Randomised trial, 1995
Do desipramine and methylscopolamine help premenstrual syndrome?
Both significantly reduced PMS symptoms compared to baseline with similar effectiveness. The study was very small with no placebo control, making it hard to be certain of the true effect.
What they did
14 women with PMS received desipramine and methylscopolamine bromide in random order using a double-blind crossover design, with each medication given for 3 months. Assessments were done retrospectively and prospectively.
What they found
Both desipramine and methylscopolamine significantly reduced PMS symptoms compared to baseline, with no significant difference between them. Findings suggest both anticholinergic and noradrenergic pathways may be involved in PMS.
What it means for you
Both medications may help PMS symptoms. However, the study was very small (14 patients) and had no placebo control group, so we cannot be sure how much improvement was due to the medication versus other factors or expectations.
14
women with PMS
3 months
duration per medication
double-blind
study design type
About the study
- Original title
- Premenstrual syndrome: a double-blind controlled trial of desipramine and methylscopolamine
- Authors
- Taghavi E, Menkes DB, Howard RC et al.
- Journal
- International clinical psychopharmacology
- Year
- 1995
- Study design
- Randomised trial
- What was tested
- Desipramine versus methylscopolamine bromide
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1097/00004850-199506000-00010
Topics
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