---
title: Does fluoxetine help the physical symptoms of PMDD? | Niyora
description: Fluoxetine taken daily was significantly better than placebo at improving physical symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, and headache. Both 20 mg and 60
url: https://niyora.com/research/papers/the-efficacy-of-fluoxetine-in-improving-physical-symptoms-associated-with-2001/
---

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- Does fluoxetine help the physical symptoms of PMDD?

Randomised trial, 2001

# Does fluoxetine help the physical symptoms of PMDD?

Fluoxetine taken daily was significantly better than placebo at improving physical symptoms like breast tenderness, bloating, and headache. Both 20 mg and 60 mg doses worked similarly.

 Strong study design

320 women with PMDD from Canadian university clinics

## What they did

In this double-blind placebo-controlled trial, 320 women with PMDD (out of 405 screened) were randomly assigned to fluoxetine 20 mg/day, fluoxetine 60 mg/day, or placebo. Physical symptoms including breast tenderness, bloating, and headache were measured throughout the trial.

## What they found

Fluoxetine at either 20 mg/day or 60 mg/day was significantly better than placebo at improving physical symptoms including breast tenderness, bloating, and headache. There was no significant difference between the 20 mg and 60 mg doses in their effects on these symptoms.

## What it means for you

Daily fluoxetine helps the physical symptoms of PMDD more than placebo. A lower dose (20 mg) may work as well as a higher dose (60 mg), which could mean lower doses might be preferable if they work. This is from a large randomized trial.

320

women with PMDD randomized

405

women screened

20-60 mg

fluoxetine doses tested

## About the study

Original title The efficacy of fluoxetine in improving physical symptoms associated with premenstrual dysphoric disorder Authors Steiner M, Romano SJ, Babcock S et al. Journal BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Year 2001 Study design Randomised trial What was tested Fluoxetine 20 mg/day or 60 mg/day taken daily Open access Yes Read the paper [doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00120.x](https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1471-0528.2001.00120.x)

## Topics

[Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pms/)[Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD)](https://niyora.com/research/topics/condition-pmdd/)[Low mood and depression](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-depression-mood/)[Bloating, breast tenderness and physical symptoms](https://niyora.com/research/topics/symptom-physical-symptoms/)[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.

## Related studies

Systematic review, 2013

Does Vitex (chaste tree) help PMS and PMDD symptoms?

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What medications work best for PMDD?

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What causes PMDD and what are the treatment options?

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Does taking fluoxetine only before your period help PMDD?

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Does the birth control pill Yasmin help women with PMDD?

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