oil may offer modest benefit.

 Moderate study design

Women of reproductive age with PMS or PMDD

## What they did

This is a review article summarizing research on premenstrual syndrome and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, including their causes, symptoms, and evidence for different treatments.

## What they found

PMS and PMDD cause many symptoms including depression, mood swings, belly pain, breast tenderness, headache, and tiredness. For mild cases, recommended lifestyle changes are healthy diet, reduced sodium and caffeine, exercise, and stress reduction. Using a symptom diary helps diagnosis. Calcium and evening primrose oil may offer modest benefit. Fluoxetine and sertraline (SSRIs) are the most effective medicines. Prostaglandin inhibitors and diuretics may provide some relief. Progesterone, estrogen, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, and androgenic agents have only weak evidence supporting them.

## What it means for you

There is no single cause or cure for PMS. Different approaches work for different women. Most women improve with a combination of lifestyle changes and medication chosen for their specific symptoms. Finding the right treatment takes time and trying more than one option.

## About the study

Original title Premenstrual syndrome Authors Dickerson LM, Mazyck PJ, Hunter MH Journal American family physician Year 2003 Study design Review What was tested None. This is a review article. Read the paper [doi.org/10.1016/j.curobgyn.2004.09.003](https://doi.org/10.1016/j.curobgyn.2004.09.003)

## Topics

[Menstrual cycle and mood](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-cycle-mood/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Pain and headache](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-pain/)[Calcium](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-calcium/)[Diet and nutrition](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diet/)[Diuretics and other drugs](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-diuretics-other-drugs/)[Evening primrose oil](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-evening-primrose/)[GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/treatment-gnrh/)[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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