Survey study, 2002
What treatments do doctors prescribe for PMS?
Hormone treatments were prescribed most often, used in over 40% of cases. Antidepressants rose from 2% to 16% of prescriptions, while vitamin B6 fell from 22% to 11%. Overall PMS diagnoses halved over five years.
What they did
Researchers reviewed prescription records from 282,600 women in the UK between 1993 and 1998 to see what doctors prescribed for PMS.
What they found
Progestogens (a hormone treatment) were the most common prescription throughout, accounting for over 40% of all PMS prescriptions. Antidepressants increased from 2% of prescriptions in 1993 to over 16% by 1998. Vitamin B6 decreased from 22% of prescriptions in 1993 to 11% between 1997 and 1998. The overall number of women receiving a PMS diagnosis halved over the five-year period.
What it means for you
Treatment for PMS has shifted over time from vitamin B6 to antidepressants, though progestogens remain most common. Progestogens are widely prescribed despite limited evidence they work well for PMS. The decline in PMS diagnoses may reflect changes in how doctors diagnose or label the condition.
40%
of progestogens prescriptions
2% to 16%
antidepressants 1993 to 1998
22% to 11%
vitamin B6 1993 to 1997-98
About the study
- Original title
- Prescribing patterns in premenstrual syndrome
- Authors
- Wyatt KM, Dimmock PW, Frischer M et al.
- Journal
- BMC women's health
- Year
- 2002
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 282,600
- What was tested
- PMS prescribing patterns
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.1186/1472-6874-2-4
Topics
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