Review, 1982

What treatments work for premenstrual syndrome?

No single treatment works for all women. Many different drugs have been tested but show inconsistent results. About 50% of improvement appears to be placebo effect.

Early or limited evidence Literature review of treatment studies (not a study of people)

What they did

Review of studies testing various treatments for PMS including hormones, diuretics, vitamins, and other drugs.

What they found

Treatments like progestagens, oral contraceptives, diuretics, pyridoxine, bromocriptine, and danazol helped in some studies but not others. Placebo effect was estimated at up to 50%. More than 40% of women were reported to have PMS.

What it means for you

PMS treatment is complex because the cause is unknown and diagnosis methods are unclear. The large placebo effect means many treatment claims rest on weak evidence. No single drug cures all patients or all symptoms.

50%

estimated placebo effect in PMS studies

more than 40%

of women reported to have PMS

About the study

Original title: The premenstrual syndrome: a review of the present status of therapy
Authors: O'Brien PM
Journal: Drugs
Year: 1982
Study design: Review
Read the paper: doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198224020-00004

Topics

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)Oral contraceptives and drospirenone GnRH agonists and ovarian suppression Psychotherapy, counselling and education Vitamin B6 Diuretics and other drugs